Good news, friends! Even though many of you didn’t get a chance to participate in our in-person dinner party for Black Philanthropy Month, you’ll get to experience it somewhat vicariously in today’s piece. First, we’ve got a peek into the event. Then, we’ve got the gnarly stories our speakers told of anti-Blackness in the “industry” of nonprofits/philanthropy. To close, we’ll revel in the uplifting stories they told of Black Philanthropy — ones I hope inspire us all to embrace this kind of philanthropy too.
Read on….
For You: Today’s Main Course
Well, y’all, we did it!
We held the inaugural For the Love…! event last week at Black Garnet Books in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
We ate delicious food from Afro Deli.
We mingled with each other, drinking Somali tea, with soft music in the background… and then we sat down for a meaningful conversation with each other that opened our minds and hearts.
I brought a collection of candles from home… and cut flowers from my backyard garden, putting them in tiny vases I’ve collected over the years.
We definitely did it.
We had a dinner party!
BIG THANKS to our special guests and speakers, Mallory Mitchell and Jonathan C.W. Jones, for sharing so openly and powerfully with us and seeding our discussion.
And thank you again — so very much — to these three values-aligned businesses for taking a chance on this new, unproven experiment… and stepping in to partner with me and make it possible:
Remember Angela Schlessinger and Aspasia Collaborative when a nonprofit you're involved with needs help with board and/or organizational development, especially (these are her special passions/expertise)... but Angela was a nonprofit CEO, so she can help with so much, including fundraising of course.
Remember Donte Curtis and Catch Your Dream Consulting when you're looking for a keynote speaker, trainer, or facilitator to make your team or organization a better place to be for everyone. Also, here's your chance to pre-order Donte's book (Breaking the Cycle of White Supremacy) and support his Kickstarter, to make publishing the book possible. To be clear, this book doesn’t get published without our help. And it’s gonna be a good one, you can bet on it, based on how popular and in-demand Donte’s workshop by the same name is. Let’s help make this book a reality, shall we?!
Finally, BIG UPS to a longtime leader in our community who is now leading a new business venture, Bo Thao-Urabe of Rooted to Last — which you should seek out when you're looking for help rooting your work in the wisdom, relationships, and leadership of multi-generational social justice leaders.
To Give You a Taste…
Now, for those of you who couldn’t make it, here’s a taste of it all.
The arc of our discussion:
We started our discussion with the “for the LOVE!” meaning of that phrase — you know, the one you shout out involuntarily when you JUST CAN’T EVEN with something, it’s just so bad… or painful… or frustrating? Yeah. That part. We started by sharing stories where Blackness was marginalized within philanthropy.
We clarified that there was a difference between what many of us think of, when we use the word “philanthropy” (a system that has become an “industry” and is deeply steeped in the norms of our dominant culture, like White Supremacy Culture and anti-Blackness)… and a “philanthropy” that is much more attuned to the root meaning of that word (love of humanity). Jonathan even shared about understandings of philanthropy that existed before that Greek word (philanthropy) even existed, including what is thought of as the first existence of the concept in ancient Egypt. We wanted to be clear that there are vastly different meanings of this word, depending on the context.
Our speakers ended their remarks by sharing stories of a Black version of philanthropy that was truly enacted for the LOVE of other humans… and to actively practice and grow community.
Attendees then talked in small groups about all we had laid out.
We closed with a larger group discussion.
Mallory and Jonathan started out by sharing stories about ways that they had been marginalized by anti-Blackness, within their work in the modern “industry” of nonprofits/philanthropy.
Mallory’s story illustrated more of the personal side of anti-Blackness, while Jonathan’s gave a damning look at systemic anti-Blackness.
You ready for these stories?
They’re a bit hard to stomach.
Mallory’s Story of Anti-Blackness
Mallory was hired as the Development Director of a nonprofit that was — wait for it — led by another community of color. (Yes, this means that the anti-Blackness she experienced was not at the hands of White folks.)
Within a few weeks of her arrival, a new hire suddenly arrived, someone who was essentially a peer, reporting to the Executive Director (ED) as she was, and focusing on program and operational things.
The fact of the new hire was a bit odd.
