Khayriyyah MuhammadSmith
Meet Khayriyyah MuhammadSmith, our first Wonderful Woman of WOC™
Khayriyyah is a passionate philanthropic professional focused on gender justice and the empowerment of girls and women of color across the globe. She has worked in the philanthropic and the nonprofit sector for the past 12 years (starting as a youth grantmaker in a participatory grantmaking program), with public foundations, family foundations, and funder collaboratives across the U.S. and in the U.K. with a thematic focus on youth empowerment, next-gen, gender justice, and education initiatives both domestically and abroad.
In addition to her professional experience, Khayriyyah earned a BA in International Relations and French. She is also a graduate of Goldsmiths, University of London, where she earned her MA in Human Rights, Culture, and Social Justice. There her research focused on girl’s education and the power dynamics that result from the neocolonial approach to cross-cultural exchange between girls in the global North and South.
Currently, Khayriyyah is working with Ashinaga USA as their Associate Director, Professional and Leadership Training. She supports the funding of scholarships for high-achieving, low-income students from sub-Saharan Africa attending university abroad.
In Her Own Words
What is your favorite book?
The latest great read I’ve done has been “Freshwater” by Akwaeke Emezi. It is an amazingly complex novel that tells a story of identity, being, and fractured selves.
What is your favorite quote?
“When I dare to be powerful - to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.” -Audre Lorde
Who is your favorite woman philanthropist of color?
My favorite woman philanthropist of color is actually the With and For Girls Collective! It’s the world’s only participatory fund by, and for, adolescent girls. Girls help make the funding decisions for other amazing girl-led and girl-centered groups around the globe that work on refugee rights, education, trafficking, SRHR, STEM initiatives, and more.
Additionally, I admire the work that Yvonne Moore and Swatee Deepak have done in the philanthropic sector.
Do you have a favorite city?
My favorite city is Paris! I had the privilege of studying abroad and conducting some political research there, and I fell under the Parisian charm. Also, I very much enjoy French wine and cheese!
What inspired you to work in philanthropy?
I began my formal philanthropy journey in high school when I served as a member of my community foundation’s Youth Grant Committee. That was such a powerful experience being a young person and advising my community on where to give grants to youth-related organizations and initiatives. Since then, my background in participatory grantmaking has inspired me to work in philanthropy to support funders in creating informed and inclusive giving that honors organizations and communities’ knowledge and expertise—especially those focused on communities of color—throughout the philanthropic process.
What is your greatest hope and goal for women of color who work in fundraising and/or philanthropy?
My greatest hope for women of color in fundraising and philanthropy is for there to be more of us here in the sectors informing fundraising and philanthropic approaches. The institution of philanthropy and the fundraising dynamic can be difficult for women of color to navigate, and I hope that the broader sector can recognize this and begin to dismantle practices that make it difficult for women of color to enter and stay in these sectors.
Where do you want to be in 3 years?
According to the Pocket Change report conducted by the Ms. Foundation, in 2017, these organizations in the United States received $356 million of all grantmaking funds, which equates to about $5.86 per year for each woman or girl of color or nearly one half of one percent of the total $66.9 billion given by foundations. While this statistic is unsurprising, it can be changed. In three years, I hope to be supporting an increased amount of funding to organizations and initiatives that focus on the needs of girls and women of color.
Lastly, do you have any advice for other young women of color working in philanthropy?
While there is still much for me to learn within the sector, I offer the following advice. I recently spoke with an experienced philanthropic colleague who is also a woman of color, and she reminded me that it is essential to actively recognize that the institution of philanthropy was not built for us to thrive within it. There have been many circumstances where I have been made to feel uncomfortable and questioned my knowledge or right to contribute to grantmaking decisions, despite my training and experience. Instead of internalizing these feelings, it can be a relieving first step to remember that this space is not currently one that was made for us. And then press on to support change in this space, so that we aren't made to feel as though we should not be here.
Learn more about Khayriyyah by visiting her site and tune into Bring Your Own Chair, her podcast for millennial women of color!
