Surprising Facts About Black Philanthropy Month (Audio)
There is excitement around giving. And this may surprise you. Black Americans give more to charities than any other racial group in America. And for the past 16 years, hundreds of do-gooders in the city of Charlotte have committed to giving back to their community. And they are giving specifically to Black-founded and Black-led nonprofit organizations.
According to an article in The Washington Post, Blacks tend to give in three specific areas. Higher education and the arts; other organizations that serve the Black community and of course, Black churches. And it is the Black churches that benefit the most. Statistics from Newsone show that about two-thirds of African-American households donate roughly $11 billion a year.
I had a chance to talk with Valaida Fulwood who runs the local chapter of NGAAP – New Generation of African-American Philanthropists. She says members commit financially for at least three years to invest dollars in and strengthen the Black community of Charlotte and beyond.
Black giving is not a new concept. History shows one of the first Black philanthropists was James Forten. He was an abolitionist born in Philadelphia in 1766. After serving on a ship during the American Revolutionary War, he became the top-selling sailmaker in Philadelphia. He used his wealth to help the freedom movement. He helped finance abolitionist newspapers as well. Even after he died, his children and grandchildren continued his legacy.
There are plenty of notable Black celebrity philanthropists today including media mogul Oprah Winfrey and NBA great LeBron James.
Fulwood says the mission for NGAAP and Black philanthropy in general Fulwood is simple. They want to advance racial funding equity. And they want to ensure there is more investment in and acknowledgment of Black-led, Black-benefitting (BLBB) nonprofit organizations.
How To Give Black
To celebrate Black Philanthropy Month, there are several resources to guide you on how to give to Black-founded and Black-led nonprofit organizations. See a few below:
NGAAP (New Generation of African-American Philanthropists)
