Conversations: If Black Lives Matter, then what?

• Arizona Community Foundation has a Black Philanthropy Initiative
• The initiative has a productive year on a number of fronts
• Four nonprofits are seeing the results of the first grants awarded

We are experiencing a season of action and change. During a time when we see a world of hate, let’s rally for a culture of love, of giving.

August is national Black Philanthropy Month. The Arizona Community Foundation is one of many sponsors of this call-to-action to increase awareness and elevate a culture of giving, especially in the black community during times like these.

The word “philanthropy” comes from the Greek philanthropia, meaning “love for humanity.” As a community, we express our love for humanity in everyday activities: being a good neighbor, taking a meal to a friend going through hard times, sitting with a loved one who is ill.

In many ways, we are all philanthropists and our love for humanity is demonstrated through many simple acts of kindness we engage in naturally.

Black Philanthropy Initiative

Locally, we are expressing love through ACF’s Black Philanthropy Initiative.

A group of 25 task force members and more than 100 donors across the state of Arizona have already begun taking action, working to address the impact of inequities through BPI’s Collaborative Fund, Permanent Endowment and through its giving circles called The African-American Women’s Giving and Empowerment Circle and Real Engagement for Active Philanthropy, the Black Men’s Giving Circle.

For the first time, all three groups will be awarding grants to nonprofits this year that work to improve education, health and social justice in the Black community. Now that’s taking action.

Throughout the month of August and beyond, ACF’s Black Philanthropy Initiative invites you to take action by giving $25 or more to help us to continue developing the BPI fund.

We will be sharing stories across the country and in our community on social media, and asking you to join us.

Year of Action

BPI has had a productive year of action. Besides convening Capacity Building Workshops to improve the sustainability of nonprofits and planning HIV/AIDS Town Halls to address this growing epidemic in the black community, BPI has supported and engaged with a number of partner organizations.

We partnered with Arizona State University's Center for the Study of Race and Democracy to discuss race relations with Emmy Award-winning Best Actress Viola Davis, sponsored the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre’s performance and the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz educational tours and concerts, and even hosted Arizona Cardinals’ Wide Receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who shared his philanthropic story at a special event this past spring.

First grants

Four nonprofits  are seeing the results of the first grants awarded by the Black Philanthropy Initiative’s African American Women’s and Giving and Empowerment Circle: ASCEND, Future Stars’ Hands on STEM Program and the Black Theatre Troupe.

“One of the most important tenets of our mission is to affect actual change by using the arts," BTT Executive Director David Hemphill said. "The impact of ACF's Black Philanthropy Initiative is immeasurable for an organization like the Black Theatre Troupe. With the guidance of ACF and BPI, the AAWGEC has been able maximize their giving strategies from what once were small, albeit consistent contributions, to combined large gifts that are instrumental towards our long range sustainability. “

Life Paradigms' Fatimah Halim agreed.

“Black philanthropy is a way of giving back to our community, supporting our community, and uplifting our community," Halim said. "We should all participate in that process.”

Take your action step today and give online at www.azfoundation.org/BPI and celebrate Black Philanthropy Month with us using the hashtag #BPI2016.

Kim Covington is a former KPNX 12 News anchor and the senior philanthropy adviser for community initiatives at the Arizona Community Foundation. Reach her at kim@covingtonco.com or on Twitter @kcovington. 

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