There hadn’t been any talk about a new hire, nor was she aware of any strategic reason for the hire. The woman just suddenly showed up one day.
When the ED first introduced them, Mallory realized that they already knew each other — because, alongside her work in the nonprofit sector, she has always maintained a side job for extra cash, and because she enjoys it, at a local wine shop. Her new colleague had been one of her “regulars” for a while. They both laughed at the realization, initially.
And after that point, it seemed like this woman (who was not White but could pass for White) had it in for Mallory.
For starters, she would make comments that definitely had plausible deniability… but that also definitely had the effect of marginalizing Mallory and her Blackness:
A side comment about how the wine shop needed “good help” (which didn’t only come off to Mallory as calling her “the help,” as more than one colleague who overheard the comment checked in with Mallory afterward, as they had felt the energy behind the words too).
An “auto-correct” in an email to Mallory that, instead of saying “cut and paste,” said “cotton paste” — of course potentially referencing the work of countless enslaved African Americans toiling in cotton fields, in our country’s history… and invoking Mallory’s literal relationship to them.
The insidious thing about comments like this is that, again, one can easily hear them and think, “Oh, she didn’t mean it that way.” And yet… there’s a good chance she did, and folks like Mallory are left feeling targeted and marginalized, regardless of what the actual intention was.
And then, there was an instance that was so blatant, there was no way to plausibly deny the animous, if you ask me….
Mallory had scheduled, and was leading, a virtual meeting with a funder.
This woman showed up to the meeting, late — even though her job was not actually related to development or fundraising.
On top of the general disruption and confusion of her showing up to a meeting she wasn’t needed at, you have to imagine the stress a Development Director like Mallory might feel, when a senior leader from her organization shows up late to a meeting with a funder (with whom she is responsible for managing the relationship, which of course involves making a good impression on them).
After she arrived, the woman greeted every single person in the Zoom room, by name, telling them she was looking forward to working with them.
Except Mallory.
She not only did not mention Mallory — the Development Director leading the meeting! — but she didn’t even acknowledge her presence.
Now, one cannot know everything happening in this situation.
There seems to be some classism at play.
This woman first knew Mallory in a retail service role, and she was seemingly unwilling to shift her relationship with Mallory to one of a colleague, a peer — one who had earned a graduate degree just like she did and definitely had lots of experience and expertise in the work she was leading at the organization.
There definitely seems to be anti-Blackness at play too, for many other reasons, not least of which was how she treated the Black clients of the org differently than she treated other clients.
But honestly?
The part that is even worse than the treatment by this woman…
… was how the Executive Director responded to it all.
She didn’t.
She basically ignored it.
She definitely witnessed it, as she was present in many of the scenarios. She even checked in with Mallory after some of them. Mallory also was clear with her about how these things were affecting her.
And she didn’t address it at all.
THIS has to be the most powerful anti-Blackness of it all.
How are any of these scenarios ever going to get better…
… if the leaders don’t LEAD?
If leaders within our field just…
lean into the plausible deniability;
don’t set a tone of respect and dignity for all on the team;
don’t hold anyone who doesn’t follow that tone accountable;
and act like they don’t actually have any power in a situation…
… that is a sure sign that nothing is ever going to change…
… and problems like anti-Blackness will just continue.
How can we be OK with that?
Jonathan’s Story of Anti-Blackness
We’ve all heard the statistics about how under-funded Black-led organizations are, right? Even after the 2020 uprising for racial justice and Black lives.
There are so many reports on the subject.
Jonathan has lived these reports and articles.
And he and his whole family have lived the stress it creates.
Jonathan started his career as an educator and school administrator, serving many years within local school districts.
At some point, he saw how few Black men like him there were within the field… and also how the few of them that did exist really struggled in a system that was definitely not built to support them.
So he decided to act.
He started reaching out to, and weaving community with, the many Black men he knew in the field of education — which then led him to others that those men knew.
He wanted to honor these men and their work in raising up the next generation, especially rising generations of Black children, who he knew were profoundly affected for the better by having teachers and mentors who they saw themselves in.
First, he published several magazine issues honoring these men — sharing beautiful, professional portraits of them; telling their stories; celebrating them and their work; introducing them to each other.
