If you research philanthropy and well-known philanthropists, you will find a lot of familiar names … Carnegie … Rockefeller … Buffett … Gates. In comparison, you will not find as much historical or current information on donors of color and even less about Black or African American donors.

The Black community has a long history of giving, dating back to traditions on the African continent. The very roots of philanthropy within the Black community stem from the African principle of ubuntu, a Nguni word which means “the quality of being human” or oftentimes referred to as “I am because you are” — the idea that we can only be strong when we have care and concern for our neighbor and focus on collective impact.  

Nelson Mandela once reflected on this philosophy: “In Africa there is a concept known as ‘ubuntu’ — the profound sense that we are human only through the humanity of others; that if we are to accomplish anything in this world it will in equal measure be due to the work and achievement of others.”

There is no such thing as a monolithic Black donor, as each donor’s giving is highly personal and based on personal values and lived experiences. However, there are certainly general themes that can be gleaned from the cultural, social and religious traditions of Black Americans that can provide insight into how to engage with this highly philanthropic group.