Getting to Know the Black Philanthropy Initiative

FEATURED EVENT: Lounging with the Library— Finances, Funding and Philanthropy in the Black Community Feb. 25 at 7 p.m.

Join us via Zoom and Facebook for a live conversation on money matters in the African American community.

LIBRARY DIRECTOR BRIAN HART INTERVIEWS ANDREA HULIGHAN, DIRECTOR, STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

BPI has funded approximately 65 grants totaling over $298,000 since they made their first grants in 2007.

ow did the Black Philanthropy Initiative get started here in Winston-Salem? As an initiative of The Winston-Salem Foundation, BPI serves as a model for rethinking philanthropy. BPI’s intentional work to build effective philanthropic relationships with the Black community began in 2000 with a grant from The ECHO Fund and the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation. H

A grant from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation in 2004 enabled The

Winston-Salem Foundation and the BPI Advisory Committee to offer public speakers and informational seminars to the Black community to maintain the momentum in building new relationships.

BPI launched its annual grants program in 2007. BPI credits its first chair, Mr. Marshall Bass, for recruiting others to join the effort and for creating a solid foundation that has enabled BPI to thrive over the years.

What projects have you funded in your 20-year history? BPI has funded approximately 65 grants totaling over $298,000 since we made our first grants in 2007. We have given grants focused on education, financial literacy and other issues we have found relevant to our local Black community. BPI has focused the majority of its grantmaking on equity in education for the last two years, based on

the data in our “Rethinking Philanthropy” report, and this year offered a new grant program focused on providing resources to Black-led organizations making an impact in our local Black communities. A list of this year’s grant recipients to-date can be found on our website for specific examples (bpiws.org).

Both FCPL and BPI value community engagement and education. Are there specific engagement or education initiatives that BPI is proud of?

Over the years, BPI has both hosted and partnered with the community to provide several programs and events that we are proud of. As an initiative, part of our mission is to engage the community and create learning opportunities around issues impacting the local Black community.

In February 2020, BPI partnered with Salem College to host an educational program about raising Black youth in white spaces where four Black high school students talked about their experiences attending predominately white schools and how adults could help support Black youth. It was so powerful to hear the youth share so many personal experiences, perspectives and statements with the audience.

Moving into 2021, BPI looks forward to expanding opportunities to engage and educate the community virtually and in person when it is safe to do so.

The Library has a Nonprofit Resource Center, does BPI have resources or information that we could share with our users?

Our “Rethinking Philanthropy” report continues to be a powerful tool that we use in our work, and we know that many in the community have requested it for their work, as well. The report provides key data about our community and specifically disaggregates it by race, while providing historical and societal context for the data. An electronic copy of the report can be found at bpiws.org.

The Women’s Fund of Winston-Salem also recently produced a data report that looks at our community’s data with both a gender and racial lens. The report can be accessed by visiting wfgenderlens.org.

Is there anything that interested residents of Forsyth County can do to support the Black Philanthropy Initiative?

Ask to join one of our committees. We have committees focused on grantmaking, community engagement and resource development.

Be a BPI advocate by telling your networks about us and connecting us to individuals or organizations in the community you think we should be aware of. I| S

OTHER FEBRUARY BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS

African American Read In

Feb. 8 at 4 p.m. – Call 336-703-2970 to register Feb. 20 at 2 p.m. – Call 336-703-2950 to register Read your favorite poem, narrative or passage from a work by an African American author. Or just come to listen, reflect and enjoy. Individuals are asked to share pieces no longer than three minutes to allow time for others to share.

African American Genealogy Feb. 9 at 7 p.m.

If you are interested in African American genealogy, this is for you. Learn about the unique types of records used and discover research methods to help find ancestors. Call 336-703-2970 to register.

Black History Virtual Trivia

Anyone with a thirst for knowledge can participate and expand their knowledge of African American history. Call 336-703-2920 to register.