African American donors give away higher percentages of their incomes than whites

[Serious]

Reuters) - African American donors give away higher percentages of their incomes than white donors, according to a new study.

But they don't see themselves as big players in the charitable arena, and that presents an image problem, say experts like Judy Belk, a senior vice president for Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.

"African Americans have been very uncomfortable with the title of philanthropist," Belk said. "If you don't see role models who look like you when people start talking about issues related to philanthropy, you start believing, 'Hey, maybe I'm not a philanthropist.'"

Belk said she got so weary of hearing this that she helped produce a 12-minute video released in November, dubbed, "I Am A Philanthropist," which features diverse faces, races and ethnicities of donors and grant-makers.

Despite the challenges presented by that image problem, blacks do play a major, growing role in philanthropic circles. Each year, black donors give away 25 percent more of their incomes than white donor, according to a report released last month by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.

Nearly two-thirds of black households make charitable donations, worth a total of about $11 billion a year, the report said.

The report cites black churches as a historically important repository of giving, but notes that other important causes are coming to the fore.

While religious giving was the largest charitable category overall, it leveled off in dollar terms in 2010, according to Giving USA, a Chicago-area foundation that publishes philanthropy data and trends. At the same time, contributions for the arts increased almost 6 percent, a trend that was consistent across all racial groups.

Identity-based giving is gaining momentum in the Latino, Asian American, Arab American, and Native American communities, according to the Kellogg report.

Black Americans have produced the steadiest growth of new identity-based charitable funds over the last four decades of any racial or ethnic group examined in the report. While 12 black funds existed in 1970, more than six times that number exist today. They award grants that range from $1,250 to $17 million, and they have a median annual grantmaking budget of

$35,000.

Belk said she is encouraged by the new findings, but added that much work needs to be done to connect blacks to resources that can help them strategize their philanthropic giving.

"It's confirmed what many of us who had our ear to the ground already knew," said Belk.

FINDING ISSUES THAT RESONATE

She suggested that charitable organizations find bridges between black donors and issues that will resonate with them: Global health organizations, for example, could launch giving campaigns encouraging blacks to help fight AIDS in Africa, while environmental groups could work toward getting black donors to take on toxic pollution that affects minority communities.

"Many diverse donors say they are not seeing organizations reach out to them," she said. "I've heard fundraisers for environmental organizations assume that African Americans aren't interested. But a lot of organizations are missing an opportunity by not reaching out to this group."

read more: Black Americans donate to make a difference | Reuters

Saw this on "Don't Sleep", found it to be quite interesting...

 

[Johnny Kilroy]

A lot of black people are Christians and thus love giving money to the church.

A lot of white people are Republicans and they're the stingiest people on Earth.

 

[NZA]

median income for whites is significantly higher than that of black and brown people. giving when you are hovering near the bottom of the economy is a real sacrifice. you can be a consistent donor one year, and be receiving help the next.

 

[Xtraz2]

 

[Suicide King]

median income for whites is significantly higher than that of black and brown people. giving when you are hovering near the bottom of the economy is a real sacrifice. you can be a consistent donor one year, and be receiving help the next.

That's why I'm interested in seeing average dollars per donor, percentages don't give enough detail.

 

[Mr. Somebody]

A lot of black people are Christians and thus love giving money to the church.

A lot of white people are Republicans and they're the stingiest people on Earth.

Alot of black people arent atheists also which in many ways is a religion of self. Yes atheists do give but obviously when you have a religion that teaches you to give charitable donations but to not brag about it and keep it to yourself, you're going to have some contrasts. Sad to say but a lot of times i see whites bragging about their charities which i fee hurts your blessing because you have to ask "did you give to exalt yourself or to help people" I guess God only knows, friend.

A demonic individual will swoop in and say *well even though they dont give as much, the people who do give more combined then the people who did* , demoting charity to a dollar amount instead of an individual decision.

Its so demonic, friend.

 

[TheBigBopper]

Black people ought to be investing in themselves instead of giving to the church.