iF, A Foundation for Radical Possibility

As 2024 comes to an end, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you for being a crucial part of our community! As we reflect on this year, we want to highlight the meaningful strides we have made to advance justice in the Washington, D.C., region. Swipe through ➡️ to see some of this year’s biggest moments. At iF, A Foundation for Radical Possibility, we envision a world where Black people and people of the global majority live powerfully, abundantly, and beautifully in healthy, self-determined communities — free from social, economic, and ideological violence. We are so grateful to you for continuing to champion the progress of this critical work and we can’t wait to continue the fight in 2025 and beyond! 🖤

We’re excited to announce the launch of Roots Rising, a pilot program facilitated by iF in partnership with Michelle Shireen Muri of Freedom Conspiracy! As part of iF’s vision to equip grantee partners and community members with the tools and resources to build their financial and fundraising capacity, the 2024-2025 cohort gathered fundraising leads from 20 organizations doing community power building and racial justice work across the DMV gathered for a healing session around money and financial trauma, community mapping exercises, developing fundraising collateral and calendars, and more. Check out the highlights from our first in-person convening. Stay tuned for updates and opportunities to engage with this important community!

Over the last few months, iF proudly hosted two private screenings of our inaugural film, “Diminished Returns: The Black Wealth Gap in Washington, D.C.,” executive produced by iF Co-CEO, Temi F. Bennett, Esq. and written and directed by Sabiyha Prince. Thank you to our co-hosts Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO) and Humanity United and to the incredible community members, colleagues, and friends who attended these powerful events. On the heels of a pivotal #election, meaningful conversations about local economic justice are critical. #DiminishedReturns is more than a film — it’s a call to action, providing advocates and policymakers with a roadmap for reparative solutions to close the Black wealth gap in D.C. Visit our website for opportunities to engage with the film! https://lnkd.in/dz59ms2A

This week, the iF team gathered to close out 2024 during our final staff and board meeting, which was beautifully intertwined with our holiday celebration! This gathering was more than just a formal meeting; it was a heartwarming occasion filled with laughter, connection, and a profound sense of community. We honored two of our board members Aydin Tuncer and Art Stevens as they transition out of their roles, reflected on the milestones we achieved over the year—the victories that motivated us, the lessons we learned that strengthened our resolve, and the challenges we faced that continue to shape the fight ahead. Together, we envisioned our goals for the coming year and discussed the essential tools and strategies we will need to continue advancing the fight for racial justice and self-determination for Black people and people of the global majority in the Washington, D.C. region. We are immensely grateful to our dedicated colleagues, passionate community members, and supportive friends who stand with us in this vital work. Your commitment and collaboration inspire us every day, and together, we will continue to strive for meaningful change. Thank you all for being an integral part of this journey!

A big thank you to the The Washington Informer for featuring “#DiminishedReturns: The Black Wealth Gap in Washington D.C.” Executive produced by iF, Co-CEO, Temi F. Bennett, Esq., and written and directed by Sabiyha Prince, the film offers needed perspective on the unique history of displacement, stolen wealth, and stolen labor that disproportionately impacts Black communities in the District, and the urgent steps needed to close the Black wealth gap. Join us as we continue pushing for economic justice and reparative solutions. Check out the full article: https://lnkd.in/e8BCxRWu

SUPER pumped to be a part of the Roots Rising 2024 cohort. We're just getting started, but together we are unpacking the roots of philanthropy and learning how to mobilize resources for racial justice. These are the spaces that remind me why I continue to be a fundraiser with a community centric lens. THANK YOU to iF, A Foundation for Radical Possibility and Michelle Shireen Muri for the opportunity & creating such a liberating space!

We’re thrilled to welcome Zahra Wardick (they/he) as iF’s new Program Associate! With their passion, skills, and commitment to advancing racial and economic justice, Zahra will undoubtedly play a vital role in driving our work forward. At iF, we are daring to reimagine what’s possible for Black people and people of the global majority in the DC region. The Program Associate position is a key part of that vision, supporting our programs, communications, and partnerships to create powerful, community-driven change. We can’t wait to see the impact Zahra will have at the Foundation and the communities we serve. Join us in giving Zahra a warm welcome! 🖤

At the Compton Foundation’s #GatheringByTheRiver: A Relational Repair Convening, iF Co-CEO, Temi F. Bennett, Esq. joined former Threshold Philanthropy Co-CEO, Morgan E. Dawson, and Justice Funders for an impactful conversation on the power—and limits—of institutional philanthropy in advancing repair. This interactive reflection highlighted the urgent need for healing and transformation in the context of settler colonialism and harm in the U.S. Together, we’re building connections, deepening understanding, and inspiring action to create systems rooted in repair. 🖤 Big gratitude to the Compton Foundation for hosting this transformative gathering and to all who participated!

Big congrats to Temi F. Bennett, Esq. and crew on the incredible documentary Diminished Returns: The Black Wealth Gap in Washington DC! As a transplant, I learned so much about the history of DC as "a colony of Congress carved out of slave states," and the way Black families were systematically displaced and had their land stolen via racist policies like eminent domain. The film and featured speakers at this week's film screening hosted by iF, A Foundation for Radical Possibility and Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO) emphasized reparations for repair of historic harms, statehood as a racial justice issue, and that #philanthropy can't fund real systemic change in community safety and education without addressing poverty and root causes of the racial wealth gap. Watch the trailer here: https://lnkd.in/e6ZWq4Xc

“We’ve seen the impact that guaranteed income has had across the country,” shared Mandi Koba, Program Officer for Economic Mobility at The Community Foundation. “Now we have a chance to explore the impact that it has had – and will hopefully continue to have in the DMV!” Earlier this month, The Community Foundation gathered with guaranteed income advocates from across the region to discuss how to amplify the effects of guaranteed income pilots in the Greater Washington region. Bread for the City, Mothers Outreach Network, iF, A Foundation for Radical Possibility, Fairfax County Government, Arlington Community Foundation, ACT for Alexandria, City of Alexandria, Virginia, My Sister's Place, DC, United Communities Against Poverty, Inc., Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)/ Prince George's County, Montgomery County Government https://lnkd.in/esYtcyCE