Black Communities’ Secret Weapon Against Inequity: Giving Circles
BCG Guest Blog by: M. Starita Boyce Ansari, Ph.D.
Did you know that each year Black communities give a whopping 17.3 billion dollars to charity? Black people are philanthropic! However, the inspiring generosity of Black folks is often overlooked. But for centuries, we’ve been fighting inequity and creating social change by pooling our resources.
From the 1700s to Michael Jackson
Even during slavery, Blacks understood that to make the world a better place, they needed to act together to donate their time, talent, and treasure towards efforts like the underground railroad and resettling freed slaves.
By the late 19th century, Blacks from all walks of life pooled their money to support the growth of Black businesses, send family and friends to college, and provide food, health, and shelter to those in need. Think of Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, and Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King. They and the thousands of others who fought for freedom wouldn’t have made a step towards Washington, let alone a march, without donations that paid for everything from busing to phone banks to the organizers that worked full time to win social and economic justice.
Black people are philanthropists! King of Pop, Michael Jackson, his song “We Are the World” not only raised millions of dollars but mobilized people from around the world to give of their time, talent, and treasure. He’s part of a long line of giving that extends back to pre-slavery and advances today through the work of the likes of Tony Dungy and others who are mobilizing social change through their giving.
The Secret: Giving Circles
For those without wallets the size of Michael Jackson’s, we can be just as effective and strategic by joining a giving circle. In fact, plenty of us are doing so already, and, yes, young people are also getting involved. Seven year-old students are donating their books and toys to children in homeless shelters. High school students are pooling their money to give more than 5,000 dollars per year to select charities. No one is too young or too poor to take action to improve their communities.
Giving Circles Fight Inequity Through Strategic Impact
Even a gift of 50 dollars can have impact. How? You can pool your gift with 10 of your friends, and it will grow into a 500 dollar gift. As your circle increases, so will your impact. Over a few short years your giving circle will award thousands of dollars to organizations that are improving schools, senior citizen centers, etc. in Black Communities.
It is the power of working together that brings social change!
Want to start a giving circle? Visit www.msbphilanthropyadvisors.com.
