Update from AFP GTC’s Interim Board President
Much has happened since 1st June 2023, which marked the beginning of my role as interim president of AFP GTC. As you know, I was appointed by AFP Global Board Chair Birgit Burton. My appointment was a direct response to the simultaneous resignation of the entire AFP GTC board in the month of May.
June marked an intense journey towards restoration for incidents of anti-Black racism perpetuated by AFP GTC board members in 2019. Threats of legal action from the 2019 Chapter President as well as the failure of board members to be accountable in acknowledging, apologizing, and making amends for acts of racism created a precarious situation which has now been resolved.
In the month of June, in lieu of an apology from AFP GTC, AFP Global rendered an apology for acts of anti-Black racism, and also placed sanctions on our Chapter by rescinding our 10-Star Chapter Designation and also rescinding our IDEA Champion Status. Both are coveted accolades that speak to the excellence of AFP Chapters. These actions, along with Caroline Riseboro’s return of the Outstanding Fundraising Professional Award, for 2022, formed the basis of conditions set out by me, Nneka Allen, and Múthoní Kariuki towards restoration for our experiences of racism as AFP GTC board members in 2019. Our confirmation of restitution regarding these issues was published in a LinkedIn post on 30th June 2023, entitled “Together We Stand”.
One of the early discoveries I have made in my current role is that the independent IDEA Audit Report prepared in 2021 by Dr. Notisha Massaquoi MSW, PhD, of Nyanda Consulting, was not fully disclosed to our members when it was posted on our website in 2022. The 2022 version that was published was not the full report but rather an abbreviated version of it. The full IDEA Audit report goes to great lengths to establish a widespread culture of racism within our Chapter.
In the spirit of full transparency, we have now made available the full version of the IDEA Audit Report on the AFP GTC website. Our request is that all our members should please take the time to read the report to better understand the extent of anti-Black racism and other forms of discrimination entrenched within our Chapter.
As you read the report, please note that it states that, “Black Board members who recently resigned from the AFP Toronto Board were offered an opportunity to be interviewed but all declined”. In fact, Múthoní Karíukí, Nneka Allen and I did not decline to be interviewed, but rather, when we were approached, we requested clarification regarding the objectives and the outcomes of Dr. Massaquoi’s IDEA Audit report. Our request for clarification was in fact ignored.
I encourage you to take the time to read the full IDEA Audit Report, as it provides the context for the ongoing restorative work that lays ahead for our Chapter, so that it becomes a place of belonging for all fundraisers. This work is one which we invite all our members to be engaged in.
Sincerely.
Olumide (Mide) Akerewusi
AFP GTC Interim Board President