Inside Philanthropy features Craig Drinkard, discusses his path to philanthropy and the challenge to foundations to stay the course for racial justice

"Do we have the strength to stay focused?"

Craig Drinkard, executive officer of Victoria Foundation posed this question when he sat down with Inside Philanthropy about philanthropy's recent focus on racial justice. The article shared Craig's trajectory into the role of executive officer at Victoria Foundation, and the shift in strategy for the foundation as it steps into its new framework, focusing on power-building and self-determination of Black, Brown and other communities pushed to the margins in Newark.

"Drinkard believes that the real work is about to begin. The framework is "nice on paper," he told me, "but once we get into the streets and start working with residents, that's when our mettle will be tested. We'll see how willing we are to make the changes that we espouse."

The article shares the trend in philanthropy that seems to show foundations rolling back on their commitments to communities of color, particularly Black and Indigenous people most harmed by systemic racism.

Craig shared, '"I've been in philanthropy for about 20 years," he said, "and I'm afraid the pendulum will start swinging and we'll lose the focus of this reckoning and start focusing our attention on something else."

"Philanthropy is a system, and systems are slow to change," Drinkard said. "Do we have the strength to stay focused?"'

Inside Philanthropy is a subscription-based outlet: you can find the article here.