Member Spotlight: Rebekah Seder
Day Job:
I currently work in institutional fundraising for the Campaign Legal Center, which works to create a more transparent, accountable, and inclusive democracy, specifically around voting rights, redistricting reform, campaign finance reform, and ethics. Previously, I worked for many years at the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers, developing programs to help DC-area philanthropic leaders learn about critical issues and take action to create a more racially equitable region.
What interests you about NGGC?
I joined NGGC more or less at its beginning, so I was very excited to contribute to the design and implementation of our first grant round. Participating in the Grants Committee has been a great opportunity to put my knowledge of philanthropy into practice. It has been rewarding to be part a collaborative process that seeks to center racial equity throughout, from determining our funding priorities, developing the RFP and evaluation criteria, and ultimately selecting grantees. I am deepening my own knowledge of equitable philanthropic practices, and learning more about grassroots organizations in the region.
What nonprofit or cause do you care a lot about?
Broadly speaking, I care a lot about making DC, which I have been proud to call home my entire adult life, a more equitable place. And, I care a lot about how organized philanthropy can better support movements for long-term, progressive, and systemic change. This region is home to many grassroots, BIPOC-led and centered organizations doing incredible work to build community power to reverse decades of institutional racism and disinvestment. Diverse City Fund, Black Swan Academy, ONE DC, and IMPACT Silver Spring (to name just a few of many!) are very different organizations in terms of focus, strategies and scope, but they do incredibly important work to make this city and region a better place for everyone, often with less access to philanthropic dollars than other types of nonprofit groups.
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