Then, the men started telling him how much they thought more support for their brothers in education was necessary.
So Jonathan established a 501c3, the UpLiFT Movement, that would operationalize a mentoring program (paid, which critically respects the time and expertise of both mentors and mentees, in addition to their need to support themselves and their families with their time and expertise).
Through the program, newer Black male educators would be paired with more seasoned educators who could support and guide them through the difficulties of their days, weeks, months, and years.
So critical, right?!
So necessary.
Not only is this program critical for the educators themselves, helping them to not only survive in, but thrive in, a difficult environment.
But even more, when these educators are thriving, they are that much more equipped to help rising generations of Black kids soar too — as those kids are taught and inspired by elders who come from where they come from, who help them see how much they can be, just by being it themselves.
The program’s success can be proven by its data.
But perhaps most tellingly demonstrating the program’s success, participants in the program are the most reliable source of new recruits, because they talk so powerfully and passionately about their positive experiences.
Clearly this is a winning, necessary mission… right?
But you wouldn’t be able to tell that by the funding.
You ask me?
This program is a slam dunk for funding.
But that’s not the reality.
UpLiFT struggles to bring in the dollars needed to run the organization — and, given that Jonathan left his education job to run the organization full-time, betting on himself and the mission he could see was so successful and necessary, that means that he’s feeling the stress of not being able to adequately support his family, and his family is feeling that stress too.
Now, don’t get this twisted.
Jonathan is a good grant writer.
He actually learned that skill as an educator — winning grants for the programs he was running in his school districts. In fact, he was so good at it that he started a side business where he would teach other educators how to do the same.
Also, as I’ve mentioned, they’ve got plenty data to prove how effective and necessary their program and mission are.
And get this!
UpLiFT applied to the state’s Department of Education for support and actually won a significant grant from them — mostly unheard of for small orgs like theirs.
They celebrated so hard!
… except…
They only came to find out after the grant was awarded that it was a reimbursable grant — meaning they needed to front the money before they could ever see any dollars come through from the state.
So, here Jonathan sits.
Getting grant rejection after grant rejection.
Being chosen for a cohort from a local org called GiveMN — celebrate again! — that would help them work with their board to stage a giving campaign during our state’s massive day of fundraising for nonprofits and schools, called Give to the Max Day. And yet, seeing next-to-no results when the fundraising day came around.
Having thousands of dollars that they could be receiving from the state…
… just sitting there, as they struggle to find other money first.
Make it make sense!
Again, there’s plausible deniability here. You may hear this story and think, “Well, there must be other reasons than anti-Blackness why this is happening.” But then, you’d have to realize:
brilliant founder
sorely needed mission
receipts to prove the work’s success
directly affects our community’s future by raising up the next generation and helping prepare them to thrive and help our communities thrive
even an unusual state grant awarded
… and yet…
… they can barely keep the lights on.
You’re reaching, if you’re looking for any other reason why this mission is not prioritized and generously funded by many institutions and individuals…
… because you just can’t find it.
NOTE: I highly encourage you to support the UpLiFT Movement by giving to them today. Starting a monthly gift is the BEST way you can do that, as it gives them reliable, ongoing income for their work! And remember: your gift(s) allow(s) that state money to start flowing….
And Finally, Our Breath of Fresh Air: Black Philanthropy
After all of that…
… the frustration…
… the struggle…
… the stress…
… the self-doubt…
… the anti-Blacknes of it all, experienced by these two brilliant, big-hearted, deeply committed, community-serving professionals who would never have experienced any of this if they weren’t also Black…
… we were ready to be inspired.
Both Mallory and Jonathan had many stories about the Black Philanthropy they had experienced throughout their lives.
But they both chose one story to share.
Mallory told us about her experiences growing up in a Black church in rural Alabama. They had a program in their church called the “Love Program.” Don’t you just love that name?! This was basically the church community's way of rallying around an individual or family when they really needed it (help with rent; a sickness; some other thing). They'd have a gathering in the gym; break bread together; raise money; and raise whatever resources were needed. Anybody and everybody at the church could be blessed by a "Love Program." Many-to-most members were.
