“On the road to social justice, philanthropic supports for racial equity must do three things to drive change: Lift, Clear, and Push..."

Nigel Greaves is the Director of Development at the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts.

“On the road to social justice, philanthropic supports for racial equity must do three things to drive change: Lift, Clear, and Push. Lift the wise and experienced voices within BIPOC communities in charting the course, Clear roadblocks from the paths to serving people and shifting power, and then Push resources behind effective initiatives led by black and brown folks. 

It is critical for funders to remember that no matter which health equity issue is being considered - mental wellness, housing scarcity, food insecurity, climate resilience, the COVID pandemic, or drug use - communities of color are consistently hit the hardest, with the longest lasting impacts. Philanthropy can help us all get to a better place by lifting, clearing, and pushing along the way.”

Check out the Race and Health Equity Resource Guide to find resources to help you “clear” roadblocks.