Black Philanthropy
Black philanthropy is the long-standing tradition of Black people investing their time, talent, treasure, testimony, and ties to strengthen families and communities.
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Thank you to Foundation For Black Philanthropy for providing guidance on core content as Lead Agency for this folio.
What is black philanthropy?
Black philanthropy is the long-standing tradition of Black people investing their time, talent, treasure, testimony, and ties to strengthen families and communities. While charitable giving is often associated with large financial gifts, Black philanthropy has historically included mutual aid societies, churches, civic organizations, fraternities and sororities, neighborhood associations, volunteerism, advocacy, mentoring, and collective giving.
Black philanthropy is rooted in a belief that communities thrive when people invest in one another. From the establishment of historically Black colleges and universities to local scholarship funds, community gardens, churches, grassroots organizations, and family foundations, Black generosity has always been a powerful force for social progress.
For generations, African Americans have drawn on collective Black philanthropy—the intentional sharing of time, talent, and treasure—to safeguard their social, political, and economic wellbeing. That legacy now evolves through donor‑advised funds, giving circles, endowments, planned giving, corporate partnerships, and community foundations committed to strengthening Black communities.
Key Facts
Scroll down for key facts on black philanthropy
2/3
of African American households donate to organizations and causes; approximately $11 billion each year
76%
less unrestricted philanthropic funding received by Black-led organizations than White-led organizations
60+%
of Black donor giving priorities are towards causes addressing education
$1.6M
infused into Charlotte by the New Generation of African American Philanthropists
>70%
of Black donors in Charlotte identify the church as their primary philanthropic anchor
1993
The year the Foundation For Black Philanthropy (FFBP) was founded in Charlotte to champion Black‑led giving and community investment
Sources
- “African American Philanthropy Fact Sheet,” Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers
- The 2023 State of Black Philanthropy: The Miami Foundation
- Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Giving by Race and Ethnicity: A Deeper Look at the Data. Indiana University, 2022.
- African American philanthropic group gives grants to local nonprofits working in Charlotte's Black communities
- Johnson C. Smith University, Metropolitan Studies Program. Faith, Community, and Black Philanthropy in Charlotte: A Qualitative Assessment of Donor Motivations and Giving Patterns. Charlotte, NC: JCSU Metropolitan Studies, 2018.
- Foundation For Black Philanthropy
What is happening now?
Charlotte has developed one of the nation’s strongest ecosystems for organized Black philanthropy. Shaped by collaboration, cultural tradition, and community leadership, it is made up of different groups of networks that collectively advance economic mobility, opportunity, and generational wealth.
Individual donors anchor the ecosystem through donor‑advised funds, scholarships, annual giving, and planned gifts—rooted in mutual aid and community responsibility.
Community foundations, including the Foundation For Black Philanthropy at Foundation for the Carolinas, provide infrastructure for charitable funds, grantmaking, donor education, and legacy building, strengthening Black‑serving organizations and family philanthropy.
Giving circles such as NGAAP expand collective impact, elevate Black donor stories, and advance culturally grounded leadership through initiatives like The Soul of Philanthropy.
Black‑led nonprofits drive community outcomes across education, health, economic mobility, entrepreneurship, youth development, arts, housing, and civic engagement, despite persistent funding disparities.
Faith communities, especially Black churches, remain the strongest philanthropic anchor. More than 70% of Black donors give primarily through their church, reflecting its central role in charitable support, volunteerism, and intergenerational leadership.
Corporate partners complement grassroots efforts through grants, scholarships, HBCU support, supplier diversity, volunteerism, and employee giving.
Together, these ecosystems form a cohesive philanthropic landscape where collaboration fuels innovation, cultural identity strengthens engagement, and philanthropy drives economic mobility and generational wealth in Charlotte’s Black communities.
Sources
- Foundation For Black Philanthropy (housed at Foundation For The Carolinas). Program Materials, Grantmaking Summaries, and Donor Education Resources. Charlotte, NC: FFTC, 2015–2024.
- New Generation of African American Philanthropists (NGAAP) Charlotte. The Soul of Philanthropy Project: Giving Circle Documentation and Community Impact Reports. Charlotte, NC: NGAAP, 2015–2024.
- Charlotte‑Mecklenburg Opportunity Task Force. Leading on Opportunity Report. Charlotte, NC: Opportunity Task Force, 2017.
Donate or volunteer now
To explore additional nonprofits directly supporting Charlotte’s Black community,
visit SHARE Charlotte’s directory for Black-Led/Black-Benefiting.
Take Action
Choose a card below to learn more.
Give through a Fund
Join a Giving Circle
Support Black-led Nonprofits
Invest in Black Businesses
Volunteer
Participate in Black Philanthropy Month
Starting points
These six organizations are good starting points for someone new to this topic to learn more.
Charlotte is home to a growing network of people and organizations who believe in building a stronger, more connected community for all.
Explore more resources below.
Explore More
fftc:FWD provides starting points and exploration options for each fftc:FWD topic. Extensive directories of nonprofit organizations working in this topic can be found through the Share Charlotte Donate and Volunteer options above. The organizations below include some nonprofits suggested by the community, but also include government agencies, private sector initiatives, collaborations, and other efforts from across sectors.
A leadership development program that cultivates high‑impact Black leaders to excel in influential roles across the nonprofit, corporate, and public sectors.
A membership-based philanthropic organization that advocates for responsive and transformative investments in Black communities.
A leadership development program that brings top Black talent together to learn how to acquire, navigate, and succeed in executive‑level roles within the nonprofit sector.
A collective power that celebrates the strong tradition of Black giving in our community.
Award-winning Black giving circle based in Charlotte, NC.
Serves Black-led, Black-benefitting nonprofits to provide capacity building, convenings, and funding that uniquely meets their social impact needs.
Tools and Resources
Everything you need in one place. Browse articles, reports, and tools that support your journey.
Lingo to Know
Every topic has its own vocabulary. Learn a few key words here so you can explore with confidence.
Black-led philanthropy
An organization whose leadership and governance are primarily Black and whose mission often centers Black communities.
Giving circle
A group of donors who contribute to a shared fund and jointly decide where to make grants.
Liberatory philanthropy
Funding approaches that prioritize self-determination, justice, and long-term structural change.
Racial equity
Creating fair opportunities and outcomes by addressing systemic barriers rooted in race.
Reinvestment
Returning resources to communities that have historically been underinvested in.
Wealth gap
The difference in accumulated wealth between groups, often discussed in the context of racial disparities.
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