By MDC’s Equity Centered Leadership and Philanthropy Team
The Investing in Leaders of Color (ILOC) Fellowship, a one-year program from May 2022 to May 2023, marked a significant step toward building a support system for leaders who have historically faced systemic disadvantages in the philanthropic sector. The fellowship, co-designed by fellows and funders, acknowledged and strengthened the work of twelve leaders of color serving communities across the Carolinas. The program enhanced the leaders’ influence by providing access to networks and facilitating philanthropic connection. It helped funders adopt culturally relevant approaches, shifting philanthropy’s methods of supporting leaders of color. The fellowship aimed to redefine leader-funder dynamics by fostering deeper relationships, expanding investments and connections, and promoting inclusive, collaborative leadership practices.
After the Supreme Court’s decision against affirmative action in June 2023, MDC and the philanthropic partners involved in ILOC engaged in challenging conversations on how best to move forward with the program. Ultimately, the funders decided to shift away from using identity-first language and instead focus on the leaders’ organizations and their service to historically underserved communities of color. MDC made the difficult choice not to serve as the implementation partner for future iterations of the fellowship, as the funders’ decision signaled a shift away from the program’s original intent.
MDC’s commitment to equitable discussions and empowering communities remains unwavering. Our approach includes helping people navigate power dynamics to have uncomfortable but critical conversations about the impacts of inequities. We use our positional power to elevate the voices of those impacted and push philanthropic boards and executives to lead with courage and creativity.
MDC is committed to redefining leader-funder dynamics and plans to establish a new fellowship that builds upon lessons from Year One and insights from others who are navigating the ripple effects of the Supreme Court’s decision on affirmative action. Some of the learnings from this experience are captured in the following reflection, co-authored by several ILOC alumni.
Celebrating Success while Looking to the Future
To honor the experiences held by all participants in the fellowship’s inaugural year and the subsequent challenges catapulted by the Supreme Court’s ruling, the fellowship’s name, Investing in Leaders of Color (ILOC), has been archived. A celebration of ILOC’s inaugural year can still be viewed by accessing the fellowship’s website, www.ilocfellowship.com. MDC plans to establish a new fellowship in a similar spirit to ILOC but under a new name and with aligned funders.
MDC’s Equity Centered Leadership and Philanthropy team equips leaders to identify and challenge the inequities that exist in institutional and philanthropic systems so that equity is at the center of decision-making and investment.
Banner image: Funders and fellows engage in an activity during an Investing in Leaders of Color (ILOC) Fellowship Convening in January 2023.
