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Black Women Are Redefining What It Means to Be a Philanthropist
Black Philanthropy Month reminds us there’s more than one way to give back
According to a recent study conducted by the Women’s Philanthropy Institute, Black women are redefining what it means to be philanthropists. “Women Give 2019,” the first study of its kind to explore the intersections of race, gender, and giving, found that women of color are engaging in more informal ways of giving back. Whether through crowdfunding, mobile apps, or creating new initiatives to directly impact their communities, Black women are successfully navigating nontraditional philanthropic efforts to work in their communities and create change.
The study highlighted the work of the South Side Giving Circle, the first initiative led by Black women to mobilize philanthropic resources to equip Black women-led organizations assisting Black girls and women on Chicago’s South Side. In its inaugural year, 34 women from various educational, professional, and socioeconomic experiences awarded $34,000 to five organizations focused on the key issues of health, economic empowerment, and freedom from violence. Now in its second year, the self-proclaimed “queen-makers” have doubled in size to 64 members and are set to invest $60,000 back into their community. “It was intentional,” says Nicole…
