By Cynthia Padilla Pearson, program officer, Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta
Historically, philanthropy has been about providing aid—whether it’s food for those experiencing hunger, shelters for the unhoused, or scholarships for students. While these acts of kindness are valuable, they can sometimes miss the mark when it comes to creating lasting change. When philanthropy is solely about charity, it risks becoming a bandage on a wound rather than a cure. This approach can inadvertently perpetuate the very systems that create the need for charity or ignore the historical harms in the first place.
In my role as program officer at the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, I’ve come to see philanthropy as a tool for liberation rather than just a means of providing support. Liberation can mean addressing the root causes of injustice and creating conditions where communities can thrive independently. It’s also about repair, going through the stages of grief and healing. It is shifting from temporary relief to creating systemic change. This is where the racial equity framework comes in.
Why racial equity?
Many of the challenges we face—whether they’re economic disparities, educational inequities, or health outcomes—are deeply intertwined with racial injustices. To genuinely address these issues, we must first understand and confront the systemic inequities that underpin them: naming the harms, acknowledging our shared history and seeing each other for our humanity and interconnectedness.
Applying a racial equity framework means recognizing that our society has long been structured in ways that disadvantage people of color. It means understanding how historical injustices and ongoing discrimination shape the opportunities available to different communities. In June, I coordinated a retreat along with the National Center for Civil and Human Rights for the Foundation’s Board of Directors and a few donors to tour the Chattahoochee Brick Company, a former convict leasing/forced labor site in Atlanta that generated significant wealth across our region. We followed the tour with a panel discussion with descendants, historians and community leaders. The impact was profound.
Beyond financial assistance
Philanthropy should go beyond just writing checks. It should be about building partnerships and listening to the voices of those who are most affected by injustice. This means supporting organizations and initiatives led by people of color, advocating for policy changes that address systemic inequities and investing in community-driven solutions. By valuing community leadership and prioritizing their input, philanthropists can create a legacy of empowerment and self-determination.
One of the most fulfilling aspects of my work is seeing how grassroots organizations, often led by those with lived experiences, are making transformative change. These organizations often have the insights and solutions needed to address the root causes of problems in their communities. By supporting them, we empower those who are most affected to drive the change they want to see. Our participation with the Decolonizing Wealth Project’s cohort of practice also allows us to be in a space of learning and self-interrogation with other funders and communities that seek to disrupt the existing systems of moving and controlling capital.
A call to action
Embracing a racial equity framework is not a one-time commitment; it’s an ongoing journey. It requires constant learning, humility and a willingness to adapt. It means challenging our own biases and rethinking traditional approaches to philanthropy. This shift in perspective involves moving beyond mere financial assistance to addressing the root causes of injustice and creating conditions where communities can thrive independently. As a multilingual, indigenous person of Caribbean heritage, I bring lived experiences that resonate with the diverse communities we aim to serve. My background has instilled in me a profound understanding of the importance of representation and equity, and is intertwined in the way I share space, establish rapport and challenge mediocrity. I approach every opportunity for partnership with a commitment to equity and justice, ensuring that the strategies we implement are not only effective but also culturally responsive and community driven, recognizing the multifaceted challenges that individuals and communities face.
For those of us in the philanthropic sector, it’s crucial to ask ourselves tough questions: Are we truly addressing the root causes of injustice? Are we supporting solutions that build long-term equity? Are we amplifying voices that have historically been marginalized?
In my daily work, I strive to be guided by these questions and the most important one: What community are we accountable to? Atlanta.
To learn more about the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta’s work to create equity and shared prosperity for all in metro Atlanta, visit our website.
Cynthia Padilla Pearson manages the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta’s broad-based, multi-million dollar unrestricted grants portfolio addressing racial equity. As the first cross-foundational program officer at the Foundation, she advises and collaborates with the leadership team and fund holders to drive trust-based philanthropy practices and work with community partners on a shared journey of learning and collective liberation.
