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August is Black Philanthropy Month: A Time to Think Bigger
Updated: Jul 29
Every August, Black Philanthropy Month (NBPM) turns attention to the power of Black giving. Founded in 2011 by Dr. Jackie Bouvier Copeland and the Pan-African Women’s Philanthropy Network, NBPM celebrates that giving—and asks something of us in return.
Understanding Black Philanthropy
Black giving is not new. It is not trendy, and it is certainly not seasonal.
From 19th-century mutual aid societies to modern-day giving circles, community foundations, and crowdfunding campaigns, Black philanthropy has always been rooted in self-determination, solidarity, and sustainability. This is especially true for those living at the margins of society.
Even during this month of reflection and celebration, Black LGBTQ+-led organizations continue to be underfunded and overlooked. They receive only a fraction of philanthropic dollars year-round, often less than 1%.
Black Queer Futures Deserve More Than Pride Month
At Black Alphabet, we know this firsthand. Every June, during Pride, we feel the love. Donors show up. Brands send emails. Organizations make statements.
But by July? The spotlight fades. And by August, many Black LGBTQ+ organizations are doing the same work with limited institutional support.
So, let’s be clear: we’re not here for the one-month-only approach to giving.
We are building infrastructure. We are building a movement, and both take money that shows up every month of the year.
The Reality of Giving: Despite Less Wealth, Black People Give More
Research shows that despite the racial wealth gap, African Americans give a higher percentage of their income to charitable causes than any other racial group in the U.S. Much of it happens quietly and informally, and mainstream philanthropy rarely counts it. The effects still carry across generations.
Black philanthropy has never been only check-writing. It looks like:
Care work within the community
CashApp/Zelle and GoFundMe bailouts
Sponsoring a youth's art supplies
Volunteering time, space, and platforms
In organizations like Black Alphabet, this is how we keep the lights on and the programming going for youth, elders, and everyone in between.
Black Queer Organizations: Essential Infrastructure for Our Communities
Philanthropy needs a bigger imagination. Funding Black LGBTQ+-led organizations keeps them solvent, yes—and it also buys:
Room for political imagination
Fuel for new creative work
Self-sufficiency for communities long shut out of wealth-building
These organizations are health access points, mental health lifelines, cultural hubs, and safe havens. To underfund us is to starve the very communities most vulnerable to systemic harm.
Our Call to Action: Fund Us Like You Mean It
This month, we invite you to take real action:
Donate to our current fundraising campaign with AIDS Foundation Chicago
We are raising funds to support our year-round arts and wellness programs that affirm Black LGBTQ+ people across generations.
To be plain: we’re not asking for charity. We’re asking you to invest in the future.
Mark your calendar for Black Giving Day on August 28. One day, set aside for giving with intention.
What Sustained Support Does
A one-time gift helps. A monthly gift lets us plan. When donors stick around, programs get to grow past their first year—and the community can trust we’ll still be here next season.
That kind of money builds rooms people come back to—for healing, for making work, for growing up in.
Stay Past August
Black Philanthropy Month ends August 31. The work doesn’t.
If you give this month, thank you. If you can keep giving after August, even better. That’s what keeps Black LGBTQ+ artists working and Black LGBTQ+ people cared for.
Give what you can, when you can. We’ll put it to work.
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