Akonadi Foundation: 25 Years of Advancing Racial Justice
Founded in 2000 by Quinn Delaney and Wayne Jordan, Akonadi Foundation began as an expression of their commitment to racial justice. The place-based family foundation evolved from Quinn’s and Wayne’s years of experience as progressive donors, campaign activists, and civil rights advocates. Named after the Ghanaian goddess of justice, the foundation has supported movements that challenge systemic oppression and build power in communities of color in Oakland for over 25 years.
Inspired by the state and local youth-led groups and community organizers fighting Proposition 21, a racist ballot measure targeting and criminalizing young people of color, Quinn Delaney and Wayne Jordan founded Akonadi Foundation to channel their support for the young people and their families fighting for justice. They envisioned the foundation becoming a partner in the work to advance racial justice by listening closely, collaborating deeply, and marching in lockstep with courageous advocates and organizers on the frontlines.
Over the last 25 years, the Foundation has given over $61 million to nonprofit organizations, primarily in Oakland, that have centered power-building and organizing to fuel a racial justice movement. Today, we face significant political and cultural challenges that demand a focused approach to deepen the impact of our work. Akonadi is doubling down on our commitment to work collaboratively with organizers, advocates and creatives, as well as with our peers in philanthropy, to build an Oakland that is truly for all.
As Akonadi marks its 25th anniversary in 2025, it celebrates a legacy of movement-building and a renewed commitment to advancing racial justice for future generations.
Timeline
Youth Organizing Inspires Akonadi’s Founding
Youth groups in the Bay Area campaigned against Proposition 21, which would have tried 14-year-olds as adults and incarcerated 16-year-olds in adult prisons. The youth-led community organizing would inspire the creation of Akonadi Foundation.
Akonadi Foundation is Established
Quinn Delaney and Wayne Jordan established Akonadi Foundation, as an expression of their commitment to racial justice. The foundation was named after the Ghanaian goddess of justice.
Honored for Philanthropic Leadership
Akonadi received the Institutional Award for Philanthropic Leadership from ABFE, a philanthropic partnership for Black communities.
Launched Rapid Response and Coalition Building Funds
Akonadi launched the Strategic Opportunity Support (SOS) Fund and the Oscar Grant Fund to support rapid-response racial justice organizing and coalition building, arts, culture, healing, and coalition building.
Launched Racial Justice Poster Project to Celebrate Art and Culture
That same year, Akonadi launched the Racial Justice Poster Project to commemorate March 21, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. As part of the project, Akoandi commissions artists to design posters honoring the racial justice movement in Oakland and across the world, emphasizing arts, culture and healing.
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Created Beloved Community Fund to Support Art and Cultural Events
Akonadi focused its grantmaking in Oakland, launching the Beloved Community Fund to support public art and cultural events in communities of color.
Launched Arc Toward Justice: An Investment in Youth Justice
Akonadi launched the Arc Toward Justice Fund, aimed at fostering equity for youth and young adults of color in Oakland, investing in organizations working to end the school-to-prison pipeline, and build responses to harm that nurture wellness and well-being.
Introduced So Love Can Win to Support Healing and Community Safety
Akonadi launched the So Love Can Win Community Response Fund, offering small grants to spark imagination and seed efforts to create healing and safety in Oakland’s communities of color.
Recognized as Outstanding Foundation
Akonadi received the Outstanding Foundation Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals Golden Gate Chapter in recognition of Annual Philanthropy Day.
Launched All In For Oakland to Transform Youth Justice
Akonadi launched All in for Oakland, a $12.5 million five-year initiative to transform youth justice in Oakland by audaciously investing in people of color-led organizing, base-building and policy advocacy to end the criminalization of Black youth and youth of color in Oakland.
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Responded to COVID-19 and Invested in Black Freedom
• Akonadi Foundation allocated $1 million from its endowment for COVID-19 rapid response funding through its So Love Can Win Fund.
• Akonadi joined nearly two dozen funders to launch the California Black Freedom Fund.
• Akonadi launched Belonging in Oakland: A Just City Cultural Fund with East Bay Community Foundation and the City of Oakland, with support from Surdna Foundation.
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Supported Bay Area Artists through Creatives in Place Launch
Akonadi partners with Tao Rising, TJ Universe and Change Consulting to launch Creatives in Place to support, listen and learn from Bay Area artists what creative and cultural communities need in order to continue to be rooted in the Bay Area.
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Celebrated Community through #WeLoveOakland
Akonadi launched “We Love Oakland” to celebrate the vibrant and joyful culture, relationships, and activism that rises above the current discourse around safety and community in Oakland.
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Marked 25 Years of Racial Justice
Akonadi celebrates its 25th anniversary, highlighting its ongoing commitment to advancing racial justice in Oakland, and announces its new strategic vision.
