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Edgar Villanueva          

Founder & CEO of Decolonizing Wealth Project, Author, Social Justice Advocate

Edgar Villanueva is the Founder and CEO of Decolonizing Wealth Project & Liberated Capital. As an enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe, he leverages his extensive experience in philanthropy to promote racial equity and social justice. Villanueva serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for Native Americans in Philanthropy, NDN Collective, Mother Jones, and as a Board Member of the Andrus Family Fund, which focuses on improving outcomes for vulnerable youth.

Villanueva is the author of the best-selling book "Decolonizing Wealth," which was released in 2018. The book explores alternatives to the dynamics of colonization in the philanthropic and social finance sectors, leading to the establishment of the Decolonizing Wealth Project and Liberated Capital. His work with these organizations enhances his impact in the field, focusing on systemic change.

In addition to his roles in philanthropy, Villanueva advises Fortune 500 companies and global philanthropies on social impact strategies to advance racial equity. He is a recognized voice in discussions about the intersection of race, power, and wealth, having appeared in media outlets such as CBSN and The Laura Flanders Show. Villanueva has also been a speaker at notable events including the Skoll World Forum and the Equity in the Center Summit. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Health and a Master of Health Administration from the Gillings Global School of Public Health at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Villanueva currently resides in New York City.

Speech Topics


The Intersection of Race, Power, and Wealth

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Community and Human-Centered Corporate Social Responsibility and Social Impact

Edgar’s Seven Steps to Healing from Decolonizing Wealth

Climate Change & Sustainability

Food and Land Sovereignty

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Employee Resource Group Engagement

Indigenous and Other Communities of Color Power Building

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News


https://www.becu.org/blog/edgar-villanueva-on-closing-the-racial-wealth-gap
Edgar Villanueva used to struggle with what seemed like contradictions in his identity. He is a Southerner and a Native American — an enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. He is also a Christian who practices Indigenous rituals and traditions. His Spanish last name was given to him by his Filipino stepfather, a name passed down after Spain colonized the Philippines.
https://nonprofitquarterly.org/money-as-medicine-leveraging-philanthropy-to-decolonize-wealth/
The field of philanthropy is a living anachronism. It is (we are) like a stodgy relative wearing clothes that will never come back in fashion. It is adamant that it knows best, holding tight the purse strings. It is stubborn. It fails to get with the times, frustrating the younger folks. It does not care.
Reparations campaigns get boost from new philanthropic funding
The campaign to win reparations for Black Americans plans to bring broader support for smaller nonprofits advancing the cause, with a new philanthropic funding initiative announced Friday at the “Alight Align Arise” national conference in Atlanta.

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