Jonathan talked about his experiences in a Black fraternity, which he joined while an undergrad at the HBCU Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana. Not only do he and his fraternity brothers raise serious amounts of money to support Black students and their dreams of higher education, but they regularly support each other. If one of the brothers is ever struggling for any reason (job loss; sickness; family emergency; whatever), the brothers rally around him and lift him up.
Do you feel the difference in these stories?
Instead of bias…
… lack…
… stress…
… alienation…
… struggle…
… power games…
… lack of leadership…
… lack of heart…
… coldness…
… and a lack of community…
… we get to experience the opposite of those things.
Black philanthropy is…
all-inclusive
loving
community-minded
compassionate
uplifting
abundant
empathetic
leader-full
human-focused
warm
nurturing
collaborative
collective
grounded in connection
helps everybody participating truly experience being a part of something bigger than themselves that really matters…
… and so much more.
Black Philanthropy is the blueprint, y’all.
Black Philanthropy is how I want to experience philanthropy. Don’t you?
Black Philanthropy is what philanthropy was always meant to be.
With this post, I’m closing out my own celebration of Black Philanthropy Month this August — but I don’t plan on waiting until next August to keep celebrating it.
I’m asking you to join me.
Let’s celebrate Black Philanthropy year-round, shall we?
And let’s also decide that we’re going to end anti-Blackness within the professional field of work that is the “industry” of philanthropy/nonprofits, once and for all.
You in?
Grow Your Empathetic Leadership, In Community
Are you an equity‑minded leader — with “leader” defined broadly here and not limited to positional leadership? Are you holding a lot of conflict, harm, or complexity in your role? Do you want language, tools, and support to lead without self‑erasure?
Have I got the opportunity for you.
From my very first conversation with Nneka Allen, she has helped me grow as a human being. Nneka is the embodiment of SO many good — yet seemingly contradictory — things. She is soft, yet fierce. Empathetic, yet holds you accountable. Uplifting, yet grounded. She is a wise, loving guide for your journey, the kind of guide you see, looking back with hindsight, changed the whole trajectory of your life for the better.
She is soon launching The Empathetic Nonprofit Leader Lab: an eight-week cohort experience starting September 22.
And I have a funny feeling some of y’all should be joining it.
So I want you to seriously consider it, if you feel at all lit up by the sound of this opportunity.
✨And this might seem a little weird…✨
…but I have special links for you to use if you decide to go for it, ones Nneka gave me so that she can track that you came from my recommendation.
Use the buttons below to sign up.
☺️
Conversation: Your Real Real
I really want to know your more detailed and nuanced thoughts, too. Let’s start a conversation on this topic. Visit the comments section!
You’re a Fundraiser? Find Your Community Here
Life’s been LIFING lately, yes?! Now is the time to reach out and connect with others. When you’re embedded in supportive community, even the most difficult things don’t seem so hard.
Your community is waiting for you!
Advice when you need it. Been-there, done-thats. Commiseration. Support. A place to vent. Guidance. Mentoring.
All of this — and more — is what happens each month…
… at Community-Weaving for Fundraisers.
Just community-based fundraisers. Gathering for (virtual, on Zoom) lunch together. Twice a month. Year-round. Chatting and supporting each other via WhatsApp in between lunches. Being there for each other.
All you need to do is show up and be present… while I guide, facilitate, organize, and create the container.
Practice: Make It Yours
Look around you.
Where in your life can you embody and enact philanthropy like you see it being embodied and enacted in Mallory and Jonathan’s stories of Black Philanthropy?
Ask yourself:
Who can you help?
How can you organize the help?
Who will help with you?
How will you grow community while helping?
And perhaps most importantly, how can you ask for help from your community when you are the one who needs it?
Don’t think too much.
Just see a need, and act.
Then, afterward…
… reflect on how the acting blessed you.
A Gift for You: Something to Sit With
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Cecelia, thank you for writing this piece and for naming subtleties that Black people and other people who have been systemically abused live with. Change begins with seeing clearly, naming, AND coming together to say ‘No’. It takes incredible resilience to live within these systems and not collapse under the weight of constant abuse.
You are doing amazing work! Thank you for sharing stories that matter to opening our eyes and hearts.