65a34dea

Agents Inc. Awarded B Corp Certification

Wed, 21 Oct 2026 15:54:35 GMT

This is a proud moment for us at AgentsC!

At AgentsC, our values are at the heart of what we do. Since our inception in 2015, we have worked with global non-profit organizations and philanthropists to save lives, strengthen communities and channel funds to those who need them most. Thanks to the dedication of our team and the commitment of our clients we are now recognized as a leading B Corp company delivering social good to the world.

Certified B Corporations are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. B Corps are accelerating a global culture shift to redefine success in business and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy.

Society’s most challenging problems cannot be solved by government and nonprofits alone. The B Corp community works toward reduced inequality, lower levels of poverty, a healthier environment, stronger communities, and the creation of more high quality jobs with dignity and purpose. By harnessing the power of business, B Corps use profits and growth as a means to a greater end: positive impact for their employees, communities, and the environment.

B Corps form a community of leaders and drive a global movement of people using business as a force for good. The values and aspirations of the B Corp community are embedded in the B Corp Declaration of Interdependence.

What's Trending? Black Climate Action

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 15:56:22 GMT

Dreams do come true.

On the eve of the Giving Black Virtual Conference and Soirée, I am reflecting on my learning journey since planning our incredible gathering. This is literally a dream come true. I had thought about a climate action conference that tells the varying histories and stories of Black and Indigenous people as stewards of land, sea and air, and here we are. As we enter the Fall, I'm considering climate action in the context of the things I knew nothing about but learned on the way as a convenor of this important Black climate action discussion.

July was a memorable month.

My long-time friend from London, Englan d, Chris East BSc hons MCIOF was visiting Toronto for a conference. We met on July 15, on a day when the sky turned orange and the air became thick with smoke. Wildfires burning across northwestern Ontario had sent smoke hundreds of kilometres south, filling Toronto’s air with fine-particle pollution. For much of that morning and afternoon, Toronto sat at the top of global air-quality rankings. I tried to convince my friend that this was not a typical day in Toronto but we both feared it may become a trend.

Then came August.

My friend returned to London, where temperatures at Kew Gardens reached 38.1°C on August 13, making it one of the hottest days ever recorded in the United Kingdom. Europe was sweltering beneath a major heat dome. When me and another London friend, Alexander Adewole, MBA connected for a Giving Black Podcast Episode, he shared how hose pipe and BBQ bans were in place and how green spaces across the City of London had turned into scorched brown. Never had he seen or experienced this level of heat in London but we both feared it may become a trend.

That same month, near the Nepal-Tibet border, scientists investigated a catastrophic flash flood that may have been triggered by the collapse of part of a glacier. Ice, rock and sediment came crashing down from more than 5,000 metres above sea level. Researchers pointed to unusually high temperatures and the accelerating loss of Himalayan ice as part of the wider context, and but we all fear it may become a trend.

Then September came.

A US federal appeals court ruled in a case brought by residents of Jackson, Mississippi, that the US Constitution does not guarantee a right to clean water. The residents had alleged exposure to drinking water contaminated by lead and other pollutants. The court described their alleged injuries as serious, while ruling that they did not establish the constitutional rights claimed in the case. We should all be fearful about whether or not we have the right to fresh drinking water, as water pollution is already a well-established global trend.

Now we enter another Caribbean hurricane season remembering Hurricane Melissa, which struck Jamaica as a Category 5 hurricane in October 2025 and caused widespread destruction across parts of the Caribbean. A year later, later, communities were still rebuilding homes, health systems and lives. Every year the lack of effective preparation for such hurricanes is already a well worn-trend.

As I type, the world is concerned about El Niño. Tokyo has had 35 non-stop days of rainfall, amassing two feet of showers in a month. The water in the eastern Pacific is about 3°C warmer than normal, a big jump which scientists say may become one of the strongest ever recorded. If this becomes a trend, our entire planet and livelihoods are at increased risk of major, social, economic and ecological risk.

And here I am, engaged in last minute preparation to convene our 6th Annual Giving Black Virtual Conference, focused on Black climate action. I realize that such gatherings need to be had but so few of them exist. Here's where a trend is needed, in our capacity to confront the issues that impact our environment, and seek solutions.

I knew I knew too little.

