Often when people think about philanthropists, their minds immediately go to the big names we’ve seen in the history books and on our newsfeed — Carnegie, Rockefeller, Buffet and Gates. And while the wealthiest people and those deemed to be “top philanthropists” tend to be White, this section of our population is not alone in making generous gifts to impactful causes. When we stray from the traditional portrait of a philanthropist, the term often used is “emerging donor.” And too often, this is code for “the Black donor.” 

Let’s break down the word emerging — defined as “newly formed.” But is giving-while-Black a new concept? A 2012 study from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors shows that nearly two-thirds of Black households donate to community-based organizations—generating $11 billion each year. So why isn’t this narrative commonplace? 

Unfortunately, the narrative at the intersection of philanthropy and Black focuses on melanin-rich individuals as the receivers or the problem to be solved. Not the donors. Not part of the solution. From my experience, the narrative that Black philanthropists are an anomaly has to do with the racial wealth gap. On average, a White household has a typical net worth 10x greater than a Black household. The current and common narrative constantly perpetuates that wealthy and elite people are the only “true philanthropists,” leaving Black people out of the story. 

Out of critical conversations.

Out of board rooms. 

Out of history.