economy
You don’t have to be wealthy to be a philanthropist. BackBlack wants Black Gen Z to know that
Black nonprofit fundraisers are turning to their own communities for support this month, stressing everyday donors’ power at a time when philanthropy is growing more concentrated among the affluent and some major funders have de-prioritized diversity in their grantmaking.
TL;DR
- Black nonprofit fundraisers are leveraging community support through the BackBlack initiative, emphasizing the power of everyday donors.
- The campaign aims to direct funds to typically underfunded Black-led nonprofits, inviting online donation platforms to center these organizations during August.
- BackBlack is engaging Black Gen Zers through content creators to demonstrate that philanthropy is accessible to them, not just affluent institutions.
- Floyd Jones, founder of BackBlack, aims to empower individuals by highlighting historical examples of Black community self-support, like Madam C.J. Walker and the Free African Society.
- The initiative seeks to counter research showing that many Black-led nonprofits saw no significant funding increases after 2020's racial reckoning.
- Partnering organizations include For Good, GivingTuesday, GiveButter, Every.org, Bonterra, and Fundraise Up.
- For Good is matching donations up to $6,000 and provides backend infrastructure, noting an increase in wealth concentration but also more ways for grassroots giving.
- Tamara Mahal of For Good supports the inclusion of small-dollar givers to diversify funding and prevent over-reliance on single benefactors.
- Kaci Patterson of Social Good Solutions emphasizes that philanthropy extends beyond institutional giving and includes community-based support systems.