“Harambee 2024: Lest We Forget” | April 24-27, 2024
Our Harambee Conference has a rich history of fostering collaboration, sparking innovation, and nurturing community engagement. In 2024, we are determined to elevate this tradition to new heights. This conference has been a pivotal event for our community, bringing together individuals, experts, and leaders in philanthropy to address pressing issues and build a brighter future.
Are you ready to meet ABFE in St. Louis? The ABFE village is collaborating with local, national and global leaders to converge in the city of Blues and Barbecue, April 25-27, 2024 (pre-conference activities begin April 24th)!
It’s been 10 years since the murder of 18-year-old Michael Brown, in Ferguson, sparked global outrage and exposed myriad unjust policies & practices in Ferguson and beyond. That exposure also activated civic activism and policy changes to combat racial inequities and injustices that became routine in many jurisdictions.
Racial injustice fights didn’t begin in 2014 in Missouri. Many will recall that the infamous Dred Scott case (1857) was also fought in St. Louis.
As we are perpetually re-litigating civil rights in America, it is fitting that the ABFE village gathers together in a city that has been the flashpoint for demands for Black people and communities for, literally, centuries. Black history and fights for racial justice are embedded in the spirit of St. Louis – from Dred Scott (1857) to Michael Brown (2013).
As the largest convening of Black professionals in organized philanthropy we invite you to join us. During our time together, we will celebrate and honor leaders who are doing work in St. Louis and beyond in the field through our James Joseph Lecture and Awards Program.
We will host several networked groups across ABFE’s membership for key convenings during our time in St. Louis. They include:
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Umoja Circle – Black Foundation CEO Network – Started in 2020, virtually, the convening of Black foundation presidents gave rise to ABFE’s Call to Action, “We Must be in it for The Long Haul”. We hope to have a record number of CEO’s join us for this gathering.
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Leverage the Trust Track – We invite Black foundation trustees to continue building a learning network on the heels of our 2023 trustee retreat.
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Connecting Leaders Fellowship Program – We invite the almost 200 CLFP Alum to join us and celebrate one another and meet our 2023-24 cohort at a very special annual reception.
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Past ABFE Awardees – There is always room in the village to welcome our growing network of recipients of James A. Joseph Lecturers, Emerging Leaders, Trailblazer and Institutional award winners.
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The Corporate Community of Practce – We welcome corporate philanthropy and giving professionals who are committed to supporting more racially equitable practices, particularly in support of Black communities.
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Network Meet-ups (funders collaboratives and regional Blacks in Philanthropy (BIP) grounds – We will reserve space for Local networks to meet.
Thanks for your continued support, and we look forward to convening with you in St. Louis, April 24-27th.
About ABFE: ABFE is a membership-based philanthropic organization that advocates for responsive and transformative investments in Black communities. Partnering with foundations, nonprofits and individuals, ABFE provides its members with professional development and technical assistance resources that further the philanthropic sector’s connection and responsiveness to issues of equality, diversity and inclusion. Established in 1971 as the Association of Black Foundation Executives, the all-volunteer organization was credited with many of philanthropy’s early gains in diversity. It since has evolved into an influential network. In 2013, the organization shed its descriptor and adopted the simpler ABFE (ab-fee) to better reflect its broadening membership.
About Harambee: Harambee is a Kenyan tradition of community self-help, fundraising and or development. Its’ literal translation in Swahili is “all pull together”. From its inception, ABFE has served to be a vehicle for leveraging resources for the betterment of Black communities. The shared values of unity, organizing and the pooling of resources are central to ABFE’s purpose and mission of effective and responsive philanthropy for Black communities.