Note: The Black Resilience in Colorado (BRIC) Fund Blog features the unique voices and perspectives of people who make up the diverse fabric of the Colorado community who are engaged in Black philanthropy. It's a platform to share their comments and opinions on how people in the Black community give back, discuss historical and current challenges, and illustrate Black resilience. This month, Courtland Powers-Gunnells, vice president of philanthropy for Invest in Kids, Inc., BRIC Fund Board member, and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, shares her insights and thoughts on the philanthropic footprint of Black Greek-Letter organizations.
The true spirit of philanthropy is not about giving to be seen, but about giving to inspire, uplift, and bring lasting change to communities. Black Greek-letter organizations, also referred to as The Divine Nine, emerged during a challenging period where structural and institutional racism plagued the country and inflamed race relations. Founded by students at both Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs), members developed ties and implemented significant outreach initiatives to positively impact communities. These organizations comprise the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), a coordinating body that galvanizes each other toward a shared purpose and impact. Each organization was founded in the true spirit of philanthropy while highlighting exceptionalism, community service, civic action, and kinship. Over the years, philanthropy in historically Black fraternities and sororities have continued to embody this focus—bringing much-needed attention to causes and issues we care about most…causes that we closely identify with and can share lived experiences with the communities we serve.
The term philanthropy or philanthropist often describes a wealthy donor who has invested a large or major gift to organizations, institutions, or individuals. Everyday Philanthropy (the promotion and attention of causes most impacting communities through time, talent, treasure, and testimony) continues to grow as individuals from various socio-economic backgrounds prioritize how it should appear in their daily lives.
Black Greek-letter organizations have excelled in leading substantial initiatives, including raising high six to seven-figure gifts annually to support HBCU endowments, scholarships, national nonprofit organizations, etc. Equally, amongst these initiatives, philanthropy is also realized in small, incremental ways by supporting local community projects through chapters and regions. As a collective, the Divine Nine creates long-term sustainability for our focus areas and allows members to be a part of the philanthropic footprint. These organizations are pillars of the community--exemplifying how you can take a cause from a local initiative to a national platform, and we do this by ensuring it’s embodied in our missions in service to all mankind.
A 2012 study by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation reported that, on average, Black Americans give 25 percent more of their income per year than White Americans. Black philanthropists have leaned in over the decades with strong, substantial philanthropic traditions and as part of that movement, Black Greek-letter organizations have helped lead these efforts. Greg DeShields, Executive Director of PHL Diversity, states that the definition of philanthropy is changing to also acknowledge the rich philanthropic tradition of every race and ethnic group. Black Philanthropy Month, founded in 2011 to celebrate and elevate African-descent giving, highlights the importance of this movement within the Black community from “traditional philanthropy” to Black Philanthropy. We recognize the historic tradition and diversity of how philanthropy has shown up in the black community. As more black philanthropists invest in supporting causes impacting our communities the most, we’re also moving the needle in decreasing the gap or proximity between those closest to the issues and those with power by centering communities on how those dollars can be best utilized.
By galvanizing membership and increasing the embodiment of philanthropy in all that we do, black Greek-letter organizations are supporting a movement that places black people in positions of power—long thought to not belong to us.