I cannot exactly say I knew nothing about climate action before we decided to make it the focus of this year’s Giving Black Conference. As a social impact advocate, conversations about climate and our natural environment were always somewhere around me. They just seemed peripheral to my work and to the work of many of the organizations I worked with.

It is now clear to me that when we speak about social action, we are very often speaking about climate action too, whether we know it or not. When we speak about poverty alleviation, we are also talking about people’s proximity to affordable, healthy food.

If we advocate for children’s rights, we are also talking about their right to green, open and safe spaces where they can play, grow and be fit. When we address disability, we are also talking about creating navigable physical environments, accessible homes and workplaces, and clean air.

If we consider health, housing, food security, community development and economic justice, the environment is already in the conversation. Yet Black people and the issues affecting our communities remain the focus of thousands of charities and social movements without climate impact always being connected to those social outcomes. And the reverse is also true: climate discussions can take place without sufficiently examining the social realities of Black communities.

For decades, I passively went along with the idea that climate issues were far too complex for Black non-experts like me to grasp. It was, after all, a space awaiting solutions from smart white men, who seem to dominate this discussion, at least on TV and in social media.

The carbon-emissions industry. The clean-tech industry. The alternative-energy industry. The waste-management industry. Somehow, I had it in my mind that these climate industrialists were taking care of my future, and I had nothing to worry about. Why interfere or trouble myself with climate issues, when I could simply trust others and their expertise?

Plus, let’s face it, what do I really know about CO₂ or COP20?

Who said ignorance is bliss?

In our modern age, where information sits at our fingertips, ignorance can quickly become negligence. At some point we have to ask: if I do not know, is it because the information is unavailable, or because I have decided I do not need to know?

How much longer could I ignore what was increasingly happening around me in relation to our climate? I breathed that heavy smoke in July and I saw that orange sky. And I became more concerned about my own ignorance and peripheral role in climate action.

My curiosity was eventually lit by the thing that almost always gets my attention: Black people doing remarkable things in communities I care about. I knew of Zamani Ra and the work of CEED Canada, bringing culturally relevant environmental education directly into social-housing communities and challenging assumptions about who cares about climate change.

I heard Julius Lindsay (he/him) speak about the Prismatic Project and the use of Black culture, Afrofuturism, storytelling and games to help communities imagine different climate futures.

I connected with Naolo Charles , and saw first-hand how he brought Black communities in Toronto together to consult them on climate issues, through his Black Environmental Initiative, dedicated to planting trees in every community around the world.

And suddenly climate action began looking much less like an abstract peripheral scientific discussion happening somewhere else. And more like a home-grown cultural experience connected to the past, present and future of Black thought. It tuned out that these three amazing Black climate activists had a global connection with other peers. And that's how we began to curate what I consider to be one of the most necessary and eclectic global Black climate action conferences.

How can Black climate action enter the picture?

Research in the United States has found that majority communities of colour have less tree canopy and more heat-absorbing surfaces than majority-white neighbourhoods, contributing to unequal exposure to urban heat.

Food affordability matters too. Research published by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization shows that fruits, vegetables and other nutrient-dense foods remain more expensive than basic calorie sources, while some ultra-processed foods can cost less than unprocessed alternatives. Rising food prices can make a healthy diet even harder for lower-income households - thus the rise in obesity levels across the world and especially in Black communities.

There are growing social and environmental impacts facing Black people around the world, and many of us across Black and African communities remain disconnected from how closely they touch our everyday lives.

But back to why I had never fully felt that climate action was my business. Too often, the activism and imagery surrounding mainstream climate conversations have failed to make Black and Afro-Indigenous people visible as essential participants in the debate.

Our opening keynote speaker, Vanessa Nakate , knows exactly what that erasure can look like. In 2020, after appearing at a climate press conference in Davos alongside four white European climate activists, Vanessa was cropped out of an Associated Press photograph. She was the only Black person in the original image. The Associated Press later apologized and described the decision as a mistake.

That photograph has stayed with me because there is something deeply disempowering about being present in the work and still being cropped out of it. How can we get back into the picture?

