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Black Philanthropic Alliance (BPA)

Location:

Washington, DC
Type:

Philanthropy Network
Formation:

2002

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Black Philanthropic Alliance (BPA) is a network of Black philanthropists and nonprofit leaders that work to share knowledge, offer professional development, and increase Black philanthropy and Black representation in nonprofit organizations. It is part of the Black Philanthropic Network (BPN) organized and supported by the Black philanthropy advocacy organization ABFE.

The BPA website is no longer active, and its Facebook page links back to the Black Philanthropic Network page on the ABFE website.

Background

The Black Philanthropic Alliance (BPA) was founded in 2002 in Washington, D.C. 1 It’s a network of Black philanthropists and nonprofit leaders focused on networking and sharing knowledge, professional development, and increasing Black representation in nonprofit organizations and on boards. 2

BPA is part of the Black Philanthropic Network (BPN), a group of 11 organizations focused on supporting Black communities through philanthropy. BPN is organized and coordinated through ABFE. 3 Originally The Association of Black Foundation Executives, ABFE is a membership-based organization that supports philanthropy in Black communities. It provides members with a platform for networking along with professional development and tools to improve grantmaking. 4 It educates and informs to influence and advocate for policies that support Black communities. 5 ABFE is supported by several large left-of-center philanthropies including Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Ford Foundation, Open Society Foundations, W. K. Kellogg Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. 6

Other organizations that are part of ABFE ‘s Black Philanthropic Network include Denver Foundation, Council of Michigan Foundations, Bay Area Blacks in Philanthropy, New England Blacks in Philanthropy, New York Blacks in Philanthropy, and Chicago African Americans in Philanthropy. 7

The Black Philanthropic Alliance website is no longer active. Its Facebook page is now DC Black Philanthropic Alliance with a website link back to the Black Philanthropic Network page on the ABFE website. 8

Work Areas

In 2007 Black Philanthropic Alliance launched Black Benefactors to enable grantmaking to organizations that provide services to Black communities. It was a member-driven “social investment club” that awarded grants to organizations supporting Black communities in the Washington, D.C. area. 9 There were 13 founding members. 10 In 2022 there were 29 members. 11 Grantees included small left-of-center nonprofits and advocacy groups such as housing and low-income activists ONE DC (Organizing Neighborhood Equity); Black Swan Academy, which focuses on empowering Black youth; and National Reentry Network for Returning Citizens, which supports individuals returning from incarceration. 12 Black Benefactors closed in May 2022. 13

BPA provided professional development to Black nonprofit and philanthropy leaders through networking events and workshops. For example, in 2017 BPA and Black Benefactors hosted “Black-Led Social Change: What? Why? & How?” in Washington, D.C. 14

BPA worked to improve Black nonprofit organizations through strategic partnerships and collaborations and advocated for policies that support Black communities by raising awareness about issues that impact Black communities. 15

Leadership

The Black Philanthropic Alliance points of contact are listed as Glen O’Gilvie and Edward Jones on the ABFE website. 16 O’Gilvie is president and CEO of the Center for Nonprofit Advancement. 17

Jones is a vice president of programs at ABFE. Previously he was a director at Council on Foundations, a founding member of Black Benefactors, and a founding member, board chair, and board member of Black Philanthropic Alliance. 18 He was a member of the Racial Equity Working Group of the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers. 19

The point of contact for the Black Philanthropic Network is listed as T.J. Breeden, ABFE’s director of programs, who is a member of United Philanthropy Forum and founder of Emerging Entrepreneurs, a nonprofit organization endorsed by the Obama administration that provides education and support to veterans and minorities. 20

References

  1. LinkedIn – Black Philanthropic Alliance. Accessed February 9, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/company/black-philanthropic-alliance/about/
  2. “Black Philanthropic Alliance.” Candid. Philanthropy News Digest. January 15, 2013. Accessed February 9, 2024. https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/features/nonprofit-spotlight/black-philanthropic-alliance.
  3. “Black Philanthropic Network (BPN).” ABFE – Programs. Accessed February 9, 2024. https://abfe.org/programs/networking-and-convening/black-philanthropic-network/.
  4.  “About ABFE.” ABFE. Accessed February 9, 2024. https://abfe.org/about/
  5. “Programs.” ABFE. Accessed February 9, 2024. https://abfe.org/programs/
  6. “Partners.” ABFE. Accessed February 9, 2024. https://abfe.org/knowledge-center/partners/
  7. “Black Philanthropic Network (BPN).” ABFE. Accessed February 9, 2024. https://abfe.org/programs/networking-and-convening/black-philanthropic-network/.
  8. “DC Black Philanthropic Alliance.” Facebook. Accessed February 10, 2024. https://www.facebook.com/DCBlackPhilanthropicAlliance/.
  9. “Black Philanthropic Alliance.” Candid. Philanthropy News Digest. January 15, 2013. Accessed February 9, 2024. https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/features/nonprofit-spotlight/black-philanthropic-alliance.
  10. “Founding Members.” Black Benefactors – Our Members. Accessed February 10, 2024. https://www.blackbenefactors.org/founding-members/.
  11. “2022 Members.” Black Benefactors – Our Members. Accessed February 10, 2024. https://www.blackbenefactors.org/annual-members/
  12.  [1] “Our Grantees.” Black Benefactors. Accessed February 10, 2024. https://www.blackbenefactors.org/our-grantees/
  13. Twebb. “Our 15th and Final Year.” Black Benefactors – News. May 6, 2022. Accessed February 10, 2024. https://www.blackbenefactors.org/news/.
  14. “Black-Led Social Change: What? Why? & How?” Facebook. Accessed February 10, 2024. https://www.facebook.com/events/120555165334442/?active_tab=about.
  15. “Black Philanthropic Alliance.” Candid. Philanthropy News Digest. January 15, 2013. Accessed February 10, 2024. https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/features/nonprofit-spotlight/black-philanthropic-alliance.
  16. “Black Philanthropic Network (BPN).” ABFE – Programs. Accessed February 9, 2024. https://abfe.org/programs/networking-and-convening/black-philanthropic-network/.
  17. LinkedIn – Glen O’Gilvie. Accessed February 9, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/gleno1/.
  18. LinkedIn – Edward Jones. Accessed February 9, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisedwardjones/.
  19. “Edward M. Jones.” ABFE. Accessed February 10, 2024. https://abfe.org/about/staff/edward-m-jones/.
  20. LinkedIn – T.J. Breeden. Accessed February 9, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjbreeden/.
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Black Philanthropic Alliance (BPA)


Washington, DC