Alvin Louis Starks

Alvin Louis Starks is a progressive racial justice researcher and advocate who works in philanthropy and civil rights advocacy to address issues of systemic inequality. Alvin’s visionary leadership and innovative philanthropic research supports a new generation of ideas and organizations to explore the intersections of human rights, racial justice, cross movement building and gender equity. Alvin has written numerous reports and strategy papers for donors and foundations exploring progressive activities to strengthen social change. Alvin has an extensive philanthropic background that has granted him the unique privilege to work at several leading foundations. For over eight years, Alvin worked at the Open Society Institute and in 2004 created and directed the Open Society Institute’s Racial Justice Initiative. Before joining OSI, Alvin held the position of Senior Program Officer for Racial Justice and Gender Identity at the Arcus Foundation. There his work focused on building the foundation’s mission to advance the intersections of race, sexuality and gender identity. Alvin worked with the national NAACP to encourage new progressive advocacy and build philanthropic engagement, and served with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation as their Program Officer for Racial Equity. Alvin received his formal education from the State University of New York and Columbia University in New York City. He sits on several non-profit boards.