A Panel on Black Philanthropy: Describing Love In Action
In our collective work toward Black health, wealth, and well-being, the pivotal role of Black philanthropy cannot be understated. Black Philanthropy Month was started by Dr. Jackie Bouvier Copeland and the Pan-African Women’s Philanthropy Network in 2011. Now every August, it is recognized around the world as an inclusive opportunity to illuminate the ingenuity and transformative impact of Black generosity and encourage increased investment in Black communities.
To kick off the month, Dr. Nekya Johnson facilitated a virtual conversation with Black philanthropists who are calling in community to consider what love in action looks like and what it means for philanthropy in the future. Panelists included Olympia Edwards, CEO and founder of Project Girl Mentoring Program; Jesse D. Hayes IV, president of Red Tailed Hawks Flying Club; and Kristina Jorgensen, founder and executive director of Participatory Justice. Their insights delved into the realities of equitable investment, authentic philanthropy, and the donor relationship.
Equitable investment: Beyond financial contributions
Equitable investment serves as a cornerstone for creating lasting change within communities. Traditional philanthropy has only invested 1.8% in Black-led organizations. This means less access, especially for Black organizations who are already working with limited resources in their search for funding. When philanthropy is driven by love, these things shift because vulnerability — a necessary ingredient to love — is present. When driven by love, relationships become the foundation from which all exchange takes place.
Olympia offered the metaphor of a community festival where not only is everyone invited, but there are multiple ways for everyone to participate. Philanthropic organizations should be investing their time and attention to see the work through the perspectives of the communities and organizations they support. Every organization is working differently and has varying needs. Done in this way, equitable investment is not just about financial contributions. Investments should be made not just in terms of money, but also in the varying kinds of support that further communities’ growth. It's about offering resources, expertise, and mentorship that align with community aspirations and strengths. Nekya echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for philanthropic organizations to immerse themselves in the community they aim to support.
Philanthropy with purpose: Building authentic connections
Authentic engagement requires a deep understanding of the unique needs of the community and building relationships based on trust. Kristina highlighted the importance of trust in this process. Philanthropy must truly believe that communities know what they need and work alongside them to find the best ways to achieve their goals. “Sometimes we fail and we have to go back to the drawing board, so flexibility is key,” Kristina said. In action, that trust looks like allowing space and grace for experimentation — not expecting to always see success right away. It means being willing to continue walking alongside organizations in authentic relationship.
“When you have an environment that is rooted in love, then you believe in the concept of sowing and reaping,” Jesse offered. In order for the harvest to come, there must be time allowed after planting seeds in the community for them to grow and be steadily nurtured. There’s a lot of trust and attentiveness involved in that process, but the benefits are then shared by all.
Philanthropy holds tremendous power to accelerate our collective movement toward social change, but it must be done in a way that honors the realities of where we are as organizations. Given the inherent power dynamic between philanthropy and community-based organizations, much attention has to be paid to building the kind of trust that allows for honest conversations.
Demonstrating love in action: The donor-community relationship
Traditional philanthropy has work to do in shifting its assumptions and practices to better support Black-led organizations. The shift is worth it. The changes being called for will support the whole nonprofit sector. Olympia called out the fact that the practices in place, “pit us against each other no matter what we’re doing.” This sets up a dynamic of the supported and the unsupported — of the worthy and the unworthy. We need the sector to move toward collaboration and away from competition.
Jesse shared that the focus on numbers is also harmful. Rather than using numbers, support organizations in telling their stories of impact. Storytelling is an effective way to communicate community needs and challenges to donors and funders. By sharing authentic stories, our experiences are humanized, leading to better understanding and more precise and effective support systems.
Those stories also offer a space in which to dream. Kristina pointed to philanthropy’s lack of creativity and imagination, consistently going back to what they already know. There has yet to be a clear understanding or insight into the ripple effect that investing in one person can have. When we move with love, we move with the understanding that each individual holds an immense amount of value and potential. If we truly believe in that value then we’d fund organizations to walk alongside community members in the same way we’re calling on philanthropy to walk alongside organizations — with graciousness, with care, with consistency, and with tailored support.
Modeling: Black philanthropy driven by self-love
Our capacity to love others is connected to our capacity to love ourselves. Authenticity in the sector means learning how to do this through all of the phases, spaces, and situations in which we might find ourselves. Those actions will look different depending on our histories, roles, and growth trajectories. Olympia commented on self-love being modeled by making and taking the time to slow down and notice exactly what is needed — for herself and for her team. “For me that might mean I just take off early and go ride my bike, slow down my own thoughts, and nurture who I am.”
So often in a system that wasn’t designed to love us, we are learning from one another and leaning on one another. It can be counter-intuitive to take a step back when the need is so great. Being conscious about resisting the sense of urgency we’re accustomed to is a first step to loving ourselves and one another. “It’s about being together, not being in competition; pouring into each other and building each other up. But, we don’t often get the space and time to realize that, or to embody that practice,” Kristina said.
Igniting change: Through understanding and action
In their closing statements, the panelists offered valuable takeaways for the audience. Olympia emphasized authenticity and understanding as the foundation for meaningful change. Once code-switching and being someone other than who we are becomes unnecessary, we’ll know change is happening. Being our authentic selves is how we begin to love. The space to be ourselves is of the utmost importance.
Panelists also emphasized that while money is important, it is only part of the solution. Organizations are carrying so much and need more people to help do the work. Many Black-led nonprofits are severely understaffed and rely on volunteer work to supplement their activities. This isn’t sustainable for organizations or the communities they serve. Recruiting and hiring staff can be a heavy lift when capacity is already stretched thin and budgets are low. Philanthropic support in this regard is a commonly-held need.
Jesse spoke to the role philanthropy can play in carrying the message of organizations to others with resources. For those who are in relationship with organizations and can speak to their dreams and aspirations, being able to share that in spaces of abundant resources will help shift the existing power dynamic. Those in the philanthropic sector can take some of the burden off of organizations by advocating for them, especially when they aren’t in the room. The fear of finite resources is a lie — we have a well of abundance that must be tapped in order to move toward a more just society.
In honoring Black philanthropy, panelists encouraged those who are committed to our collective well-being to share these lessons and put them into practice. Through authentic engagement, resource allocation, and a commitment to understanding, love in action can transform communities and bring about a future in which we all share abundance.
