Episode 03: Perspectives on Black Representation in Fundraising and Philanthropy: Past, Present and Future
Episode Guide
We’re celebrating Black History Month with our next episode on WOC’s the Word.
We are joined with Birgit Smith Burton, Dr. Tyrone McKinley Freeman and Dr. Angelique Grant in our discussion Perspectives on Black Representation in Fundraising and Philanthropy: Past, Present and Future.
Episode Highlights
Dr. Grant on DEI and hiring in fundraising and philanthropy
“People are not commodities.”
The desire around DEI and hiring diverse talent is sometimes grounded in the language and approach that is commoditizing vs. “the passion and commitment to do hard work that is necessary to build a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment and organization for us all.”
Birgit Smith Burton on the future of Black talent in fundraising
Change your mindset with DEI training.
Hiring diverse candidates is not lowering the bar.
Dr. Freeman on the intersection of Black Philanthropy and moral/ethical leadership
“The history of Black Philanthropy is a history of a search for hospitality on a land of hostility.”
Guests
Birgit Smith Burton
Founder, AADO, African American Development Officers Network and WOC Advisory Committee Member
Dr. Tyrone McKinley Freeman
Assistant Professor of Philanthropic Studies; Director of Undergraduate Programs, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
Dr. Angelique S. C. Grant
Ph.D., Senior Consultant and Vice President, Aspen Leadership Group and WOC Advisory Committee member
Host
Yolanda F. Johnson
Founder, Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy (WOC)®
Connect and Get Involved
AADO Network
AADO’s members are professionals of color and allies that have designated fundraising and/or development as their primary responsibility in their organization.
AADO’s mission is to provide professional development, education, employment support, mentorship, and networking opportunities for fundraisers of color. Currently, led by a team of profoundly committed and accomplished volunteers, there are over 1,800 members across North America. In determining the strategy for the next 20 years, AADO’s sights are set even higher with plans to leverage its leadership position, industry credibility, and network to truly facilitate industry-wide change.
Connect
Website →
Madam C.J. Walker’s Gospel of Giving
Madam C. J. Walker’s Gospel of Giving tells the story of the origins and evolution of one woman’s generosity, but it was (and is) not her story alone. It is also the story of a people and how their generosity helped them navigate and ultimately overcome powerful and externally imposed constraints. This book provides a window into the evolution of black women’s philanthropy during the critical turn-of-the-century period, which sets the stage for the coming civil-rights movement and provides the historical grounding for giving by African Americans today.
About Our Guests
Birgit Smith Burton, Founder, AADO, African American Development Officers Network and WOC Advisory Committee Member
Birgit Smith Burton is a respected leader in the fundraising profession who has raised more than $500 million during her 33-year career. As the executive director of foundation relations at the Georgia Institute of Technology, she led her team in raising $309 million toward the Institute's most recent successful $1.8 billion capital campaign.
Birgit is a well-regarded speaker on the topics of fundraising and diversity. She has authored articles on diversity in the fundraising profession, co-authored the book, The Philanthropic Covenant with Black America, and contributed to the book Five Minutes for Fundraising, A Collection of Expert Advice. Birgit is honored to tell her personal story in the book Collecting Courage, which shares the lived experiences of Black women and men working in the nonprofit and charitable space (published fall 2020). She was proud to be selected by Georgia Tech leadership to participate in the first cohort of Leading Women @ Tech, which identified the next community of leaders who will guide the institution in the 21st century. Birgit also was chosen as one of the 2020 Faces of Inclusive Excellence, recognizing faculty, staff, and students who are committed to gender diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Tyrone McKinley Freeman, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Philanthropic Studies; Director of Undergraduate Programs, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
Tyrone McKinley Freeman is an award-winning scholar and teacher who serves as Assistant Professor of Philanthropic Studies and Director of Undergraduate Programs at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.
Previously, he was a professional fundraiser for social services, community development, and higher education organizations. He was also Associate Director of The Fund Raising School where he trained nonprofit leaders in the United States, Africa, Asia, and Europe. His research focuses on the history of African American philanthropy, philanthropy in communities of color, the history of American philanthropy, and philanthropy and fundraising in higher education.
His latest book is entitled, Madam C.J. Walker’s Gospel of Giving: Black Women’s Philanthropy during Jim Crow, (University of Illinois Press, 2020). It examines African American women’s history of charitable giving, activism, education, and social service provision through the life and example of Madam C.J. Walker, the early twentieth century black philanthropist and entrepreneur.
His work has appeared or been cited in O: The Oprah Magazine, USA Today, TIME, Newsweek, NewsOne, Blavity, The Conversation, Black Perspectives, Chronicle of Philanthropy, and the Stanford Social Innovations Review. He is co-author of Race, Gender and Leadership in Nonprofit Organizations (2011 Palgrave MacMillan). A proud HBCU grad, Tyrone earned a B.A. in English/Liberal Arts from Lincoln University (PA), a M.S. in Adult Education from Indiana University, a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning from Ball State University, and a Ph.D. in Philanthropic Studies from Indiana University.
Angelique S. C. Grant, Ph.D., Senior Consultant and Vice President, Aspen Leadership Group and WOC Advisory Committee member
Angelique S.C. Grant, Ph.D. is a senior consultant, vice president and certified diversity recruiter with Aspen Leadership Group. Dr. Grant provides counsel in diversity, equity and inclusion practices, fundraising, and nonprofit strategies. Her services include philanthropic strategic thought partnership, building and leading effective, diverse teams, recruitment and retention strategies, diversity audits and assessment, and cultural awareness trainings. She is a certified unconscious bias trainer and facilitator, has been an active speaker for countless industry associations over the years, and has chaired and served as faculty for several conferences across the country.
Throughout her 25-year career, Dr. Grant has successfully managed teams to meet fundraising goals in several multi-million dollar campaigns, and two separate billion dollar campaigns. Previously, she served as an Assistant Vice President of Development and Assistant Dean of Medical Advancement, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine at Florida International University. Her extensive experience in higher education advancement has also included roles at Princeton University, Washington State University, and the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine.