E. Bomani Johnson joined the staff of ABFE as the Senior Director of Special Initiatives in September 2023. In this role he leads ABFE’s work to strengthen and accelerate the advancement of racial equity, racial justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors in response to the most recent wave of attacks promoted by the Supreme Court of the United States’ decision to gut affirmative action in higher education admissions.  He is also leading ABFE’s efforts to establish funding collaboratives focused on resourcing Black-led and Black serving organizations in different parts of the country. While Bomani’s staff experience is relatively new, his history with ABFE spans more than a decade as an engaged member, consultant, and an alumni of the 2014-2015 class of the Connecting Leaders Fellowship Program.   

Prior to his current role, Bomani was Co-Founder and the first Executive Director of Nafasi Fund, – a fiscal sponsor focused on meeting the unique needs of Black-led organizations - vice president of external partnerships for The Moriah Group, and Founder and Principal of Emergent Pathways, a racial justice focused consulting firm supporting philanthropies and nonprofits abilities to be effective partners in Black communities and other communities of color. He has more than 30 years of experience in community organizing, program and organizational development, nonprofit leadership, strategic grantmaking and philanthropic organizing having worked with the Greater Washington Community Foundation, Latina American Youth Center, Illinois Center for Violence Prevention, Kenwood Oakland Community Organization, and American Friends Service Committee. 

Bomani earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.