25 Black philanthropists & foundations you should know

Black generosity isn’t new—it’s the blueprint.

Every year, Black households contribute over $11B to causes they care about—giving 25% more of their income than white households, despite a persistent racial wealth gap. Nearly 67% of Black families donate annually. That’s not just generosity—it’s a legacy of collective care, mutual aid, and deep community impact.

Givebutter celebrates this rich past and present during Black Philanthropy Month and beyond by lifting up leaders in Black-led nonprofits and the vibrant communities they serve. In this article, we’ll introduce you to top foundations and philanthropic resources created by and for Black changemakers.

Famous Black philanthropists 💫

From paying off student debt to fueling grassroots justice work, these Black celebrity philanthropists are turning generosity into lasting change. 

Whether they’re building scholarship funds or uplifting their hometowns, this list of Black philanthropists highlights some of the most notable individuals using their platforms to pour back into the communities that raised them. 

1. Oprah Winfrey 

The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation has donated millions of dollars to educate, support, and care for the African American community—including $25M to educate young Black men.

2. Denzel Washington 

Denzel has been a longtime supporter and spokesperson for Boys & Girls Clubs of America, helping raise money to create safe spaces and opportunities for young people.

3. Beyoncé

Beyonce’s nonprofit, BeyGOOD, supports economic equity through educational scholarship funds, internships, and more.

4. LeBron James 

The LeBron James Family Foundation focuses on education and community development, providing resources and support to historically marginalized children and Black families.

5. Robert F. Smith 

Robert F. Smith, Vista Equity Partners CEO, made headlines by paying off the student loan debt of an entire graduating class at Morehouse College—$34M! Following this historic act of generosity, he launched the Student Freedom Initiative to support students academically, professionally, and financially while addressing the broader student loan debt crisis.

6. Jay-Z 

Jay-Z founded the Shawn Carter Foundation to help students advance their education and finish college on time. 

7. Rihanna

Through her Clara Lionel Foundation, Rihanna supports education, healthcare, and climate resilience. She’s also raised millions for disaster relief in regions like Barbados, Puerto Rico, and Haiti.

8. Michael Jordan

NBA legend and businessman Michael Jordan has made significant contributions to education, youth development, and social justice. His Jordan Brand has donated millions to community programs and to initiatives that support underprivileged youth.

More to explore

Discover 30 black grants for nonprofits, businesses, and more →

Black foundations serving Black communities 💛

Finding the right funder shouldn’t feel like digging for buried treasure—but for many Black-led organizations, that’s exactly what it is. With over 100K foundations in the U.S. (and 90% of them without websites), too many changemakers are left guessing who’s really funding racial justice work.

That’s why we did the heavy lifting. Below are foundations that are loud and proud about supporting Black-led organizations—and they're putting their dollars where their values are.

9. The Fund for Black-led Change

Meyer Foundation houses this fund, which has committed $20M to strengthening the infrastructure and sustainability of Black-led and Black-centered organizations.

10. The Libra Foundation

This Black-led foundation's guiding principle is that "those closest to the issues understand those issues the best." Their Democracy Frontlines Fund works to disrupt traditional practices and deepen the conversation about antiracism within philanthropy.

11. The Power Fund

An initiative from Robin Hood, this fund is explicitly designed to support nonprofit leaders of color working on solutions to end poverty in New York City.

12. The California Black Freedom Fund

Backed by dozens of foundations, the California Black Freedom Fund has distributed $45M over five years to bolster Black-led organizations addressing systemic racism across California.

13. Vida Afro Latina Fund

Vida Afro Latina Fund is an international women's fund that facilitates participatory grantmaking with Black women-led organizations tackling sexual violence in Latin America.

14. Black Art Futures Fund

A Red Olive Culture Commons project, the Black Arts Futures Fund supports small, Black-led nonprofits that primarily serve Black communities.

15. Brooklyn Org

Formerly the Brooklyn Community Foundation, Brooklyn Org is committed to moving foundation money and individual donations to underfunded BIPOC-led organizations. To date, they’ve redirected over $130M to these causes through grants and donor-advised funds.

