Only a few years ago the field of philanthropy looked quite different. Causes and communities received funding, however, they would often be mismatched. The well-intended investment wouldn’t align with the needs of the community or it would fall short of sustainable change due to the lack of long-term investment. As conversations around equity, accountability, and meaningful giving pushed the field to do better, the Jane Bancroft Robinson Foundation (JBRF) saw the need to take a different approach. Philanthropy needed to shift funding and decision-making closer to the communities most impacted. 

That shift was especially urgent in Washington, D.C. ‘s Wards 7 and 8, where Black women continue to face overlapping challenges in healthcare, education, housing, and economic opportunity. The systems meant to support people often fall short, and for Black women East of the Anacostia River, the gaps are deep and longstanding. 

In response, JBRF supported the development of a new approach that put trust, leadership, and lived experience at the center. That’s how Black Women Thriving East of the River (BWTEotR) began: not as a one-time project, but as a long-term commitment to listening, investing differently, and following the lead of Black women in the community. 

The need was clear. Research showed that Black women in Wards 7 and 8 faced significantly higher barriers in accessing healthcare, especially cancer care, and had fewer opportunities to build lasting economic security. These patterns weren’t just unfortunate — they were the result of systems that weren’t designed to work for everyone. 

To chart a different path, 28 Black women came together to guide the work from the beginning. Doctors, nonprofit leaders, cancer survivors, caregivers, community organizers, and advocates – women from varied expertise and backgrounds – joined hands for a common cause. What they shared was a deep understanding of what wasn’t working and ideas for what could. Their insights shaped every part of the process.

JBRF didn’t convene a founding group to seek feedback. We leaned on their expertise to guide the process and compensated them for their time. In conversations and planning sessions, the group named the challenges they saw every day: health systems that didn’t listen, job opportunities that felt out of reach, and a lack of support for the kind of leadership they knew existed in their neighborhoods. Together, they designed solutions rooted in real experience—from improving cancer care systems to creating stronger job pipelines and leadership opportunities. 

Out of this process, BWTEotR became more than an idea. It grew into an organization led by Black women, working every day to build stronger systems, closer relationships, and practical tools for change. Led by Nakeisha Neal Jones, BWTEotR supports leadership development, policy advocacy, and efforts to make sure systems respond more directly and respectfully to the people they serve. 

Since being established as an organization, BWTEotR has launched workforce development programs that connect Black women with career pathways in healthcare – a field that offers stability, growth, and the chance to shape the future of care and innovation. These programs go beyond training to offer support that meets people where they are and helps them move forward.  

 One of those programs is the Healthcare Career Pathways & Possibilities Program, which helps lower the barriers to entering the health field. BWTeotR launched this program in partnership with Bread for The City and Elevation Educational Consulting Group. The program offers not only financial aid, but career planning, mentoring, and personalized support to help participants succeed in their chosen paths. 

BWTEotR is also working to make healthcare more fair and accessible. The Black Women’s Cancer Patient Bill of Rights is a key part of that work. Created with and for Black women in D.C., it lays out clear rights and expectations that help patients advocate for themselves at every stage—from diagnosis to treatment to life after care. It’s a tool to help people ask questions, speak up, and get the care they deserve. 

Today, BWTEotR is a trusted partner in the East of the River community. The organization is building connections amongst residents, organizations, and decision-makers, and staying focused on what Black women say they need most. 

This work is ongoing. There’s still more to do. But the path forward is stronger because it’s being shaped by the people who know it best. 

That’s what happens when trust leads the way. 

That’s what it looks like when Black women are supported to lead.

And that is the power of Black Women Thriving East of the River.