Lessons of Black Philanthropy Month 2021
Lewis Rudd, Andrea Caupain Sanderson, Doug Baldwin Jr., Frankie Manning, and Mattie Mooney, gathered virtually for our first Washington Black Philanthropy Month discussion, "Black Philanthropy is Community Care."
This August, we came together to celebrate Black Philanthropy Month across Washington state. This month of action, originally initiated by Dr. Jackie Bouvier Copeland and the Pan African Women’s Network in 2011, is recognized worldwide as a time to showcase the ingenuity and transformative impact of Black generosity, and encourage increased investment in Black communities. As planning partners of Black Philanthropy Month here in Washington, our goal was to lift up the rich legacy of Black philanthropy, rooted in ancestral traditions of giving and sharing, and reclaim what has been co-opted. It’s time to shift the philanthropic paradigm, and expand the Black philanthropic model of generosity.
What we learned together
We learned many things throughout Black Philanthropy Month. We were reminded that Black folks are leading innovative work around the state, and that Black philanthropy exists in all of our communities. We learned that shifting the philanthropic paradigm is critical to our work. We examined how Black people have mostly been seen as beneficiaries, rather than contributors in the philanthropic field, and how this framing has never been viable. We were reinvigorated that there has never been a more crucial time to invest in solutions being led by Black people. At its core, philanthropy is about trying to solve public problems, and no one understands our communities like we do.
How we’re taking those lessons forward
Now it’s time to build on the momentum of a full month of inspiring lessons and collaboration. As a Black-led fund, we aim to define for ourselves, speak for ourselves, and create for ourselves a new model of philanthropy. One that is rooted in the beauty, soulfulness, and strength of Blackness. The autonomy that comes with this model will allow us to invest in innovation and problem solving that will move us all forward. We know that the liberation and prosperity we are fighting for requires intentional investment, and by continuing to work together we are able to strengthen investment in Black well-being. We encourage everyone to continue supporting this movement towards Black liberation and prosperity by donating to our fund, investing directly in Black-led nonprofits or Black-owned businesses in your community, or sharing your thoughts and experiences through our new community survey.
Support the work of strengthening Black philanthropy across Washington state by: