Member Highlight: Carmen Randolph on Philanthropy's Role in Driving Equity and Change
Dive into this GNOFN Member Q&A with GNOFN board member Carmen Randolph, who serves as the Founding President and CEO of the Women’s Foundation of the South.
Q: In your approach to philanthropy, you embody the powerful example of collaborative thinking and funding. You have built a long track record of wins in philanthropy and community change, which requires bringing funders together around common challenges and solutions. Why is this kind of collaborative, regional approach so critical?
A: Collaboration between funders is absolutely essential, especially in regions like the South that are facing such complex, interconnected challenges. When funders come together, it allows us to pool resources, leverage local knowledge and expertise, and take a more holistic, systems-level approach to problem-solving.
This kind of collaborative approach stands in contrast to a more siloed, top-down model of philanthropy. By centering local voices and aligning our resources, we are able to create something much more powerful and responsive to the community's needs. It's a great example of how funders can multiply their impact by working together.
Ultimately, the challenges facing regions like the South are too big and too interconnected for any one funder or organization to tackle alone. Collaboration allows us to build a true ecosystem of support, leverage our different strengths and perspectives, and drive transformative change. It's an approach I'm deeply committed to as we continue to grow the Women's Foundation of the South (WFS).
Q: A lot has happened politically, economically, and socially in the U.S. since 2020. How have you seen philanthropy adapt, or struggle to adapt, in recent years?
A: On one hand, we've seen the creation of many new equity funds and a renewed focus on diversity, equity and inclusion within foundations. But there's also been pushback, with some funders becoming "equity weary" and wanting to move on. The political landscape, with attacks on things like affirmative action and reproductive rights, has had a direct impact on philanthropy and the tough choices funders have to make about aligning their values and actions.
Q: In this same timeline, you took on the role of Founding President and CEO of WFS in 2021. How did the political and philanthropy landscape influence the creation of WFS?
A: The urgency we felt to create the Women's Foundation of the South came from recognizing the dire realities facing women of color in the region, even before the pandemic and the rollback of reproductive rights. Data shows that women of color in the South receive just $2.36 per woman or girl from philanthropic investments, compared to $5.36 nationally.
We knew we needed to build something from the ground up that was deeply rooted in the community, centered on the expertise of women of color leaders, and uncompromising in its focus on equity and justice. It's been incredible to see the foundation grow in just three years, supporting over 95 nonprofits led by women of color across four states so far.
Q: Beyond your grantmaking, you've also focused on building internal systems and policies that align with the foundation's values. Can you share more about that approach?
A: It was crucial to us that WFS not only espouse values of equity and justice externally, but live them out internally as well. So, we've put a huge emphasis on creating personnel policies, benefits, and operational practices that are truly pro-woman and pro-people of color.
This includes things like anti-racist language in our policies, flexible spending accounts that recognize the broader caregiving responsibilities of women of color, and a continuity of operations plan that supports our staff and their families in times of crisis. We want this organization to be a model of the change we wish to see in the philanthropic sector.
Q: The South is clearly a challenging but critical region for this work. How do you see philanthropy's role in navigating the complex political and social landscape here?
A: The South has become ground zero for many of the most harmful political attacks on things like reproductive rights, voting access, and diversity education. It's a testing ground, and the impact on women, families, and communities of color is devastating.
But this is precisely why philanthropy must step up with courage and conviction. We have to be willing to align our actions and our giving with our values, even when it's unpopular. We have to be willing to show up, fund the grassroots movements, and amplify the stories that are too often silenced. The stakes are too high to do anything less.
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Over the course of her 25-year career in philanthropy, Carmen Randolph has worked hard to successfully galvanize funders, donors, policymakers, and grassroots activists to forever change lives, systems, and communities for good. She is particularly passionate about building prosperity for women and girls of color and firmly believes in the ineffable power a sisterhood holds to support, nurture, and amplify one another – this is why she always makes a point of collaborating with other women in philanthropy to inspire and guide each other. In addition to serving as the Founding President and CEO of the Women’s Foundation of the South, Carmen is presently a fellow in the Aspen Institute and the Neighborhood Funder’s Group Philanthropy Forward initiative, and was recently invited to join Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Membership. Carmen is a proud mother of three young adults, and she lives in New Orleans with her husband and family, where they delight in the vibrant culture of the city. She was named one of the Top Women Leaders of Louisiana for 2024.
