The Spirit of Black Philanthropy

Issue 5 | February 2022

NOTE FROM THE CHAIR

“The moral imagination enables philanthropists to consider the suffering of others and name that suffering as a reality that needs to be changed.”

– Tyrone McKinley Freeman

Madam C.J. Walker’s Gospel of Giving: Black Women’s Philanthropy during Jim Crow

The soul-stirring quote above forces us to think about the strains and plights of others and to act out of deep empathy and compassion. If we are to be philanthropists – a person who seeks to promote the welfare of others through time, talent, and treasure – then we must not only look at the current situation but also imagine with fervor something different and greater.

Imagine communities that are whole and thriving. Imagine people of all colors healthy and with sound minds.

It is not good enough to just imagine, however. If we are to promote the welfare of others, then there must be an assertive action to provoke change. It’s imperative that we see change through until what we imagined is a reality.

Charity donors give and walk away. Philanthropists have the moral obligation to see change through because they understand that the status quo is no longer an option.

Derek Lewis II

President, Derek Lewis Foundation

Chair, Arkansas Black Philanthropy Collaborative

UPCOMING EVENTS

Kharis Group presents the

2022 Nonprofit and Business Summit

In Person in Jonesboro, Arkansas, with a Virtual Option

Friday, March 4

9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Networking Social Hour and Meet the Funders Hour: 4-6 p.m.

Organized by KHARIS Group, the 6th Nonprofit and Business Summit will give community, nonprofit, and business leaders the opportunity to learn relevant topics to refine the tools needed for successful organizations. This year's theme is "Leading and Impact After Disruption."

During informative workshop sessions on Friday, March 4, you will learn how to:

maneuver intentionally and strategically to develop strong boards
find business capital
take care of yourself while leading others
level up in customer service
priority block your time
and more!

The Summit is returning to an in-person experience in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and also will offer a virtual option. The ABPC is a proud sponsor of the after-hours events from 4-6 p.m.: the Networking Social Hour, where participants will have the opportunity to relax and mingle after a great day of learning, and the Meet the Funders Hour, which connects businesses and nonprofits with community grant-making and banking representatives.

To learn more about the 2022 Nonprofit and Business Summit, visit consultkharis.com/nonprofit-summit-2022.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR NONPROFITS

BIPOC-Led Nonprofits in the South Invited to Participate in a Southern Landscape Scan Survey

Nonprofit organizations in the South that are led by or serving Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) are invited to participate in a Landscape Scan Identification Survey that will lead to the development of a directory of BIPOC-led nonprofits in the South.

This directory is intended to be an open source list for community members, funders, donors, policymakers, and other organizations that seek to amplify the work of BIPOC-led nonprofits. No identifying information of individuals will be included in the directory.

Blue Meridian Partners (BMP) is leading the landscape scan analysis of the region to identify and segment organizations and potential place-based partnerships. On behalf of BMP, Converge is reaching out to invite your help in connecting them with BIPOC-led and BIPOC-serving nonprofit organizations in the South that have been doing great work in furthering racial equity and/or racial justice while producing social and economic mobility outcomes.

The survey should only take 5-10 minutes to complete. If you have any questions or comments, please contact Senior Consultant, Dr. Li Ma, at li@convergeforchange.com or Project Coordinator, Dr. Samuel Escalante, at samuel@convergeforchange.com.

TAKE THE SURVEY

Grants Available for Nonprofits from Arkansas Black Hall of Fame Foundation

Application Period: February 1 - April 1, 2022

Arkansas Black Hall of Fame Foundation, in partnership with Arkansas Community Foundation, is awarding grants to programs that benefit African American or other underserved populations in Arkansas. The application period will remain open until April 1, 2022.

Who’s Eligible:

Qualifying organizations include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, hospitals, public schools, and government agencies in all geographic areas of the state. Other organizations that do not qualify for tax-exempt status are not eligible.

Grants will support programs focusing on education, health and wellness, youth development, strengthening families, and economic development. Grants that mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on these areas will also be considered.

Grants will typically range from $1,000 to $2,500 but may approach $5,000 in special circumstances.

Priority Consideration for Grants:

Requests that show multiple sponsoring agencies/organizations.
Requests that include evidence of local financial support (including, but not limited to, in-kind support.)
Requests that demonstrate collaborative ventures among organizations within the community.
Requests that have promise for sustainability beyond the period of the grant.
Requests that show an innovative approach to community challenges.

Funds from Arkansas Black Hall of Fame Foundation cannot be allocated for salary support or to support general operating budgets outside the specific proposal or project.

More information is available at ARCF.org/ABHOF.

APPLY NOW

Application Period Open for Black Women Impact Grants

Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women has launched Black Women Impact (BWI) – an open call for applications to provide $10 million in grants to Black women-led nonprofits.

Funded by the Goldman Sachs Foundation, BWI Grants will support community-driven charitable nonprofit organizations created by and for Black women and girls whose work aligns with one or more of the OMBW impact areas: Healthcare, Job Creation and Workforce Advancement, Education, Housing, Digital Connectivity, Financial Health, and Access to Capital.

Fifty (50) Black women-led organizations will receive general operating funding ranging from $50,000 to $250,000 over two years, as well as access to and support from the One Million Black Women network and community.

Applications are now open and close on March 11, 2022. For more information on the program, eligibility and application process, please visit: www.gs.com/BlackWomenImpact.

APPLY NOW

JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN PHILANTHROPY

Giving Gap, formerly Give Blck, is building a team to help them fulfill their mission of building a movement to advance racial equity in giving. The organization is hiring for the following roles:

Giving Gap offers competitive salaries and benefits and is a full remote organization; applicants can be located anywhere in the U.S.

Learn more about Giving Gap and these opportunities at givinggap.org/careers.

BOSS MOVES

Do you have good news to share? Send an email to hello@theabpc.org with “Boss Moves” in the subject line, and we may feature you in our next issue!

ABPC advisory committee member Joyvin Benton, Ph.D., is now an adjunct professor at the Clinton School of Public Service. Congratulations, Dr. Benton! She still holds her full-time position as Sr. Gifts Officer at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

The Arkansas Black Philanthropy Collaborative is powered by the Derek Lewis Foundation.