Did you know Black philanthropy predates the tax code? Black community philanthropy existed far prior to the models of philanthropy and giving in the mainstream today and well before citizens were given tax breaks for charitable giving. The culture of giving among Black folks is not limited to a specific type of giving, nor can it be designated and compartmentalized in a reductive manner. Rather, these practices of generosity are continuous with a broader cultural context that centers around the expectation of helping and supporting others as a means to navigate the powerful and externally imposed constraints of a racist society. Thus, Black philanthropy broadens our understanding of what counts as philanthropy and who counts as philanthropists. It reminds us that models of philanthropy and giving that are in the mainstream today, like mutual aid, which was popularized during the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, have long been a practice broadly in Black communities when the systems that are supposed to support us to survive and thrive fail to do so.
Much of what drives Black community philanthropy is a set of organizing principles rooted in West African culture: 1) giving is relational rather than transactional, 2) philanthropy is deeper than our pockets: it’s a community driver, and 3) a recognition of mutuality: the benefactor one day may be the beneficiary the next. Black community philanthropy runs deeper than charitable giving. It uses a social justice lens to break down barriers and provide opportunities for Black people and communities.
In a candid article, creator of Black Philanthropy Month, Dr. Jacqueline Copeland, said, “There were certain African orientations that survived the transatlantic slave trade and became the backbone, the conceptual and structural framework, for what we call Black American philanthropy. That concept [of Ubuntu] was retained in the United States, and we call it collective giving. But there is a greater whole history, including our ancestors, and a future that transcends all of us as individuals, and we have a responsibility to pay it forward.”
Several years ago, a client engaged Frontline Solutions to test and advance an investment strategy that sought to support and scale Black philanthropy as an economic mobility strategy. As part of this work, we engaged with some of the foremost contemporary thought leaders in Black philanthropy, including Dr. Copeland. With the input of these thought leaders, we developed a taxonomy of organizations operating within the Black philanthropy ecosystem to assess current institutional, individual, and corporate investments in Black philanthropic organizations.
This August, we are releasing this Black Philanthropy Ecosystem as a framework and reflection of Black philanthropy’s expansiveness. We hope that this artifact allows us to more fully celebrate the power, breadth, and depth of Black Philanthropy this month, and always. Happy Black Philanthropy Month!
A special thank you to Frontline Director, Brandon Williams,Frontline alum Jessica Barron, Ph.D., and Frontline advisor Linetta Gilbert who led the development of this Taxonomy of Black Philanthropy!