North Carolina Peoples' Coalition for Giving & NCGives:
The NC Peoples' Coalition for Giving and NC Gives share a goal of increasing the engagement and visibility of people of color in giving. The Coalition is a multi-cultural statewide network of people of color that amplifies the wealth and power of giving, in all its forms, from people and communities of color.
Our Vision for Social Change
The Coalition works towards the vision of:
- Engaging and empowering givers of color.
- Increasing institutional accountability to communities of color.
- Ultimately, achieving a more just, equitable, and impactful distribution of resources from and to communities of color.
We recognize that achieving this vision requires a dual-pronged power shift - (1) people of color being seen (by others as well as by ourselves) as contributors and partners, versus recipients, thus becoming more engaged and empowered as givers, and (2) institutions - including nonprofits, foundations, and community-based organizations - becoming more accountable to communities of color.
How do we do this? Through two core STRATEGIES:
- Creating new knowledge and understanding about giving.
- Building authentic relationships within and across our diverse communities.
Activities Focused on Givers of Color
Increase engagement and empowerment by highlighting, celebrating, and re-thinking giving through cultural lenses and systemic lenses.
- Local Dialogue Circles
- "I Give" Photo Books: capturing the many ‘faces' of givers
- Interactive curriculum and timeline: highlighting the evolution of philanthropy as it relates to the social constructions of race within the United States
Activities Focused on Institutions that serve as Gatekeepers for Giving
Increase accountability to and complement work in communities of color by reflecting and supporting people of color leadership and applying a racial justice lens to mission and strategy.
- Case stories
- Capacity building for partnering institutions
- Solidarity Circles for people of color that serve as gatekeepers to giving (e.g., foundation staff and trustees, fundraisers, volunteer coordinators, advocates, etc.)
How We Came to This Work
We know that rich traditions of giving exist in diverse communities, but they have been under-recognized by institutions that serve as gatekeepers for giving. We literally do not see ourselves reflected in "philanthropy."
We believe that new tools, particularly those that measure the giving of time and talent, would begin to shift the notion that people of color "receive" more than we give philanthropically, a myth that perpetuates a power imbalance with predominately white-led funding institutions.
Creating New Knowledge and Understanding: The Coalition seeks a range of opportunities to advance the understanding of communities of color about the impact of our giving and the use of formal philanthropic vehicles (e.g., giving circles, community foundations, board banks, etc.) to increase our impact. Equally important, we seek opportunities to educate institutions about diverse traditions of giving and ways to incorporate those experiences into their programs, grantmaking policies, and operations.
Typically, mainstream organizations talk about "reaching out" to communities of color, to include "them" in "our" work. The Coalition recognizes that true engagement requires learning in multiple directions. The goal is not to conform giving from communities of color to the needs of organized philanthropy, but to help both communities of color and institutions of giving do their respective philanthropy more effectively.
Further, we aim to communicate the value of "two-ness" of people of color who work in and interact with giving institutions. With their dual lenses, networks, and senses of responsibility, these professionals bring a unique ability to blend traditional and contemporary models and to facilitate change at both the community and institutional levels.
Building Authentic Relationships: The Coalition hopes that its work will create new, lasting connections within and between communities of color. We recognize that important differences exist between communities of color, and even between subgroups of larger ethnic groups. By uncovering distinct traditions of giving in diverse communities, we aim to honor and respect the richness of our diversity.
While respecting and maintaining cultural integrity, the Coalition seeks to build bridges between diverse communities of color. The Coalition helps uncover common interests and provide opportunities for cross-cultural learning and collaboration. In addition, we intend to engage openly with the tensions inherent in a truly multicultural group - for example, the inter-group prejudices and internalized oppression that often separate us as people of color. In this way, the Coalition's work will advance broader social change to enhance the quality of life for all North Carolinians.
Participation and Structure
Any person of color who is engaged with philanthropy - as a volunteer, board member, donor, grantmaker, advisor, consultant, or community-based leader - is welcome to join the Coalition. The Coalition convenes 2-3 gatherings each year for networking and learning exchange. Coalition membership is free, though specific activities may sometimes have a small fee. The Coalition offers travel reimbursements and stipends for participation to those not supported by another organization (prior approval required).
The Coalition is a safe space for people of color to connect and share freely. We value the partnership of white allies who are actively examining their own power and privilege, dismantling racism and other oppressions, and working with us to highlight and celebrate giving by people and communities of color.
A partner of NC Gives since 2006, the Coalition is an unincorporated network, administered as a Charitable Purpose Fund of the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro and guided by an Advisory Council:
- Andrea Arias
- Donna Chavis
- Ilana Dubester
- Beverly Francis
- Sterling Freeman
- Natasha Gore
- Charlene Martin
- Barbara Roole
For more information, contact the Coalition's Co-Managers:
Gita Gulati-Partee
919-824-3914
gita@opensourceleadership.com
Zulayka Santiago
919-724-0111
zulayka2007@gmail.com
