Advancing Bold, Black-Led Community Change

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WHERE WE ARE TODAY  

Thanks to generous support from donors and community members, the Black Philanthropy Initiative has raised just over $1.6 million of our $2 million goal to-date. We’re excited to share that in May 2024, we secured a surprise $200,000 matching donation from an anonymous donor. This means that every new donation and pledge to BPI will be matched 100% – up to $200,000!

ABOUT OUR CAMPAIGN

Throughout our history, the Black Philanthropy Initiative of Winston-Salem has pursued the same goal: to strengthen, support, and make a meaningful impact in local Black communities.

Since our founding in 2003, BPI has awarded more than $1 million to local organizations that are building a better future and transforming lives in local Black communities. But it’s not nearly enough. As we accelerate Black-led social change at this historic point in time, we need your support to increase our investments in Black students, organizations, and families in Forsyth County.

We have the goal of raising at least $2 million in the next three years—with the vast majority going toward our annual grantmaking programs and the remaining to our endowment to ensure grantmaking dollars are available for years to come.   

Working together, we can support more community-led solutions and create lasting change for future generations. Watch the video below to see why your support matters:

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BPI IS A POWERFUL, BLACK-LED PHILANTHROPY MOVEMENT

As the only local funding initiative that is 100% Black-led and explicitly focused on strengthening Black communities, BPI is uniquely positioned to address the most pressing issues that Black residents face because of deliberate and systematic underinvestment.  

Our work, powered to-date by the collective giving of nearly 600 donors and the programming impact of more than 70 organizations, has helped transform hundreds of people’s lives. With a spirit of giving rooted in faith, family, and community, our supporters generously share their time, talent, and treasure to advance our work.  

"I think of Black philanthropy like a hand. Individually we can make an impact... but if you bring us together like a fist, we can be agents of change for this community."
‍— Roshanda McCrimmon, Resource Development Committee Chair ‍

OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD BETTER, BRIGHTER FUTURES

BPI offers a powerful way to give back and pay it forward. Through collective giving, grantmaking, and community engagement, BPI ensures local organizations have what they need to advance racial equity and respond to community needs, particularly those in our local Black communities.  

BPI has a long track record of providing flexible funding to local groups, helping them build capacity and scale up community-led solutions. Over many years, we have nurtured relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders—nonprofit leaders, donors, policymakers, and directly-impacted people—to empower our work and collaborate to make a difference.  

"You know how when you have a vision or a dream, and you say, ‘I just need this one little thing to get me off the ground?' BPI did that for me, and I'm so grateful." — Dr. Jennifer Sherman, Founder of  Sherman Academy

BUILD A STRONG AND LASTING LEGACY WITH US

BPI honors the long and significant history of Black giving and offers a powerful way to give back and pay it forward. We need your help to expand our impact and grow an even larger base of supporters to advance BPI’s work.  

‍Here are some ways to support our efforts:  

• Make a donation now
• Commit a future or multi-year gift
• Join a committee to help us decide on grants, grow our resources, and build relationships.  
• Join our email list to stay in touch with our work and ongoing learning opportunities.
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