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ABAG's Adventures in Philanthropy Column
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"Charitable Giving - ABC and African-American Philanthropy"
Betsy Nelson
The Daily Record
February 20, 2004
In celebration of Black History Month, I'd like to highlight some of the wonderful work of Associated Black Charities to improve our community.
Sometimes, people think African-American philanthropy is a new occurrence. In truth, there is a long and rich tradition of giving.
During the 1700s mutual aid societies, Prince Hall Masons and orphanages were established as vehicles to support African Americans, slave or free. In the 1800s, there were several hundred organizations established to provide charitable assistance to the black community and support anti-slave efforts. The early 1900s saw the emergence of black sororities and fraternities, the establishment of the NAACP and other social organizations.
By 1960 the civil rights movement and the financial support generated around the movement was the single greatest manifestation of philanthropic behavior in the United States. Most recently, we have seen entertainers, sports figures and others of means begin to give large gifts as well as the mega-church movement as a source of philanthropic activity. Today, African Americans give 25 percent more of their discretionary income to charity than do others of similar income, according to a recent study by the Chronicle of Philanthropy.
Nine out of every 10 dollars donated by the black community goes to churches or religious groups. In the past, because of overt discrimination, black giving was often centered on African-American interests. In recent years, the circle of recipients has broadened. The number of givers with significant income or assets has increased as well. With the rise of the black middle class, there are more African-American women of means than ever before, and we are seeing increased giving as a result.
And Baltimore is certainly a leader nationally regarding the growth of philanthropy. We are fortunate to have exceptional institutions like Associated Black Charities and its African American Philanthropy Initiative (AAPI) which provides education and charitable giving information to different segments of Maryland's African-American communities and furnishes vehicles for giving. Associated Black Charities was founded in 1985 to respond to issues of special significance to the African-American community.
It all started with a planning grant of $100,000 from the United Way of Central Maryland and lots of energy and enthusiasm from the community. Nineteen years later, Associated Black Charities owns its own headquarters building, has over 14,000 contributing members, a healthy growing endowment and an operational budget of $3.5 million. ABC has provided close to $6 million and 5,400 hours of technical assistance to over 270 community-based organizations.
In addition to administering grants programs for nonprofits, ABC is an important resource for pooling African-American dollars. A number of individuals and organizations have trusted Associated Black Charities to manage/administer their charitable giving process.
The Howard “Pete” Rawlings Fund for Excellence in Public Policy, the Cary Beth Cryor Scholarship Fund, the Dr. Maxie Collier Family Fund, the Will & Jada Smith Family Fund, the Change Fund, the Women's Fund, the Mark & Matthew Reid Fund, and the William and Victorine Adams Foundation's Future Business Leaders Scholarship Fund each speak to different philanthropic interests within the community.
I salute Associated Black Charities for its leadership in cultivating and harnessing philanthropy in Baltimore!
Other archived articles from ABAG's Adventures in Philanthropy Column:
"Charitable Giving - How to Build Healthy Neighborhoods"
"Charitable Giving - Neighborhood Excellence Initiative"
"Charitable Giving - Annie E. Casey Exec Inspires"
"Charitable Giving - Maryland's eSource for Advisors"
"Charitable Giving - Local Donor Collaborations"
"Charitable Giving - ABC and African-American Philanthropy"
"Charitable Giving - Local Foundations Show Support for Baltimore School System "
Charitable Giving: Maryland Business Giving Workbook
Charitable Giving - Take care with the Care Act
"Charitable Giving - Local Foundation Investment in Baltimore High School Reform"
"Charitable Giving - Shape Up...Live Well"
Charitable Giving - The Cost of Raising Money
CareFirst plus WellPoint equals foundation
Charitable Giving - National Philanthropy Day Celebrates Giving in Maryland
Charitable Giving - A Plan of One's Own: A Woman's Guide to Philanthropy
Charitable Giving - Defining moments
Charitable Giving - Corporate Caring
Charitable Giving - Conflicts of Interest
The Baltimore Fund of the TRF Urban Growth Partners
Teaching That Achievement Counts
"Charitable Giving - Good Time to Decide How Much to Give"
Charitable Giving - Capital/Endowment Fund Campaigns
Making Education a Priority
Charitable Giving - B'MORE Fund
State of Giving
How Effective Nonprofits Work
"Charitable Giving - Women Begin to Realize Full Potential as Philanthropists, Expert Says"
"Charitable Giving - Charitable Planning from the Advisor's Perspective"
"Charitable Giving - Expanding Corporate Giving"
"Charitable Giving - IYF Addresses Critical Concerns Facing Youth"
"Charitable Giving - Strategic Planning Part One
"Charitable Giving - Tips for Developing a Strategic Business Plan"
"Charitable Giving - There's A Right Way to Do the Right Thing"
"Charitable Giving - While You're Passing the Turkey, Take a Minute to Reflect"
"Charitable Giving - What We Give and Where It Goes"
"Charitable Giving - MD Companies Working to Make Holidays Special for Less Fortunate"
"Charitable Giving - Coming Together: Global Community Responds to a Natural Disaster"
"Charitable Giving - National Philanthropy Day Winners"
"Charitable Giving - Role of the Nonprofit Board"
Reason to believe
Charitable Giving - Technology & nonprofits
Charitable Giving - Advice to foundations
Charitable Giving - New resource for nonprofit groups
Charitable Giving - Inspired philanthropy
Charitable Giving - Developing Leaders
Charitable Giving - Wanted: Professional volunteers
Donor Advised Funds
"Charitable Giving - Salute to T. Rowe Price
"Charitable Giving - Teacher Appreciation Fund"
Charitable Giving - Youth and Volunteers
Charitable Giving - To Honor Mothers
"Charitable Giving - Future of philanthropy"
"Charitable Giving - Contributions to charities"
"Charitable Giving - Giving in tough times"
"Charitable Giving - Celebrating special occasions with philanthropy"
"Charitable Giving - B'MORE Fund"
"Charitable Giving - 20 years of building a community of grantmakers"
"Charitable Giving - Building a more effective board"
"Charitable Giving - When nonprofits discover the executive chair empty"
"Charitable Giving - Sustaining Yourself"
"Charitable Giving - Community development in Baltimore"
"Charitable Giving - Resource at Risk"
"Charitable Giving - Fundraising"
Maryland's Community Foundations: For Good and For Ever
Advisors
Knott Nonprofit Leadership Initiative
Digital Bridge Initiative
Dollars for doers'
Businesses Earn State Tax Credits Through Nonprofit Giving
Leadership Program of Their Own
CHARITABLE GIVING
Maryland foundations and corporations respond to tragedy
Reason to believe
Where's the Good News?
Turning the Corner
How to get youth involved in civic life
Recognizing Volunteers
Standards for Excellence
Considerations for Endowment Gifts
Determining what works
New directions for philanthropy
Giving through a business partnership
Your business can make a difference
A helping hand for helping hands
Donate Your Rebate – Maryland!
Leave a Legacy
Forming a Circle of Giving
Cultivating civically engaged young people through work, service
Celebrating the Spirit of Giving
Thanks/Giving Day
Stocks in the Future
Baltimore Neighborhood Collaborative
The Great Wealth Transfer
Investing in Our Community
In the Wake of Sept. 11
Adventures in Philanthropy
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