In one week, August begins and celebrations start for Black Philanthropy Month 2021.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Black Philanthropy Month (BPM), and NGAAP is a proud, longtime sponsor. Our collective is also honored to lead #BPM2021CLT, our local celebration of Black giving in all its forms. The #BPM2021CLT campaign is a collaboration with My Brother’s Keeper Charlotte (MBK-CLT MECK), the National Pan-Hellenic Council of Charlotte, SHARE Charlotte and YMCA of Greater Charlotte.

Recognizing the importance of racial equity, cultural competence and representation, and being proximate to communities served, #BPM2021CLT aims to strengthen nonprofits that identify as follows:

• BLACK-LED: 50 percent or more of staff leadership and/or board members identify as Black or African American 
• BLACK-BENEFITTING: 50 percent or more of population served identifies as Black or African American

Here are some ways to participate:

• Register for the BPM 2021 “Making Equity Real” Global Summit Series, which starts Aug 3rd. It’s free, virtual and open to the public. Ford Foundation President Darren Walker is the featured speaker at the kickoff event.

For Black-led, Black-benefitting nonprofit organizations

• Raise your organization’s profile, throughout August, with such things as media stories, social media campaign, stakeholder engagement and community outreach.
• Lead a campaign to raise dollars, recruit volunteers and/or generate needed supplies and resources to advance your mission (e.g., books, back-to-school supplies, food, clothing, equipment)
• Increase your visibility and connections to new supporters by becoming a SHARE Charlotte partner organization, identifying as a “Black-led, Black-benefitting nonprofit”.

For all nonprofit organizations

• Spotlight your Black donors and volunteers in your communications and on social media.
• Host a donor appreciation event, recognizing the contributions of Black givers (whether time, talent or treasure) who contribute generously to your organization and cause.

For community members, businesses and funders

• Contribute dollars—make a grant, give a donation or pledge support to one or more Black-led, Black-benefitting nonprofits 
• Pledge challenge or match resources for nonprofits (cash, gift cards or other in-kind services) as incentive to drive individual donations
• Mobilize resources (e.g. supplies, technology, board members, volunteers) in response to expressed needs and requests of participating Black-led nonprofits
• Learn more about local social, economic and power disparities and advocate for racial equity
• Read and listen to the firsthand stories from Black nonprofit leaders to gain wider knowledge, deeper understanding of their challenges and causes
• Be a promotional partner and share BPM content through your communications channels
• Identify and connect with many of the Black-led, Black-benefitting nonprofits serving Charlotte-Mecklenburg, using the “Black-led, Black-benefitting” filter on the SHARE Charlotte site.