The Women’s Philanthropy Institute (WPI) has launched a new initiative to honor black women and their contributions to philanthropy.
On August 31st, the Women’s Philanthropy Institute (WPI), part of the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, announced the honorees of the Black Women Give Back List, a new initiative to spotlight the important work and contributions of Black women philanthropists. Created in partnership with The Women Invested to Save the Earth (WISE) Fund, the backbone organization for Black Philanthropy Month, the list spotlights 10 outstanding Black women philanthropists from diverse backgrounds who use their time, talent, treasure, testimony and ties to make the world a better place.
An extension of WPI’s Who Is A Philanthropist? initiative, the Black Women Give Back List challenges perceptions about who is a philanthropist and builds on existing research that demonstrates the unique perspectives that women across race and ethnicity bring to philanthropy.
The 10 women featured in the 2021 Black Women Give Back List include:
- Dr. M. Starita Boyce Ansari, Founder of The New 3Rs, Inc.
- Felicia Davis, President and CEO of Chicago Foundation for Women
- Thelma Ekiyor, Co-Founder and Managing Director of SME.NG; Founder of The Funding Space and Afrigrants Foundation, and Pioneer of The Ebi Fund
- Valaida D. Fullwood, Creator of The Soul of Philanthropy and Author of Giving Back
- Sharlene Kemler, CEO of The Loveland Foundation
- Marsha Morgan, Chair Emeritus of the Community Investment Network
- Toya Randall, Curator and Catalyst of Voice. Vision. Value. Black Women Leading Through Philanthropy
- Betty Smith, Executive Director of EN-RICH-MENT
- Ayọ (formerly known as Opal) Tometi, Co-creator of #BlackLivesMatter and Founder of Diaspora Rising
- Akilah S. Wallace, Executive Director, Faith in Texas and Founder & Chair, HERitage Giving Fund
To read more about the contributions and approaches of the 10 philanthropists, you can view The Root profile piece. The honorees were also featured in a video highlighting the initiative
After an open nomination period, the Black Women Give Back List received over 150 submissions. The selection committee represented different partners and perspectives, including:
- A’Lelia Bundles, Journalist and Speaker, Great-Great Granddaughter of Madam C.J. Walker
- Dr. Jacqueline Bouvier Copeland, Founder of Black Philanthropy Month, The WISE Fund, and Reunity
- Yolanda F. Johnson, Founder of Women of Color in Fundraising and YFJ Consulting
- Jocelyn Harmon, Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of #BlackHer
After a successful start to the 10th Anniversary Black Philanthropy Month Summit with 1,100+ registrants across 40 countries, the celebration closed with WISE’s capstone event, Reunity™: The Black Women’s Funders Summit, which showcased the Black Women Give Back List and video. The Black Women Give Back List will be an annual initiative taking place every August during Black Philanthropy Month.
Related:
(Liveblog) Leveraging the Unique Power of Women’s Collective Giving
Feminist Giving is Better: WPI Research Reveals Why
New WPI Study: What Influences Us to Do Gender Equality Giving?
