BPI Impact Grants Awarded During Black Philanthropy Month
The Black Philanthropy Initiative (BPI) is thrilled to announce six new grants totaling $1,000 each that were awarded through our Impact Grants program.

Through this grantmaking program, BPI works to support those smaller, critical frontline community organizations, so they have what they need to achieve their goals. Video proposals are requested from groups working in one of the following critical areas in BPI's 2018 Rethinking Philanthropy research report: education, jobs and wages, poverty, and civic engagement, or on criminal justice reform or racial justice efforts.

Impact Grants were awarded to: 

  • I.C.A.R.E. (Individuals Caring About Rehabilitation and Education): $1,000 to provide essential items to those experiencing homelessness in local neighborhoods
  • ‍One Love Strong Foundation: $1,000 for marketing and educational materials for families to help reduce pre-term births, hospital readmission, and infant mortality
  • ‍Partnership for Prosperity: $1,000 to provide stipends to youth ambassadors in the Castle Heights community ‍
  • The Speech Bus, Inc.: $1,000 to support a website for a literacy program for preschool children and a communication device for nonverbal participants ‍
  • Tiny Creators: $1,000 to teach life skills and provide enrichment activities for young girls ‍
  • WISE Fellowship: $1,000 for a laptop and speaker system for a mobile reading program

As Black Philanthropy Month soon comes to an end, BPI and its supporters help remind us that Black giving happens around us year-round! Thanks to our donors who come together and contribute their time, talent, and treasure, we are able to invest in Black-led organizations making an impact in our community.⠀

Currently, BPI offers three grant programs: Impact Grants, Building and Inclusive Economy, and Advancing Equity in Education Grants. The Inclusive Economy Grants program will announce its request for proposals on our website beginning September 19.
BPI Celebrates Community Changemakers
This Black Philanthropy Month, BPI is celebrating incredible changemakers who pour their time, talent, and treasure into our local Black communities. The following BPI grantees are just two of many trailblazing leaders in our community actively working to effect change to build a better future for Black people, their families, and their communities.
Frankie Gist, Founder of HOPE Dealers Outreach, is on the frontlines of many significant community-led solutions—repairing harm, increasing support, and making sure all families have the resources they need.

We asked Frankie, Why is it important to invest in Black-led social change? 

Black-led institutions are on the ground responding to disparities, yet receive less investment by major funders. H.O.P.E Dealers Outreach takes bold steps to address this and increases support for community based, Black-led ideas. As a community, we need to more intentionally invest resources in Black leaders and organizations.
Cheryl Harry, Founding Executive Director of Triad Cultural Arts, has been at the forefront of efforts to eradicate racism through learning, reflection, immersive initiatives, and community engagement.

We asked Cheryl, How are you working to build power and positive outcomes for Black families and communities? 

Triad Cultural Arts is working to enlarge the African American cultural footprint by bringing significant attention to a narrative that has been overlooked, neglected, misinterpreted, or erased. Our goal is to ensure a more equitable future for our children and a community where diversity is valued and embraced.
Join Us for BPI's 13th Annual Fundraiser!
We're Back in Person! Mark your calendars and save the date for BPI's 13th Annual Fundraiser - Advancing Bold, Black-led Community Change - on Thursday, October 13 from 6:00-7:30 pm at The Milton Rhodes Center.

This year's fundraising event will bring together BPI supporters and partners with a common purpose: celebrating and strengthening Black-led community change. Be one of the first to hear an exciting announcement on how BPI plans to amplify its impact, now and forever!

Invitations are in the mail, but there's no need to wait. Register today!

Announcing Staff Promotions and an Upcoming Retirement
Last week, The Winston-Salem Foundation announced two staff promotions: Andrea 'Dree' Hulighan (l) is the new Vice President, Strategy and Culture,  and Shamika Starke (m) will be replacing Andrea as Director, Strategic Initiatives. We're also celebrating 16 years of dedicated service from Lisa Purcell (r) as she retires at the end of December. 

Dree and Shamika have made great strides to center equity in organizational culture and forge meaningful connections in the community while leading the Foundation's strategic initiatives in recent years. With their leadership, BPI has more than quadrupled its grantmaking budget and substantially grown its donor base to further strengthen Black-led social change at a critical time. Please join us in celebrating their successes and promotions.

Read more about our staff transitions and how we're evolving to serve our community. We also invite you to visit the Foundation’s website to learn about two new opportunities to join the Foundation’s team. Shamika's previous position, strategic initiatives officer, will also be posted on our careers page next week. Please help us spread the word about these incredible opportunities!
Want to have your giving leveraged and be a part of an initiative led entirely by Black people focused on making an impact on the local Black community? Donate to BPI today!