Amid a nationwide tour, The Soul of Philanthropy returns to Charlotte in celebration of its 10th anniversary
Since its inaugural exhibition at Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) in 2015, Giving Back: The Soul of Philanthropy Reframed and Exhibited has traveled nationally to dozens of cities, including Portland, OR, Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Denver, Houston and New Orleans. The groundbreaking exhibit comprising narrative and photographic works of Charlotteans Valaida Fullwood and Charles Thomas is returning to the city that launched it for a three-month run at Charlotte Museum of History, July 15-October 19, 2025.
The Soul of Philanthropy, a reimagining of the book Giving Back, explores the Black American experience with philanthropy and elevates giving traditions grounded in faith, mutuality, responsibility and social justice. Featuring people, stories and images from Charlotte and the Carolinas, the exhibit illuminates Black philanthropy through innovative and interactive presentations—luminous photographic prints on metal, digital storytelling with music, animation, poetry, photography, film, and more.
Exhibition elements invite visitors of all ages to share their stories of giving and to contribute to reframing portraits of philanthropy. “Centuries-old cultural customs and beliefs about giving, though rarely acknowledged as ‘philanthropy’ in African American communities, have long been an integral and transformational force in lives and communities throughout American society,” Fullwood says.
NGAAP—Charlotte’s Black philanthropic collective—developed and launched the exhibit through a 2013-2017 collaboration with JCSU’s James B. Duke Library and co-authors Fullwood and Thomas. The effort was supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which funded two years of exhibitions on HBCU campuses and cultural institutions. Following the initial tour, foundations, museums, libraries and colleges across the country have stepped up to fund and bring exhibitions to their cities in conjunction with robust community programming.
“Transcending generations, race and geography, The Soul of Philanthropy is proving to be a powerful vehicle for civic engagement and donor education. It has become a catalytic force in many cities that serves to shift perspectives and behaviors, deepen cultural and civic pride, launch new philanthropic funds and initiatives, and advance social change,” states the exhibit’s photographer Thomas.
Earning multiple awards and national acclaim, The Soul of Philanthropy makes its triumphant return to Charlotte following exhibitions in 35 U.S. cities, 16 states, and counting. NGAAP members Liz Thomas Hollier and Patricke Ward are co-chairs for the “CLT Homecoming,” featuring the exhibition and wide-ranging event and programs.
The Soul of Philanthropy is where you come to see philanthropy, differently.
You can become a contributor to this exhibition and receive recognition in it, too! Follow the links below for details on the various ways you can support the “CLT Homecoming” exhibition.
• Contribute as a Community Partner — Open to individuals, couples, families, nonprofits and small businesses
• Contribute as an Institutional Partner — Open to foundations, large organizations and corporations
Click here to contribute online, or here for other payment options!
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About NGAAP | Formed in 2006 as New Generation of African American Philanthropists, NGAAP is Charlotte’s only Black philanthropic collective. Its membership pools dollars and resources for grantmaking; connects people through forums for networking and education; and leads with innovative approaches and fresh ideas in philanthropic spaces. Inspiring action through the power of Black philanthropy, NGAAP envisions a healthy, safe, and prosperous community for Black families to live, work and flourish. ngaap.org
NGAAP :: New Generation of African American Philanthropists 