The First Two Members of f Benefactors A Black Giving Collective, Marlissa Hudson (L) and Rahnesia Best (R)
The Greater Washington Community Foundation has partnered with the Young, Black, and Giving Back (YBGB) Institute to launch and co-lead Benefactors: A Black Giving Collective. The national giving circle aims to empower Black-led and Black-benefiting nonprofits by building community and mobilizing individual philanthropy for maximum impact.
“Black Giving is Magic,” Ebonie Johnson Cooper, founder of YBGB shared. “Benefactors is about catalyzing the giving capacity of Black people who want to invest funds into our communities in a meaningful way.”.”
The Giving Collective was inspired by a similar movement, Black Benefactors, which convened more than 60 donors to distribute tens of thousands of dollars in grants to Black-led nonprofits between 2007-2022. Two years later, Benefactors aims to continue the legacy of Black Collective Giving.
“Together, as Benefactors, we aim to support Black-led and Black-Benefiting nonprofits and invite individuals to journey alongside us,” stated Melen Hagos, Chief of Staff at The Community Foundation and one of the lead facilitators for Benefactors. “Together, we’ll discover the power of philanthropy and deepen our engagement – both with impactful causes and with other fellow changemakers.”
Ebonie Johnson Cooper and Melen Hagos announce the launch of Benefactors at a special ABFE event in April 2024.
Members of Benefactors will have access to an extensive network cultivated through the YBGB Institute’s successful Give 8/28 day of giving - which serves as a hub for over 1000 organizations and counting. This network forms the backbone of the groups collective efforts, providing a springboard for changemakers to come together to directly support Black-led and Black-benefiting nonprofits across the country.
Changemakers like Chelsea Brown, founder and principal of The Black Mill. Brown was among the first members to join Benefactors when the initiative first launched back in April 2024 at ABFE’s annual conference. A seasoned philanthropist with over eight years of experience, Brown shared her excitement at being part of what she considers an innovative next step in Black philanthropy.
“To me, Benefactors represents the future of Black philanthropy,” Brown shared.
“The future of Black philanthropy is powerful and transformative,” she added. “It is marked by increased visibility, intentionality, and impact, with a focus on building generational wealth, amplifying Black-led organizations, and driving systemic change.
“As more Black philanthropists, organizations, and collectives take ownership of narratives and resources, Black philanthropy will continue to challenge traditional funding models, advocating for equity, trust-based giving, and community-led initiatives.”
“Black philanthropy is important because our donating power as Black people can and does move mountains,” added fellow Benefactor member, Leslie Jefferson, an Adjunct Professor in the University of Maryland’s School of Policy.
“I am excited for the chance to invest in the Black-led and Black benefiting nonprofits through Benefactors because we’ll be able to help organizations that are typically severely underfunded and face daily barriers to access the funding they need to deliver their missions.”
“When no one else is there for Black-led organizations, we are and must be there for our own. It is the philanthropy from our own that sustains and continues to sustain us.”
In addition to Brown and Jefferson, the Collective currently boasts 27 members. Members pay $500 in annual dues, which are payable in up to four monthly installments.
The Collective is made possible through a generous grant from former members of Black Benefactors, , and a matching grant from the Greater Washington Community Foundation.
Benefactors: A Black Giving Collective is actively recruiting new members to join us in making a difference for Black-led nonprofits! For more information, contact Melen Hagos at [email protected] or visit our website to join!