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Strengthening the legacy of Black philanthropy (Part 1 of 4)
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Lady O isn't the only philanthropist in town!
This is part one in a four-part series examining African-Americans in philanthropy.
Although Black History Month is officially winding down, I decided that I would like to profile some of the movers and shakers within the African-American philanthropic community. Whether to family members or to institutions (such as the church), the act of giving has always been a strong pillar of the Black community. Yet, when it comes to the concept of "philanthropy," many people are reluctant to describe their charitable acts as such. The word often invokes thoughts of the acts of multi-millionaires (or billionaires), and not the contributions of the everyday man.
Those leading the philanthropic path believe that this has to change. In an 1999 study examining the building of endowments within the Black community, Wanda Weekes Moore, a trustee for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation said that "we must stop being afraid of the 'p' word and use it to proudly describe our rich history of giving." I couldn't have said it better myself!
For this series, I decided to profile individuals or organizations representing four key roles within the Black philanthropic community:
The Communicator
The Adviser
The Grant-Maker
The Giver
While the titles of the roles aren't necessarily ground-breaking, each individual or organization brings an unique perspective to the table and all share the common goal of strengthening the legacy of philanthropy within the African-American community.
"How do I find out about African-Americans who are actively giving back?"
The Communicator
Tracey W.
Founder, BlackGivesBack Blog
When I first started The Fabulous Giver, I did a sweeping search to locate other philanthropy and charity bloggers. Through the magic of Google, I landed on the highly-praised BlackGivesBack, a blog dedicated to highlighting philanthropic events and initiatives within the African-American community.
Tracey started BGB in March 2007 “with the hopes of sharing stories of giving in the Black community to inspire others to give.” She routinely features celebrities, athletes, business leaders, and everyday heroes on her site, and most recently rolled out an "Insider" series profiling African-Americans in the nonprofit and philanthropy sector. Tracey was kind enough to talk to me about her experience with BlackGivesBack and what she hopes people learn from her site!
What's been the reaction to BGB, both within and outside the African-American community?
It's been very positive...I've been contacted by numerous individuals, of all races, who want to start or expand programs in their communities. Also, the foundations of celebrities such as Rihanna, Ludacris, Ossie & Ruby Davis, and Tracy Mourning have all included my posts on their websites, which helps to increase the visibility and credibility for my blog.
There are plenty of misconceptions about African-Americans and giving. How do you hope that your site can help change those for the future?
There are many misconceptions, specifically that African Americans are the recipients of philanthropic giving and not donors. I hope that my blog shows that there is a vast amount of giving by African Americans for African Americans. This is important because research has shown that communities of color will constitute a large percentage of the population in the future. To ensure the stability of philanthropic giving in the Black community, new donors will need to come from communities of color.
As a communicator, what's the core message that you want readers to understand about your site and the Black philanthropic community?
I would like everyone to understand that anyone can make a difference without giving money...Use your gifts and talents to enrich the life of someone else. I hope my blog conveys that core message.
Key Takeaway: If there is a media void related to your cause, don't be afraid to develop your own communications platform. Build a community and use your voice to inspire others!
Insider's Tip: In the right sidebar of BGB, Tracey has done a great job of listing Black foundations and philanthropic resources, along with blogs discussing topics within the nonprofit sector. Questions (or kudos) for Tracey can be sent to blackgivesback@gmail.com!
Part 2 coming next week...Have a great weekend, everyone!
-kb
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