More to explore

Discover even more Black-led organizations that should be on your radar →

Giving circles empowering Black philanthropic leaders 🚀

Giving circles are one of philanthropy’s best-kept secrets—and Black communities have been leading the way for generations. These grassroots groups pool funds, decide where to give, and direct resources to causes that often get overlooked by traditional funders.

Today, more than 2,000 giving circles exist across the United States, many continuing the rich legacy of Black-led collective giving. They’re a powerful reminder that you don’t need deep pockets to make a deep impact—just a shared purpose and a seat at the table.

We’ve highlighted a few below. If you’re inspired to start your own, check out Philanthropy Together or the Triangle Foundation for tools and resources.

16. Black Giving Circle Fund

The Hartford Foundation created this fund out of a shared desire to celebrate Black philanthropy in the greater Hartford, CT, community. The Black Giving Circle Fund is committed to creating sustainable change through collaborative giving.

17. Philadelphia Black Giving Circle

The Philadelphia Black Giving Circle cultivates charitable giving by leveraging community resources to build strong Black-led organizations. This giving circle continues to address the disparity in funding between Black-led and white-led nonprofits in Philly.

18. New Generation of African American Philanthropists

What began as a 15-person giving circle in Charlotte, NC, has grown into the New Generation of African American Philanthropists—a powerhouse of Black giving, resources, and community initiatives committed to "disrupting conventional philanthropy."

19. African-American Women's Giving and Empowerment Circle

Since 2008, the Arizona Community Foundation has endowed this giving circle, which is committed to empowering Arizona's Black women and girls. 

More Black funds and resources for Black giving 🎁

Black-led philanthropy is bold, brilliant, and building a better future every day. From searchable databases to movement-building initiatives, these resources help changemakers fund racial equity—and find each other in the process. Whether you're looking to support, apply, or start something new, this list is full of tools to help you keep the momentum going.

20. Giving Gap

GivingGap is an extensive, searchable database of Black-led nonprofit organizations. It’s an invaluable resource that should be on every changemaker’s radar. 

21. BackBlack

Co-founded by Floyd Jones, Givebutter’s beloved Director of Community and Partnerships, BackBlack brings together philanthropic institutions, fundraising platforms, donors, and businesses to redirect capital and spread awareness about racial inequity in nonprofit funding.

Did you know?

Givebutter is giving away $10K to Black-led nonprofits this August! Learn more and apply →

22. Philanthropic Initiative for Racial Equity

Philanthropic Initiative for Racial Equity is a project of the Tides Center that works with foundations to make racial equity a priority. They also create critical resources like "What does philanthropy need to know to prioritize racial justice?" and a recent report titled "Mismatched: Philanthropy's Response to the Call for Racial Justice."

23. Give 8/28

"Black Giving is Magic!" proclaims Give 8/28, the only giving day in the U.S. dedicated to Black grassroots nonprofits. The Young, Black, & Giving Back Institute spearheads this project, which is a capstone to Black Philanthropy Month each August.

24. Communitas Ventures Accelerator

From Communitas America, this business incubator supports a four-month cohort of primarily BIPOC and women social entrepreneurs in New York City. This cohort boasts leaders of brilliant organizations like The Bronx is Reading and Black Women's Echo Chamber.

25. Abundance Movement

Chicago Beyond, Grand Victoria Foundation, and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation launched this platform for philanthropic institutions to join "a movement to free mindsets, dollars, policies, and practices to address anti-Blackness in philanthropy."

Investing in Black community funding all year long

The New Generation of African American Philanthropists wisely points out that

“The meaning of the word philanthropy is a love of humanity.”

These Black changemakers turn that love into action daily by pouring resources into their communities, funding racial equity, and building a legacy of generosity that spans generations.

To help fuel that impact, we’re giving away $10K in unrestricted funding during Black Philanthropy Month to Black-led nonprofits serving Black communities. 

👉 If that’s you, apply today →