On October 1, we are bringing together 21 Black and Indigenous climate-action experts, grassroots movers and shakers, philanthropists, fundraisers, artists, knowledge holders and community leaders, from eight countries, all gathering through one virtual Conference. In doing so, we are reinforcing the fact that Black voices are important to our climate discussions and actions, and we're seeing what happens when we ourselves can collaborate and share our knowledge and resources.

Towards Afro-Ecology.

I have also come to understand that Black Climate Action can be intense, solitary and severely underfunded work. Many of the people doing it are carrying extraordinary responsibilities with resources that do not match the weight of the challenges they are confronting or the scope of the opportunities that are in front of them. That is why philanthropy and fundraising belong in this conversation.

One of the ideas emerging through this work is the need to expand our definition of Afroecology: the use of traditional and contemporary African land conservation and farming techniques.

What if we understood Afro-Ecology more holistically, bringing together land-based practices with artistry, storytelling, wellness, skills-sharing, our knowledge of and relationships with land, sea, air, water and fire, alongside philanthropy and fundraising?

My point is that Afro-Ecology can encompass our care for land, culture, art and one another, as well as the stewardship of our wealth, our financial investment in the land, and our ability to raise the funds needed to sustain this work. Taken together, these assets and practices offer a powerful foundation for organizing and mobilizing ourselves, our communities and our world behind climate action. The exact issues our Giving Black Conference aims to table.

This interpretation of Afro-Ecology asks us to think about climate action through the fullness of who we are, what we know, what we need, how we collaborate, what we can contribute, and how we all benefit. There is a greater strength that comes from our collective power. This collective power is what we must turn into a well-needed trend.

The Giving Black Conference, Rooted and Rising: From The Soil To The Sky, is on October 1, 2026. I'll be sharing more about how we learned and where we go form here in the following days.

The Black Male Work-Experience

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 19:41:07 GMT

My Friend and Brother Julius Lindsay (he/him) a gifted and talented Climate Action expert posted a message that deeply resonated with me this morning. Here it is and below is my response:

Julius Lindsay (he/him) Orginal Message...

I recently had a meeting with a colleague who congratulated me on the stuff they had seen on here of all I have been up to this year.I've been bus y: moderating, panels, writing, winning awards. I've been doing a lot. By a lot of standards I've been winning, literally and figuratively. My feed looks great.And yet I am still unemployed. Contract work has been hard to find. Grants for projects have been hard to come by. I'm worried about my financial situation.I had a Black colleague say they thought I was too slick to experience harm and racism. Probably partially driven by that ongoing winning in my feed.And yet I have had some really traumatic experiences in this work, some of them play out in public spheres (if you've been here a while, you've seen some of them). I feel like as a Black person its impossible to avoid them. And their weight endures years after they happen.This is the duality of working in the this field, existing in this time, social media vs. real life. The internal and external struggles not always showing up, the shiny things being most visible.I'm doing my best to do what I can to figure things out and get to a better place. But it's hard, especially on days when the sky is orange.I don't have some grand declaration at the end of this post. Don't take this as a cry for help (although help is appreciated!) but just as a quiet reminder that visibility isn't reality and people might be struggling more than you think. Check on YOUR people.

Mide (Olumide) Akerewusi, B.Sc., M.Sc. (Econ), CSR-P, CDEP. Response....

Bro! Thanks for sharing.

You are one of the most gifted Climate Action experts I know, and I have HUGE admiration for you. There is never a time we meet that I don’t leave FAR BETTER informed than I was before. Your contribution to the Climate Action landscape has totally changed my mindset and that of several others in our community!

Our sector is fortunate to have you. And I feel that we are all genuinely in awe of your awesomeness. Could it be that while we personally struggle, others do too? But perhaps our struggles as Black men in various sectors are compounded, and complicated by the systems we work in, and the skin we are in, and what that skin represents, and how we are perceived and treated?

The propensity to have our work trivialized, reduced, erased, and othered, viewed as less-than, and inconsequential, something that the mainstream can survive without and does not need; is so thick, I sometimes feel as though I can cut it with a knife and serve it as a bitter dish!

For sure we experience success. It's not all doom and gloom. But Black success seems to have a short life-span in comparison. We are cameos, seldom ever the bright burning stars of this rolling movie...

What Happens When We Feel The Pinch?

