“Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.
Love In Action!
August is Black Philanthropy Month in Washington state and around the world — an inclusive opportunity to celebrate the legacy of Black giving and inspire increased investment in Black communities. Throughout the month and beyond, we aim to elevate Black philanthropic leadership and encourage action that moves us collectively toward Black generational prosperity and well-being.
Love for our community is shown through action. We are calling on all Washingtonians to honor the legacy of Black giving and invest in Black communities. Everyone supportive of the cause of Black prosperity is invited to join us for this month of learning, growth, and progress. See how you can engage below.
A Panel on Black Philanthropy: Describing Love in Action
“Choosing to love is heroic.” - bell hooks
Ancestor bell hooks spoke of love as a heroic action that is itself an act of resistance. Every time we choose to love, we confront the systems that strip us of our humanity and our right to be loved. To be a Black philanthropist means to be radically invested in love. Black philanthropy is love for community, education, faith, and more.
Join us for a virtual conversation with Black philanthropists who are calling in community to consider, how are you choosing to show love? What would Black-led philanthropy look like if it were driven by self-love? How can philanthropy expand love of Black humanity and equity?
Panelists include Olympia Edwards, CEO and founder of Project Girl Mentoring Program, Jesse Hayes, founder and president of the Red Tailed Hawks Flying Club and Kristina Jorgenson, founder of Participatory Justice. Moderated by Dr. Nekya Johnson.
Olympia Edwards
Kristina Jorgenson
Jesse Hayes
Dr. Nekya Johnson
You can also re-watch past events
See the 2022 virtual panel series on “The Fierce Urgency of Black Leadership” and “The Fierce Urgency of Investing in Black Communities.”
See the 2021 virtual panel series on “Black Philanthropy Is Community Care,” “From Institutional Redlining to Black Freedom," and “Where Is The Money?”
“To begin by always thinking of love as an action rather than a feeling is one way in which anyone using the word in this manner automatically assumes accountability and responsibility.”
― bell hooks
More Ways to Get Involved
Learn.
Expand your knowledge of Black philanthropy — the origins, rich history, leaders in the field, and impacts.
Read about Black philanthropy. A few resources to get you started are:
“Centering Black Philanthropy in Black History Month” article by National Philanthropic Trust
“Black Women in Philanthropy: the Art of Everyday Giving as Activism” by Ophelia Akanjo, NPQ
Giving Back: A Tribute to Generations of African American Philanthropists book by Valaida Fullwood
Host a breakfast or lunchtime conversation about Black philanthropy at your workplace. Organize around our Aug. 9 panel conversation or watch past sessions and discuss with your colleagues.
Invite the Black Future Co-op Fund to talk to your colleagues. Contact Lanessa Cerrillo.
Give.
Consider becoming a monthly donor to the Black Future Co-op Fund and become a cooperative partner in the march for Black liberation. Your donation will be a stone of hope that forms the foundation for fueling our collective power and building a liberated future. Donate now.
Share.
Use the sample social media posts and sample email in our toolkit to share about Black Philanthropy Month among your networks. This will help broaden the reach and visibility of Black giving and encourage increased investment in Black communities.
Act.
Invest your time, talent, and/or treasure in furthering Black liberation and prosperity.
Check out the Black-led organizations we’ve invested in to see if there are ones where you might want to volunteer and/or organize a work volunteer event.
Pool resources among your colleagues to invest in one or more Black–led organizations. See Global Black Funding Principles.
A Rich Legacy of Black Philanthropy
Black people have a rich history of investing our time, talent, and treasure to care for our communities. Black families are the most generous — giving a higher proportion of our incomes than any other racial group.
In the face of discriminatory policies, racist institutions, and persistent anti-Black violence, Black communities have always created ways to take care of ourselves. From the Black church that has shaped consistent giving to the ways Black communities come together like family to respond to neighbors’ needs, Black philanthropy nourishes community wealth and well-being.
To recognize the ingenuity and significant impact of Black giving on the U.S. and globally, Dr. Jackie Bouvier Copeland and the Pan-African Women’s Philanthropy Network first started Black Philanthropy Month in 2011. Twelve years strong, Black Philanthropy Month has expanded across the country and the world.
Check their website for events and updates.
Washington Black Philanthropy Month Organizers
Cedric Davis, Seattle Foundation; Karen Wilkins-Mickey, Seattle Seahawks; Melanie Ogleton, Cardea; Dr. Nekya Johnson, Community Foundation of Snohomish County; Shona Carter, Lanessa Cerrillo, and Stephen Robinson, Black Future Co-op Fund
Sponsors
Black Future Co-op Fund, Community Foundation of Snohomish County, Seattle Foundation, United Way of King County, Amazon