We're live! We'll be live tweeting from #FundingSoWhite so follow for updates and join the conversation!

First question to panellists: How does whiteness play out in the funding sector?

"as white people we still take our whiteness for granted and are barely conscious of it"

@Lilyellewis speaking about how coming to term with whiteness and talking about it is key to tackling racism in sector

"we're 30 years behind as boards in the sector" when it comes to representation. Mahri Sharp of @NatEmergTrust speaking on the problem that lack of diversity on boards across the sector.

"philanthropy itself is rooted in inequality" - @clare_kiely of @comic relief speaking about the need for funders reflect on and understand the history of philanthropy when building a journey towards anti-racism.

James Banks from @LondonFunders speaking about how the fundraising work and donations from communities won't make the headlines. Questioning why donations from some high profile individuals are seen as more valuable than those of communities of colour.

James (of @LondonFunders) speaks of his hope that the challenge provided from #CharitySoWhite movement and others are leading to positive changes in the funding sector.

#FundingSoWhite

Second question to panel: Covid-19 and BLM movement and now the recent Racial Disparity Report have been a major catalyst for change, what was your organisation doing in relation to racial justice prior to this and how did that change following these events? #FundingSoWhite

Panellists are sharing the journeys that their orgs have been on, and how these events kicked internal work into gear to take a more intentional approach towards anti-racism. How internal audits and projects are helping embed anti-racism in everything they do.

#FundingSoWhite

Important point from @clare_kiely on how the hard work and lived experience of POC in the workplace has been key to their success. So important that we all highlight the hard work that POC are doing across the funding sector.

#FundingSoWhite

Third question to panel: How did you convince your senior leaders and boards to prioritise a more equitable response during the pandemic? What did you do to gain their buy-in? How do you influence other funders?

#FundingSoWhite

"Covid was really the impetus for us to fast track our work on this" - @clare_kiely on how data emerging from the Covid19 pandemic mobilised @comicrelief to do more work on tackling inequality amongst BAME communities. #FundingSoWhite

James Banks from @LondonFunders speaking passionately about the importance of co-production in journey to anti-racism. It is so important that funders work with communities of colour from the very beginning and empower them. #FundingSoWhite

Fourth question: Tell us about your personal journey towards anti-racism. How do you bring anti-racism and a focus on lived experience into your work and centre lived experience? And how are you ensuring that it outlives you in your org? #FundingSoWhite

"we need to normalise getting called out when we get things wrong" @Lilyellewis speaking on how important it is that funders are able to learn from their mistakes and have difficult conversations, and how this was key to her own anti-racism journey #FundingSoWhite

It's so important that we reframe getting "called out" as feedback, and reframe feedback as care. @MarthaAwojobi doing an amazing job holding this space and leading this conversation #FundingSoWhite

Reminder, we won't be taking questions at #FundingSoWhite event as it's an in conversation format. But we very much encourage you all to keep the conversation going on twitter! We'll be picking up key points and following up with our panel later

Last question: Where do you think you’ve fallen short (personally or organisationally)? #FundingSoWhite

Speaking on her personal journey, @clare_kiely of @comicrelief is talking openly about how idea of good work = good people kept her from seeing the problem. Speaks highly of POC colleagues that have helped her see the problem and do something about racism.
#FundingSoWhite

"I've not always been good enough at getting out of the way in the past" - James Banks of @LondonFunders speaking frankly about how he has let his privilege as a white man get him into positions of power, and of now turning down roles in all white boards. #FundingSoWhite

"My whiteness had made me totally oblivious to the racialised elements of [trauma]" @Lilyellewis speaking really openly on her past blindness to racism in the criminal justice system, and how applying an anti-racist lens to everything has transformed her work. #FundingSoWhite

"[white apathy] covers up feelings of anger and fear" - @Lilyellewis talking about the important work of reflecting on and tackling our feelings around race and privilege, and how this is what the sector needs to focus more on now. #FundingSoWhite

"just saying the word racism in a team meeting is quite challenging still" - @clare_kiely of @comicrelief on the feelings of fear and shame that come from talking about racism and the work she is doing to normalise those discussions within her teams. #FundingSoWhite

Thank you so much to our panellists for being so open, honest, and reflective in this discussion. It is so important that uncomfortable conversations like these are normalised. Thank you @Lilyellewis, @clare_kiely, James @LondonFunders, Mahri @NatEmergTrust! #FundingSoWhite

We have @NatArmitage of @ubeleinitiative , author of the fantastic #BooksaPaper, breaking down how the charity sector is rooted in colonialism, empire, and white supremacy. Highly recommend that everyone in funding sector reads this important work. #FundingSoWhite

That's a wrap on the event, but you better believe this is not the end of the #FundingSoWhite conversation. We hope that this has sparked lots of thoughts and reflections, and we want to hear them! Use the hashtag and get all your hot takes on this topic out there