What happens when we all feel the economic pinch? For sure, some feel it more than others, especially Black, Indigenous, and intersectional folks. Perseverance is our only choice! Giving up is not an option. When hardship becomes too hard to bear, we need people around us to provide that extra level of support. I love support because at its best, it has mutual benefit. But we need more of it because what we carry requires more energy. Do you know what I mean?

Unicorn Black Men And Universal Issues

Brother, I’ve had loads of conversations about the importance of Black and Indigenous voices in the Climate Action space, since focusing this year's Giving Black Conference on this issue. And I’m often met with curiosity about why such a distinct voice is even necessary. There seems to be an indifference within the climate sector towards racialization, while across the broader non-profit sector there is still inertia about how deeply climate affects our collective health, artistic, sporting, social and economic wellbeing.

When we turn up in our Blackness, things are sometimes not viewed in the same way.

You, my brother (along with many other Black men in the sector - including me), are somewhat of a Unicorn. And Unicorns are not always easy to mainstream - especially in times of collective crisis.

Admirers, Admirers, Everywhere, And Not A Job In Sight

Despite our many admirers, we remain on the periphery of full acceptance/integration into the systems of Contracts, RFP's, Engagements, and Paid Work. We are are often remote from consistent opportunity!

I hear you when you speak about the difficulty of navigating this moment as a Black man in the sector. It’s real, for REAL, and I respect you for making the distinction between accolades and active employment. They are poles apart!

I’ve experienced it too. People tell me how successful I am. Ironically, this "success", sometimes, I think, is due to my activism, which in and of itself comes at a price. It's one thing to have an opinion and a position on a principled or divisive issue, and exercise ones liberty to share it with others. It's quite another thing to get work thereafter! Speak and be damned!

The Need For Tremendous Leadership

I've said many times, our sector has a habit of avoiding the realities we face. We need inner strength to truly fight for what we believe. If we shy from impacting the world, the world will most certainly impact us. Surely, this is the echoing call of Climate Experts such as yourself.

And this is an area that requires tremendous leadership - standing up for what we know to be right - despite the price/cost to us personally. And no doubt there must be a price and cost to the equity we pursue. Freedom Ain't Free!

Awards, likes and re-shares continue, while meaningful action, employment and practical solutions remain elusive to Black folks in our sector. These are weekly conversations I have had with many people in my network, since the licence to abandon any thought of equity was granted, more than a year ago. There's som ething so necessary and yet so disposable about Black thought these days. This is a conversation I had with our Sister Sade Dozan, CAP®, CFRE on a recent podcast discussion.

We Need REAL Solutions

That’s exactly why we need to get into these conversations, rather than avoid them. Once again, thank you for sharing such a powerful message, that immediately stirred an emotional and concerning response within me. I'll join you in looking for real solutions that support our perseverance and maybe even changes our respective landscapes. It seems to me that we have many more years of concern to come.

One solution is to convene and work things out collectively, rather than separately. I am game if you are. All are welcome to DM me if you agree.... Have Zoom, will set up!

Black Philanthropy Month Is Here, And It's Here To Stay.

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 20:06:11 GMT

Happy Black Philanthropy Month (BPM)! As part of agentsC’s multi-year association with BPM, this month, I'm re-exploring The Duality of Giving , reflecting on the rise and reach of African philanthropy as a global phenomenon, and considering what it means for the future of giving.

This article is an invitation to join me in discovering the unprecedented rise and recognition of African philanthropy as a force for social and environmental transformation in our world today, not just for one month but for all the months. Before our opinions have a chance to form, we must first be curious. I'd like many more of my peers to be both curious about and interested in Black philanthropy, because I believe it is a gateway to understanding the future of generosity and to supporting us as we change and adapt our fundraising practices. Black Philanthropy and Afrocentric fundraising are practices we should all be stakeholders and investors in.

What should we know and how can we identify opportunities to engage people of African ancestry on their terms as they practice traditional Western forms of philanthropy, while also demonstrating the uniqueness of a totally African interpretation of generosity?

African philanthropy is one of the world's most generous, and least recognized giving traditions.

Firstly, we can pay attention. Secondly, we can document. Thirdly, we can amplify what we see. There are a multitude of global stories , statistics , and surveys that signify contemporary African philanthropy as one of the world's most unique and prolific forms of giving. So why do so few fundraising, philanthropic, and financial services organizations have programs curated around African/Black philanthropic culture?

