Bridging Generations: Transforming Family Philanthropy Through Racial Equity Learning Journeys

Racial justice and systemic inequities can be tough topics to grapple with as a family. Impact Experience’s Jenna Nicholas and Olabayo Allen-Taylor consider the ways that racial equity learning journeys not only provide an education for philanthropic families, but also draw families together across generations through shared experiences and knowledge as well as increased empathy. 

Working together as a family can be both deeply rewarding and a bit challenging, particularly when multiple generations are involved. We’ve seen how generational differences can show up in family philanthropy. For example, one generation might focus on funding methods, while the next is focused on tackling systemic inequities. 

Discussions on challenging topics can often feel easier to avoid. However, we’ve found that tackling these issues—especially racial equity—with a learning mindset and engaging multiple generations helps to build stronger intergenerational connections, rather than deepening divides.

That’s where racial equity learning journeys come in. These experiences are designed to help families explore topics of racial justice and inequity together, creating space for real learning and growth. They’ve been a game-changer for many families we’ve worked with.

From what we’ve seen, these journeys work because they bring people together in a meaningful way. When families share experiences—whether it’s visiting historic sites, listening to community leaders, or diving into tough conversations—they come away with a shared understanding and deeper empathy for one another.

An Example of a Transformative Learning Journey

There are so many ways to engage. Some families start with virtual workshops or book clubs, while others jump into immersive experiences. The important part is doing it together and staying open to what you’ll learn. Equally important is selecting the right facilitator for your journey. Constance and Thomas Broz, farm owners with a family office in Watsonville, California, recently participated in one of our experiential learning programs in Montgomery, Alabama. These programs bring together impact investors, family offices, foundations, corporations, entrepreneurs, and artists with local leaders in marginalized communities around the world, and most frequently in the American South. Each engagement serves as a learning journey focused on racial and gender equity, culminating in actionable plans to drive meaningful change.

Recently, the Broz family began having deeper conversations about US history, reflecting on their own experiences and how these shape their philanthropy and investments. Their son, who is actively engaged in racial equity work both professionally and personally, encouraged them to participate in one of our engagements.

During the experience, Constance, who grew up in France, shared how her understanding of deeply ingrained racial injustice in financial systems expanded when the group visited the Equal Justice Initiative’s Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice.

“It was a transformative convening,” Constance told us. “The visits lifted the veil of misinformation, uncovering systemic racial and gender biases I hadn’t fully understood before.”

For Thomas, who grew up in the United States and South America, it was nothing short of life changing. He called it a “catalytic life experience.” Both came away not only with a deeper understanding of the history of racial injustice in the United States, but also with concrete ideas on how to align their philanthropy with equity and justice, reflecting their collective values across generations and life experiences as a family.

What stood out to us was how these experiences provided their family, and others, a safe space to discuss generational differences, reflect on the roots of wealth in this country, and identify actionable next steps aligned with shared family values. That’s the magic of a learning journey—it creates space for meaningful change.

It’s also about going beyond financial contributions. While the Broz family committed to increasing their investments in racial equity-focused funds, they also took on the role of unofficial ambassadors—encouraging other family offices and investors in their network to see the value in doing the same. Through this experience, Tom and Constance gained a deeper understanding of the challenges facing Black and Brown communities, enabling them to focus their efforts more effectively. This journey clarified their purpose and amplified their impact. Imagine the ripple effects if more family offices and foundations took similar steps to support families on this path.

Learning Modalities to Consider

If you’re wondering how your family can start this kind of journey, begin by identifying what you want to accomplish together and the modality that best fits your family dynamics.

Here are our thoughts on the pros and cons of some options:

Join a Virtual Workshop

Pros:

• Ideal for larger families when coordinating flights or travel logistics is challenging.
• Provides the comfort of engaging from your own home or a familiar safe space.

Cons:

• In a time of screen fatigue, you might miss the emotional connection of being physically present in a shared space.
• There’s a higher chance of participants disengaging without notice.

Participate in Place-Based Experiences

Pros:

• Immersing yourself in a new environment engages your senses, making the experience more memorable and potentially life-changing.
• These trips often leave a lasting impression.

Con:

• They can be costly and require significant time and effort to coordinate across multiple schedules.

Hire a Racial Equity Consultant

Pro:

• An external consultant can design experiences tailored to your family’s needs, combining place-based and virtual learning.

Con:

• Finding and vetting the right consultant requires extra effort.

Ultimately, we recommend identifying what works best for your family. Look for individuals or organizations with proven experience helping families navigate similar journeys and achieve their learning goals. This step will ensure a meaningful and impactful experience tailored to your needs.

Olabayo Allen-Taylor is the Chief Operating Officer at Impact Experience
Jenna Nicholas is the CEO of Impact Experience

The views and opinions expressed in individual blog posts are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the National Center for Family Philanthropy.