Faqs for White Allies

White allies are welcomed! Your presence is crucial in the movement to align fundraising practices with equity. However, you must understand the important, but supporting role that you play. Here are some questions frequently asked by white allies:

 

Can I write for this website?

Yes, absolutely. We need our white allies to reflect on their experiences, especially when it comes to difficult topics such as how white privilege shapes fundraising. Oftentimes, the most effective way to reach other white folks is for white allies to deliver the messages. However, CCF has the value of Equity, which includes prioritizing the voices of people of color, so 75+% of our blog posts will be from BIPOC (and all of our leadership are POC.) This means that it may take longer for your piece to be published, and you may be compensated less if there are not enough resources to pay writers.

We also require that works follow the principle of own voices. This means that a piece that refers to marginalized groups and their experiences are created by people who share that identity. Pieces that follow this principle reflect the contributors’ own lived experiences and perspectives.

We ask that contributors consider whether their proposed piece is their story to tell before submitting their pitches. Proximity to people with a lived experience is not a proxy for having that lived experience and will not be considered adhering to the own voices guideline.

This guideline is non-negotiable for us as our movement is full of people who have historically been spoken about but are rarely allowed a platform to speak for themselves.

For more information about what we are and aren’t looking for, check out our editorial guidelines here.

Can I form a CCF chapter in my city?

Yes, but strive to ensure there is majority representation of BIPOC in your chapter and that you are not consciously or unconsciously excluding people of color. Work with leaders of color to start a chapter. Take time to build relationships. Where you can, encourage participants of color, with the end goal of ensuring that leadership of your chapter is led by people of color.

Can I organize meetings with other white allies about these topics?

Absolutely. We are building a movement, and that includes all of us participating in some way. White allies can be extremely helpful by talking about various topics among themselves in order to prevent leaders of color from having to do the emotional and other labors of constantly educating our white colleagues and managing unchecked fragility.

In fact, some CCF Chapters have white affinity group spaces where they meet and learn together. This is an excellent way to organize with other white allies.

My geographic area is demographically very white. Can I still form a chapter?

Yes. But if your community is mainly white, here is some advice:

  • Be thoughtful about centering and not otherizing or burning out the people of color in your chapter. Too often, BIPOC folks are relegated to teaching positions and forced to spend their time continually educating others. It is tiring, especially in spaces that are meant to center them.
  • Consider including a white ally affinity and learning group space in your planning. White allies can be extremely helpful by talking about various topics among themselves in order to prevent leaders of color from having to do the emotional and other labors of constantly educating our white colleagues and managing unchecked fragility.
  • Be aware of the tendency of recreating systems of oppression including that drive people of color away from spaces. Ensure that you are not consciously or unconsciously excluding people of color. Take time to build relationships and where you can, encourage people of color, with the end goal of ensuring that leadership of your chapter is eventually led by people of color.

I invite leaders of color, but they won’t come to meetings. What should I do?

Spend time building relationships and really listening to (listening to!) and acting on feedback. However, be OK with the fact that sometimes, people of color just want our own space. You can do work in parallel thoughtfully and work gradually toward collaboration. In the meantime, see our resource list and keep engaging.

What other things can I do to help this movement?

Get trained in undoing racism, white fragility and related topics. Widely share resources and pieces from The Content Hub. Encourage others to find out more about and engage in CCF activities in their area. Volunteer with your local CCF chapter, if it exists. Donate to the CCF, either to CCF Global or to your local one (or both). Connect CCF Global and your local chapter to donors, organizations, and foundations that could partner with them. Encourage your fundraising associations to tackle CCF-related topics. Also, speak up when you are in agreement with various points around difficult topics; what often happens is that people who disagree tend to be the loudest, which gives the illusion that they are the majority.