A Cross-Racial Donor Network Committed to Racial Justice
Our Vision
We envision a just and equitable future where Black, Indigenous, and all communities of color can thrive fully in a joyful society free from violence and systemic racism.
Our Mission
We are building the collective power of donors of color to advance racial justice through cross-racial solidarity and multiracial giving.
Living Our Values
Joy, community, solidarity, and power are our grounding values. We bring this ethos to everything we do.
Joy is a vibrant demonstration of our resistance to the world’s racial inequities. We center joy in every experience we create and conversation we hold.
Solidarity will break through the barriers to racial equity. We bring donors of color, philanthropic institutions, and movement leaders together to work in solidarity and catalyze systemic change.
Power lies in our experiences, connections, resources, and wealth. By channeling the collective power of our network into values-aligned movements, we can shift the center of gravity in philanthropy toward racial justice.
Community is the heart of what we do. We’re building an active community for donors of color united by a shared mission of advancing racial justice.
Commitment to Inclusion
Every organization we support commits to five principles that help build power in communities of color.
Fund communities of color
Hire and promote inclusively
Contract inclusively
Elevate organizational leadership
Measure and evaluate
The Women Who Started It All
Donors of Color Network started as a research project spearheaded by three brilliant women of color who wanted to understand the philanthropic needs and interests of wealthy donors of color.
Meet our co-founders.
Urvashi Vaid was a fierce civil and LGBTQ+ rights activist, lawyer, writer, and beloved co-founder of DOCN. Urv continues to guide us with her love, wisdom, and the legacy she left behind and DOCN. She is survived by her wife and partner, Kate Clinton, her nephew, ALOK, and everyone who loves her. May she rest in power.
Hali has worked in many capacities and served on several boards, often combining a love of learning, the arts, and equitable social change. Today, Hali is a founding partner at Radiant Strategies, a boutique consulting practice that aims to change the subject in philanthropy. She's also founder and director of the Asian Women Giving Circle.
Ashindi is an independent strategist and donor advisor in democracy reform, and social and racial justice. She serves on the boards of the Texas Organizing Project, Way to Win, and Vocal USA.
Some of Our Milestones
The initial research project made way for a dawning realization. High-net-wealth donors of color hold the power to be a transformative force for change—if they organize and work in solidarity.
A powerful group of BIPOC philanthropists who wanted to use their wealth and influence to advance racial justice formed the DOCN member network.
Early 2018
Launched a research initiative to interview high-net-wealth (HNW) donors of color.
April 2018
Published the ‘Apparitional Donor: Understanding and Engaging High Net Worth Donors of Color’ to release the findings from 120 interviews among HNW donors of color.
Summer 2018
- Co-founders attended a convening of donor networks hosted by Raikes Foundation, inviting a small group of HNW donors.
- DOCN steering committee formed following the event.
Early 2019
- Hosted Tamaya DOCN—an inaugural convening of HNW donors of color to envision the bigger picture of what BIPOC philanthropy was capable of.
- Four initial members each pledged $150K to launch DOCN.
July 2019
- Ashindi and Hali became the first co-executive directors.
- Jeannie Park and Ron Parker became the first board co-chairs.
Fall 2020
Gave $1 million dollars to Power Fund grantees.
.jpg)
February 2021
DOCN launched the Climate Funders Justice Pledge (CFJP).
Spring 2021
Secured a $10 million grant to build organizational infrastructure.
March 2022
- Named one of Fast Company’s 10 Most Innovative Companies with Fewer than 10 Employees.
- Released ‘Philanthropy Always Sounds Like Someone Else: A Portrait of High Net Worth Donors of Color.’
August 2022
- Isabelle Leighton named as new Executive Director.
- Launched the Portrait Report Roadshow.
November 2022
DOCN & Just Fund teamed up to invest $600K into BIPOC voter engagement.
April 2023
Announced that CFJP catalyzed $120 million in the first two years.
January 2024
Revealed DOCN's 5-year strategic plan, resulting from a 16-month planning cycle.
The People Guiding Us Forward
We’re led by a passionate team dedicated to creating a just and equitable future where everyone can thrive.
Kathleen Tate
Board Chair @ DOCN
Solidarity through Community
Racial justice is too complex for any single movement, organization, or philanthropist to address alone.
Our community brings donors of color, foundations, and movement leaders together so we can act in solidarity and create systemic change for communities of color.
