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Non-profit

Kingmakers of Oakland

Website:

www.kingmakersofoakland.org/
Location:

OAKLAND, CA
Tax ID:

38-4105767
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Founded:

2018

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Kingmakers of Oakland is a Bay Area nonprofit that focuses on improving educational outcomes for Black males. 1 The organization has argued the public education system is failing Black boys through harsh discipline, and a biased curriculum with a “white narrative.” 2

Donors include MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Jeff Bezos, and the NBA Foundation. 3 4

Background

In 2010, the Oakland Unified School District Superintendent Anthony Smith named Chris Chatmon as the executive director of the African American Male Achievement Program. Over that time, Black male graduation increased from 42 percent to 57 percent, while average grade point averages also increased by 25 percent. 5

Based on the model from the Oakland school district, Chatmon founded Kingmakers of Oakland in 2018 to provide training and resources for schools based on six pillars: curriculum and pedagogy, youth voice and leadership, Black teacher retention, community and family engagement, narrative change, and policy. 6

The organization says it focuses on “healing the fish while treating the toxic ecosystem.” 7  The organization uses professional development, “narrative change resources,” curriculum, and other methods to attempt to transform public school environments. 8

The organization says it is “unapologetically focusing on Black boys” because the public education system fails black boys through harsh discipline, a biased curriculum with a “white narrative,” poor literacy rates, and high juvenile arrests. 9

The group says conversations about “race and systemic oppression” are necessary to design more equitable educational systems. 10

Programs

Kingmakers of Oakland’s KOO Street Team is an “activated group of black youth leaders, innovators, change-makers and content curators.” It is made up of 10 members between the ages of 15 and 25. 11

The Kings In The Making TFI Program is a 3-year college access program in partnership with JP Morgan Chase’s Fellowship Initiative. It focuses on three areas: access to college preparatory courses; access to experienced teachers with competencies working with boys and men of color; and consistent guidance counseling to track academic performance and college application process. 12

The organization also has a Leadership Coaching program to guide strategic plans to improve outcomes for Black students. 13

The Kingmakers’ Learning Collaborative is a cross-country partnership where individual school district personnel share strategies. 14

The Phase Zero program is the initial phase of supporting schools and districts to understand the culture. 15

The Professional Learning Community program was established to train teachers and facilitators to “utilize our African-centered and culturally relevant pedagogy and curriculum” with students. 16

Financing

MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, contributed to Kingmakers of Oakland. It is among the 465 organizations to which she contributed $3.8 billion between June 2021 and March 2022. 17 Scott has also been a donor to the NewSchools Venture Fund, which finances public school innovation, and has provided financial backing for Kingmakers of Oakland. 18

In August 2021, the NBA Foundation announced 22 new grants totaling $6 million, including one to Kingmakers of Oakland. 19

The Golden State Warriors Community Foundation contributed $1.85 million to 51 Bay Area nonprofits in 2021, including Kingmakers of Oakland. 20

The Berkley Patients Group, which says it is the nation’s oldest cannabis group, announced in 2019 that it would donate $1 million to 10 nonprofit groups including Kingmakers of Oakland. 21

References

  1. Sullivan, Paul. “In Philanthropy, Race Is Still a Factor in Who Gets What, Study Shows.” New York Times. May 1, 2020. Accessed June 10, 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/01/your-money/philanthropy-race.html?searchResultPosition=1
  2. What We Do. Kingmakers of Oakland. Accessed June 10, 2022. https://www.kingmakersofoakland.org/our-story/
  3. Scott, MacKenzie. “Helping Any of Us Can Help Us All.” Medium. March 23, 2022. Accessed June 10, 2022. https://mackenzie-scott.medium.com/helping-any-of-us-can-help-us-all-f4c7487818d9
  4. Thompson, Jazmine Denise. “The NBA Foundation Announces $6 Million in Grants to Support Black Youth in Career Advancement.” Ebony. August 6, 2021. Accessed June 10, 2022. https://www.ebony.com/career-finance/mentoring_leadership/nba-foundation-6-million-grant/
  5. Fortson, Jobina. “Kingmakers of Oakland dedicated to improving education system for young Black men.” ABC 7 News. February 4, 2022. Accessed June 11, 2022. https://abc7news.com/kingmakers-of-oakland-improving-education-for-black-boys-history-month-nonprofits-to-help-community/11537906/
  6. Fortson, Jobina. “Kingmakers of Oakland dedicated to improving education system for young Black men.” ABC 7 News. February 4, 2022. Accessed June 11, 2022. https://abc7news.com/kingmakers-of-oakland-improving-education-for-black-boys-history-month-nonprofits-to-help-community/11537906/
  7. Kingmakers of Oakland. LinkedIn. Accessed June 10, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/company/kingmakersofoakland/about/
  8. Kingmakers of Oakland. LinkedIn. Accessed June 10, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/company/kingmakersofoakland/about/
  9. What We Do. Kingmakers of Oakland. Accessed June 10, 2022. https://www.kingmakersofoakland.org/our-story/
  10. What We Do. Kingmakers of Oakland. Accessed June 10, 2022. https://www.kingmakersofoakland.org/our-story/
  11. Programs. Kingmakers of Oakland. Accessed June 10, 2022. https://www.kingmakersofoakland.org/programs/
  12. Programs. Kingmakers of Oakland. Accessed June 10, 2022. https://www.kingmakersofoakland.org/programs/
  13. Programs. Kingmakers of Oakland. Accessed June 10, 2022. https://www.kingmakersofoakland.org/programs/
  14. Programs. Kingmakers of Oakland. Accessed June 10, 2022. https://www.kingmakersofoakland.org/programs/
  15. Programs. Kingmakers of Oakland. Accessed June 10, 2022. https://www.kingmakersofoakland.org/programs/
  16. Programs. Kingmakers of Oakland. Accessed June 10, 2022. https://www.kingmakersofoakland.org/programs/
  17. Scott, MacKenzie. “Helping Any of Us Can Help Us All.” Medium. March 23, 2022. Accessed June 10, 2022. https://mackenzie-scott.medium.com/helping-any-of-us-can-help-us-all-f4c7487818d9
  18. Sullivan, Paul. “In Philanthropy, Race Is Still a Factor in Who Gets What, Study Shows.” New York Times. May 1, 2020. Accessed June 10, 2022. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/01/your-money/philanthropy-race.html?searchResultPosition=1
  19. Thompson, Jazmine Denise. “The NBA Foundation Announces $6 Million in Grants to Support Black Youth in Career Advancement.” Ebony. August 6, 2021. Accessed June 10, 2022. https://www.ebony.com/career-finance/mentoring_leadership/nba-foundation-6-million-grant/
  20. Fortson, Jobina. “Kingmakers of Oakland dedicated to improving education system for young Black men.” ABC 7 News. February 4, 2022. Accessed June 11, 2022. https://abc7news.com/kingmakers-of-oakland-improving-education-for-black-boys-history-month-nonprofits-to-help-community/11537906/
  21. Press Release. “Berkeley Patients Group, Nation’s Oldest Dispensary, Celebrates 20 Years with $1MM for Good Campaign.” September 11, 2019. Accessed June 10, 2022. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190911005099/en/Berkeley-Patients-Group-Nation
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: June - May
  • Tax Exemption Received: July 1, 2020

    • Available Filings

    No filings available.

    Kingmakers of Oakland

    745 ARIMO AVE
    OAKLAND, CA 94610-1154