Q&A with Shawn Escoffery

Our Funder Perspectives segment highlights insights from dedicated leaders in the world of philanthropy and spotlight their work to improve Los Angeles. In this issue, we are proud to feature Executive Director of The Roy & Patricia Disney Foundation—Shawn Escoffery!

“Ultimately, I see philanthropy as a way to scale community-based solutions and impact. It’s a powerful tool to shift resources back into the hands of community leaders—those who are closest to the issues and best positioned to drive change. That’s what excites me.”

What has inspired your deep dedication to philanthropy? What excites you about this work?

Before working in philanthropy, I spent almost two decades in the nonprofit sector in various roles from community organizer, affordable housing developer to economic development and even at one point running a vocational school. My work was rooted in underappreciated communities, and I remember the countless times I tried to convince program officers from various foundations that the work we were doing and who was leading the work simply mattered. Frankly, I hated philanthropy and the inherited power imbalance I felt every time I was brought in front of some suits to advocate for funding. I can’t remember if I ever dreamed about sitting on the other side of the table, but I knew if I ever had the chance to influence how resources would be distributed, I thought I could do it better simply by listening more and believing community voices. And when I got the chance to enter this field, I did just that – centered my work on the communities we wanted to impact and made sure to listen first and to be as transparent as possible. There is a great privilege that comes with being a steward of resources, I’ve committed to doing all that I can to confront some of the inherited challenges of this field while always lifting up the voices of the communities we are here to serve. Everyday I’m excited by the community members I meet and the brilliant solutions they’ve developed to address a myriad of challenges facing their communities. I’m energized by their unwavering resolve and fight for what is right and just. And in this role as a philanthropic leader, I’m excited to be able to share our resources in meaningful ways and assist in the ongoing development of nonprofit leaders and their staff. Ultimately, I see philanthropy as a way to scale community-based solutions and impact. It’s a powerful tool to shift resources back into the hands of community leaders—those who are closest to the issues and best positioned to drive change. That’s what excites me.

What is the mission of The Roy & Patricia Disney Family Foundation and what vision is the foundation unrelentingly working toward over the long term?

RPDFF is a social justice funder, and we are dedicated to investing in innovative solutions and community leaders working to build a more just, equitable, and sustainable world where all people thrive. We take a place-based and trust-based approach, grounding ourselves in local issues and supporting efforts that strengthen our partners' impact. At the heart of our work is an unwavering commitment to racial, gender, and economic justice. That means we activate all our tools—grantmaking, impact investing, and internal operations—to advance that mission at every level of our organization. We also believe in doing philanthropy differently. That means creating opportunities for more people, regardless of background, to enter this field; building trust and demystifying the world of philanthropy by being transparent and honest; celebrating the important work of the organizations we support and acknowledging the staff that are tirelessly fighting for social change; and encouraging others in the field of philanthropy to also be better.

What is the current funding focus at The Roy & Patricia Disney Family Foundation?

The foundation’s work is firmly focused on resourcing organizations led by people who reflect the communities it serves across its three key grantmaking portfolios—affordable housing, criminal justice reform, and environmental justice. Additionally, we engage in crisis response grantmaking—for instance, supporting recovery efforts in Altadena following recent wildfires and resourcing international efforts when disasters happen. We also have an impact investing portfolio where we invest in first time BIPOC and Women fund managers, provide PRIs to affordable housing deals and support the development of innovative financing tools as well as efforts to bring diversity to the world of finance.  Lastly, for the last several years we’ve expanded our commitment to participatory grantmaking in an effort to further democratize philanthropy.

In what ways does The Roy & Patricia Disney Family Foundation distinctly support and enhance organizations and initiatives that tackle existing and reinforcing conditions contributing to inequality?

We apply a racial and gender justice lens to everything we do, which helps us understand the layered and intersecting forces that drive inequality—and the historical and ongoing harm communities continue to face. We take a systems-level approach, listening to movement leaders and investing in community-rooted solutions that address root causes, not just symptoms. But it's not just about backing strong ideas—it’s about building strong organizations. We invest in the capacities of our partners, especially those that have been historically underfunded or overlooked by mainstream philanthropy, government, or other funding streams. And the vast majority of our grants are general operating support which provides greater flexibility for nonprofits responding to the shifting needs of their communities.

What do you think are some of the biggest challenges facing the region, and how is The Roy & Patricia Disney Family Foundation working to address those?

We’re deeply rooted in place—specifically, Greater Los Angeles (particularly South and East LA) and Greater New Orleans. These regions carry personal and historical significance for the foundation and face urgent, systemic challenges. Louisiana has the highest incarceration rate in the country. Los Angeles is in the midst of a housing and homelessness crisis. And communities in both New Orleans and Los Angeles face health disparities and severe pollution—nowhere more visible than in Louisiana’s “Cancer Alley.” These aren’t isolated issues—they’re symptoms of deeper structural inequities. While we recognize our regions face a wide range of challenges right now, we chose to focus on criminal justice, affordable housing, and environmental justice because they are both pressing and areas where the foundation is uniquely positioned to support transformative change.

The Roy & Patricia Disney Family Foundation participates in various initiatives aimed at promoting social justice and addressing the critical needs of marginalized groups, including investments in frontline communities that are driving transformative change. Why is investing in community-led organizing so important in achieving and advancing justice?

We’ve always prioritized organizations led by and for people of color—because those closest to the harm often hold the most powerful solutions. They know their communities in ways that funders and outsiders simply can’t. I’m not the expert on every issue—and I shouldn’t pretend to be. There are cultural nuances in places like Cancer Alley, or even in affordable housing efforts across neighborhoods in LA—that I can’t fully understand. That’s why community leadership is essential.

Philanthropy talks a lot about trusting communities—but too often, it doesn’t fund them like it truly believes in them. Our job as funders isn’t to have all the answers. It’s to show up, listen deeply, and invest in the people doing the work. That means multi-year general operating support, participatory grantmaking, and building real relationships. I show up to events in LA on weekends not as “the foundation” but as a neighbor—because being present matters. Trust matters. Partnership matters. And when we give communities room to lead, to grow, and to thrive—you see the impact.

Why does The Roy & Patricia Disney Foundation choose to partner with Liberty Hill?

Liberty Hill shares the values of justice and equity and the importance of community leadership. We’re actually partnering with Liberty Hill on a participatory grantmaking program. We trust in their ability to not only reach but partner with communities in a way we know we can’t always do. Liberty Hill has been an amazing partner in addressing the issues we care most about –– and supporting and resourcing the communities who are at the heart of the solutions.