Part of the answer is inertia: fundraising continues to be taught around traditional Western practices. The major gift, direct marketing, capital campaign, and named endowments. African traditions like giving circles, mutual aid, remittances, Ubuntu, Harambee, and Stockvel are not built into fundraising or financial services training. There's also a visibility problem. The evidence of the power of Black philanthropy exists in academic journals and global giving indices, but rarely reaches the rooms where fundraising strategy actually gets written. Our current definition of "best practice" is really “Western Practice”, and this needs to change as the demographics of our populations become more diverse.

Its growth and global giving indices and stories rarely reach fundraising strategy and practice

During Black Philanthropy Month, Black folks all over the world are collectively acknowledging ourselves as among the most generous people on the planet , including in the USA , where the highest levels of cash donations reside. BPM follows July, where the Black Feminist Fund marked its fifth anniversary, for the first time, in London UK. On September 2, I’ll be delivering a keynote video at the IFC Pop-Up, Cape Town , where African fundraisers will network, share, and be equipped with tools for fundraising leadership on the continent and around the world. Fast Forward to October 1, agentsC Inc. will launch our sixth annual Giving Black Conference and Soirée . You are invited!

As someone who grew up in a Black community surrounded by abundant examples of African and Caribbean generosity, I often reflect on what philanthropy means to me. I describe philanthropy in African terms as, a reciprocal exchange of generosity, rather than transactional support from one to the other or pity for someone else. Admittedly philanthropy practiced by people of African ancestry can be like most other cultural philanthropies, paradoxical: seemingly worlds apart , and at other times definitively rooted at home . And yet, it’s our job to try to better understand what we are seeing and to try to shape and inform its direction.

We should recognize, document, and amplify Black philanthropy all year round

Let’s acknowledge that we are at the dawn of a new era of generosity in Black culture. One that can both fund and underpin our desire to improve our world. African approaches to generosity are both ancestral and contemporary. They deserve a rightful place of belonging in the many global narratives about giving. The Duality of Giving shows us that such is the generosity of African people that we support on average six causes a year including our donations to charities, family, friends, and faith groups.

We can do so much more to harness this scale of giving that is continually growing and already at unrivalled and unprecedented levels. To begin, let’s stem the paucity of curiosity, let’s all tell our stories, let’s delve into the research, then let’s get practical by building and testing Afrocentric donor programs, bringing our fundraising practices into the realities of the universality of cultural diversity in the 21st century.

If you'd like to know more about Black Philanthropy Month, Giving Black, Black Philanthropy, or Afrocentric fundraising programs, you can DM me at mide@agentsC.ca to request a conversation.

Happy Black Philanthropy Month… I am Black Philanthropy…I am Excited!

Olumide Akerewusi. ��

The Producers: Gleaux & Tell Series With Queen Jade and Dorian Spears

Sat, 29 Nov 2025 23:33:36 GMT

The Producers Gleaux and Tell Series:

Betting on Ourselves - Building Empires,

Co-creating the Future, and Transforming Criticism Into Fuel. Dorian Spears.

Hi Giving Black Family,

We hope you enjoy this amazing episode of The Giving Black Podcast, with Queen Jade, your Host of The Producers Series: Gleaux & Tell.

In this episode, Queen Jade speaks with our friend and member of The Giving Black Family, Dorian Spears .

Dorian appeared as a Spotlight Guest at The Giving Black Conference, 2024 where she spoke about the New Era of Black Philanthropy – Shaping the Future of Black Generosity.

Dorian is an entrepreneur, strategist, and leader, building the empire of her dreams, known for her brilliance, and a bold commitment to creating a future rooted in equity and possibility.

Dorian inspires us by consistently betting on herself, navigating work and life transitions, and redefining success on her own terms.

In this conversation, Dorian and Queen Jade celebrate Black women’s power in shaping what comes next, especially during uncertain and unpredictable times. Curiosity, learning, and freely sharing knowledge are gifts that shape our legacy. Legacy isn’t what we leave behind, it’s what we give now. Queen Jade and Dorian explore what it means to move boldly toward the goals that matter.

