Give ’til it helps

Black-philanthropy initiative gains momentum and adherents

“I have found,” said Maya Angelou, “that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.”

She’s right. Miracles happen when beautiful ideas expand and multiply over time and across geography, and are kept aloft by generous, passionate souls who carry them forward. Such has been the case during the first three years of the national Black Philanthropy Month initiative, founded in August 2011.

According to blackphilanthropymonth.com, “the wave of activities, discussions, thought pieces, events and generosity” that began in August 2013 will continue through February 2014. 

Photo by Charles W. Thomas Jr. Valaida Fullwood

Valaida Fullwood is a Charlotte author and philanthropist who has been involved with the national Black Philanthropy Month initiative since its inception. “This year, we have scaled up Black Philanthropy Month events and activities significantly, and there are more organizations involved,” she says. “We have a much bigger vision because this year marks the 50th anniversary of the march on Washington that took place on Aug. 28, 1963.”

African Americans, Fullwood explains, have typically downplayed their own generosity.  “When you ask about their giving habits, they say they give money to help people, but they don’t call it philanthropy. ‘That’s just how we do,’ they say. We are posing the question how can African American giving and generosity transform the next 50 years.”

Fullwood says her philanthropic efforts are closely tied to the giving circle to which she belongs. “I work as a writer and (on a) philanthropy project. I’m also part of a giving circle. It’s kind of like a book club or an investment club. A group of people with shared interests get together, pool our money and use those funds to make grants to nonprofits and initiatives that help improve our communities.” 

Participating in giving circles is just one way to be a part of this movement. “The point of this year’s observances is to create space and awareness, and encourage people to self-organize to do their own thing,” Fullwood explains. “You can do something with your family, or with other individuals. You can have a book drive, host a fundraising event or tell your story through a blog.”

In Charlotte, Fullwood’s giving circle presented information about itself at the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Forum, held at West Charlotte Recreation Center every Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. Open to the public, the event offers the public a chance to participate in discussions on various topics.  

A report by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in January 2012 delves into philanthropy. “The face of philanthropy is changing,” the report reads. “Throughout history, the word ‘philanthropy’ has been used almost exclusively to describe the generous giving of large sums of money – typically by millionaires and billionaires. It’s no surprise, then, that philanthropy came to be perceived as the elite turf of the wealthy. Sure, 'everyday' people might read about philanthropy in the headlines. They might even benefit from its generosity in direct or indirect ways. But they weren’t the subject of the sentence. They weren’t perceived as the doers of philanthropy.” The report also reveals that African Americans give 25 percent more of their income to charitable causes than whites. 

Helping members of the African American community understand the impact made through generous giving of time, energy and attention, and causing that awareness to radiate out into society is critical to revamping the perceptions of blacks and non-blacks about the giving habits of African Americans in our nation. 

In an August 2012 article on The Network Journal’s website, Susan Taylor Batten, president and CEO of the Association of Black Foundation Executives, explained things this way: “Philanthropy is personal and people tend to give to an issue or interest that aligns with their passion. All giving is good and we want to encourage folks to give in areas that matter to them. … I think the greatest philanthropic need for black people in this country is to organize our giving so that it is strategic, coordinated and responsive to our needs regardless of the issue at hand.”

Upcoming event in the Charlotte area

On Sept. 19 at the N.C. Statewide Conference for the Nonprofit Sector, Valaida Fullwood will discuss “Philanthropy for and by the People” at the Concord Convention Center. For more information, visit www.ncnonprofits.org.