Welcome to DOCN
History
Donors of Color Network started in 2019 as a research project spearheaded by three brilliant women of color.
Our founders, Ashindi Maxton, Hali Lee, and the late Urvashi Vaid, sought to better understand the philanthropic needs and interests of wealthy donors of color.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.
Thus, the DOCN member network was formed. DOCN is composed of powerful BIPOC philanthropists who use their wealth and influence to advance racial justice and shift the center of gravity in philanthropy toward opportunity for all people.
Why Donors of Color?
The majority of resources funding racial justice work are controlled by donors who do not come from communities most directly impacted by injustice or share the experiences that these organizations are fighting against. Mainstream philanthropy, predominantly led by white voices, lacks a strategic approach to engage affluent donors of color ready to champion racial justice causes.
This lack of engagement from traditional philanthropy deprives wealthy donors of color of the platform and opportunities for meaningful cross-racial solidarity and cross-class collaboration. As a donor of color, you represent a significant source of power and influence who can support racial justice work.
Our mission entails the transformation of wealthy donors of color into a potent philanthropic force for racial justice. We seek to empower our members by aligning their knowledge, relationships, and resources. We will establish a new majority power dedicated to dismantling racial injustice and reshaping the trajectory of the existing societal systems.
Our Values
Joy
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 have.
Community
Community is the heart of what we do. We’re building a thriving community for donors of color united by a shared mission of using their influence to advance racial justice.
Solidarity
Solidarity is the only way to accomplish our goals. We have the honor of bringing together donors of color, foundations, and movement leaders to work in solidarity and catalyze systemic change.
Power
Transformative 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.
Our Values
Cross-Racial Solidarity
As a cross-racial coalition of donors and activists, DOCN has countless lessons to learn from communities all over the world. A cross-racial coalition is not simply made up of distinct racial communities organizing alongside each other. Rather, cross-racial alliances require deep collaboration. We will succeed because our members understand that our successes are shared successes, just as our setbacks are shared as well.
Cross-Class Solidarity
With a membership consisting of high net wealth people of color, cross-class solidarity with our partners in the racial justice movement is paramount. Our shared and varying experiences can inform what we are able to contribute in the fight to achieve racial justice. However, moving in solidarity means that we are doing the work together.
Want to learn more?
“DOCN: Your Journey Begins” is a comprehensive guide to all the work DOCN is doing. It is available at all in-person events and meetings, but you can also download it here.