Raised in the South, Dorian learned how assumptions shape lives. Her travels across the U.S. and the world sharpened her ability to see humanity clearly while navigating life as a Black woman. After years of working with billionaire philanthropists and gathering their insights, she is now focused on building her own initiatives. She brings her gifts forward through powerful questions and collective action.

Her inspiring quote to women: “You are the one you’ve been waiting for. Everything you need is already within you.”, leaves us with a powerful ethos to live by.

The Producers: Gleaux & Tell Series With Queen Jade and Michael Tennant

Sat, 29 Nov 2025 23:26:58 GMT

The Producers Gleaux and Tell Series: Empathy as Strategy - How Centering Empathy Unlocks Innovation, Equity, and Sustainable Impact. MIchael Tennant

Hi Giving Black Family,

We are glad to share another brilliant episode of The Giving Black Podcast, with Queen Jade, your Host of The Producers Series: Gleaux & Tell.

In this Episode, Queen Jade speaks with Michael Tennant , the founder of Curiosity Lab and creator of the card game Actually Curious™ and The Five Phases of Empathy™, an award-winning brand strategist, he has worked with P&G, Coca-Cola, Google, Oatly, and Delta, and has spoken on empathy at NASA, IDEO, Johns Hopkins, and Lincoln Financial Group.

Michael is also the author of The Power of Empathy (named one of Inc.’s Best Business Books of 2024) and a contributing writer for Oprah Daily and Inc. Magazine. Through his frameworks, Michael helps teams build trust, uncover opportunities, and reframe challenges as roadmaps for innovation.

This is a deep conversation about the importance of knowing ourselves, shifting power, reframing challenges, and building trust as the foundation for generational wealth. People who pride themselves on working hard often sacrifice their own well-being. Yet offering ourselves grace and meaningful self-care can sharpen our awareness of what is truly happening around us. As Michael notes, fundraising requires lowering our egos enough to really see and hear others.

Michael shares his observation that there are genuine gaps in how philanthropy and fundraising pursue their missions and how they relate to the people they aim to support. We must take time to understand what sits behind the numbers, the hesitation, or the silence built into systems of counting and measuring fundraising and philanthropy.

This is a conversation that all social change agents must listen to.

The Producers: Gleaux & Tell Series With Queen Jade and Jason Teeters

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 23:22:51 GMT

The Producers Gleaux and Tell Series: Jason Teeters - Rest as Resistance: Redesigning Leadership, Reclaiming Balance, and Reimagining the Systems that Shape Us.

Giving Black Family,

Thank you for listening to this episode of The Giving Black Podcast with Queen Jade, your Host of The Producers Series: Gleaux & Tell.

Queen Jade speaks with an inspiring Black social entrepreneur, Jason Teeters . He's a visionary innovator, emergent strategist, and founder of Jet Set State (JSS) — a people-centered design company reimagining leadership for the modern world.

Through his work, Jason helps organizations break silos, nurture creativity, and drive systemic change rooted in empathy and intention. His approach draws on principles of human-centered design, challenging leaders to decenter ego, honor interdependence, and build systems where rest and reflection are as vital as action.

From boardrooms to grassroots initiatives, Jason’s work reminds us that innovation is born from stillness, and true leadership begins with self-restoration. Jason’s reminder is both simple and profound — that rest is design. It’s how we restore balance, resist systems that demand constant motion, and reclaim our right to breathe, build, and belong.

The world will always ask for more. But we have the power to redefine what “enough” looks like — to lead from fullness, not fatigue.

Queen Jade reminds us, Rest is Resistance. Stillness is strength. And in your quietest moments — you gleaux!

The Producers: Gleaux & Tell Series With Queen Jade

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 02:05:40 GMT

The Producers:

Gleaux & Tell Series With Queen Jade

Giving Black Family

It's the time of year when I find myself listening moe intently to my body and my mind. Both of which are telling me it is time to take a break.

It has been a long and arduous six months that I have devoted to producing Series Two of The Giving Black Podcast, planning and delivering The Giving Conferen ce, organizing The Giving Black Soirée, and researching and releasing the Fundraising While Black report.

