This is the first blog in a series on Blacks in Philanthropy. It will examine the evolution of black philanthropy and the challenges and opportunities for organizations seeking to tap into this strong tradition.
The Roots of Black Philanthropy
Philanthropy in the black community has deep, historical roots. In 1787, the Free African Society of Philadelphia was formed to aid free slaves. Many early philanthropic efforts were aimed at supporting freed slaves as well as advancing the anti-slavery movement. With the abolition of slavery, black social service organizations emerged in the form of sororities and fraternities, and the NAACP. These organizations became crucial to the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Perhaps because of the issue-based origin of black philanthropy, today that tradition continues to center around social and political causes that impact the community.
According to Erica L. Ball, Ph.D. of CUNY, “From as early as the eighteenth century to the present day, African Americans have donated their time and resources to a variety of philanthropic organizations and causes, whether they be community-based mutual aid organizations, churches, or major political movements.” Ball cites the view of Emmett Carson, president and CEO of The Minneapolis Foundation, that there are three major branches of black philanthropy: “. . .humanitarian aid, designed to ameliorate individual and community hardship; institutional development or self-help regarding the establishment of churches, schools, and commercial enterprises for black communities; and movements for social change. . .” Not surprisingly, as noted by Ball, much of black philanthropy has, historically, been centered in the church. Black congregations have long been the center of African American life from the broad: social and political movements; to the narrow: assisting those in need in the community.
In 1862, Freedman’s aid societies were organized in the northern states to provide supplies and send teachers to educate former slaves. Thus began the longstanding tradition of educational philanthropy in the black community. Today, the United Negro College Fund is the oldest organization providing for higher education assistance for African Americans. In the tradition of devotion to education, several years ago a lifelong African American laundry woman of modest means, Oseola McCarty, died leaving $150,000 of her life savings to establish scholarships for minority students. An article in Black Enterprise quotes Rodney Jackson, president and CEO of the National Center for Black Philanthropy Inc.: “It was philanthropy for and by African Americans that helped establish historical black colleges and universities. Black fraternities and sororities are also a part of this heritage.”
So what does this mean for the future? An article by Marjorie Polycarpe on the website onphilanthropy.com states: “Dating back to the mutual aid societies of the late 1700s, the African American community has used philanthropic giving as a survival mechanism. [Today] a new direction has emerged. As more African Americans acquire wealth, many are directing their philanthropy beyond causes focused on survival, into economic empowerment and self sufficiency.”