I am taking time to replenish. Rather than put away the podcast mic, as I have done in the past, I am passing it on. The very first person who came to my mind to receive the mic was, Queen Jade - a dear Sister-Friend, a dynamic social-entrepreneur, and an incredible advocate for Afrocentric philanthropy. Queen Jade first joined us in Series One, Episode 11 of The Giving Black Podcast and also co-hosted The Giving Black Conference in 2025. She's not a stranger to Giving Black and most importantly, she has a lot to share about Black philanthropy.

In this Episode of the Giving Black Podcast, Queen Jade speaks about coalescing within Black community, reminding us to value ourselves and each as a form of honouring our ancestors and their work in resisting oppression and seeking freedom.

Queen Jade and her guests will Gleaux & Tell about Black Philanthropy for the next three episodes of The Giving Black Podcast.

Sankofa: Remember, Reclaim, Rise - Let's Talk About Boards and Governance

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 02:00:23 GMT

Sankofa: Remember, Reclaim, Rise - Let's Talk About Boards and Governance

Hey Giving Black Family

Here is the closing interview of Series Two of The Giving Black Podcast.

This conversation is with Christal M. Cherry Founder of Board Pro a consulting firm that supports non-profit governance boards to adopt new skills and tools for non-profit leadership.

Christal is a nationally recognized nonprofit consultant, speaker, fellow co-author of Collecting Courage, and board leadership expert with almost three decades of experience igniting change across higher education, human services, and faith-based organizations.

Christal serves on the boards of several Atlanta-based nonprofits and is the proud Founder and Chair of F3: Fabulous Female Fundraisers Inc. , a collective that supports Women of Colour in fundraising to achieve personal and professional support.

Christal was a guest on this year's Giving Black Conference, as we spoke about agentsC's latest research, Fundraising While Black . I learned so much about the ins-and-outs of board governance from Christal and I hope you will too. My key takeaway was an intriguing question for boards and frankly, all gatherings - the question: "What are you carrying into this space that we need to honour?"

As well as our richly engaging conversation, this question still sits with me in relation to what I bring to gatherings that I believe need to be honoured, and how I honour those who contribute to my gatherings.

#givingblack

The Giving Black Conference 2025 - Sankofa: Remember, Reclaim, Rise. Jason Glover

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 00:15:29 GMT

THE GIVING BLACK CONFERENCE 2025

Sankofa: Remember, Reclaim, Rise.

Greetings, Giving Black Family,

In this episode of The Giving Black Podcast, we return to our archives to share a previously unreleased conversation originally recorded for the Black Canadian Fundraisers Collective Capacity Building Academy . We bring it forward now to celebrate The Giving Black Conference 2025 , as we continue to spotlight the power and impact of Black philanthropy.

This recording is supported by a special essay I’ve written on Black Immigrant Philanthropy in the Global North, which will be published in the Giving Black Conference Program on October 9, 2025.

I am joined by my friend, church brother, and philanthropist, Jason Glover. Jason is an active alumnus of the University of Toronto Scarborough, where he serves on the University Council. In 2024, he was appointed to the Veterans Review and Appeal Board. He also holds the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors. Before beginning his post-secondary education, Jason served as an Armoured Crewman with the Canadian Forces Primary Reserve.

Like many Black people who engage in philanthropy, Jason does not view himself as a “philanthropist.” As he puts it: “I feel I’m just a member of the community giving back to the community in ways that benefit other people.” Together, Jason and I reflect on how the word “philanthropist”, equally belongs to everyday people like him, as well as multi-millionaires like his friend, Sam Ibrahim, who made a $25 million donation to UofT Scarborough.

Our conversation explores Jason’s motivations for making a major donation to his alma mater, where he established the Jason G. Glover Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Award, after SAm Ibrahim's donation. Jason's endowed fund supports Black and Indigenous students facing financial hardship. His journey started as a student who depended on loans to pay his university education. He then became a volunteer, then a donor at the university. During the Black Lives Matter movement and the Reconciliation movement for Indigenous communities, Jason then decided to establish his fund by making a major donation.

Jason's story reminds us that Black philanthropy is not solely built on wealth—it’s about vision, responsibility, and a commitment to community that transforms lives. Jason quotes Jonathan Winters: "I couldn't wait for success, so I went ahead without it!".

The Black Philanthropy Month Series - Sankofa: Remember, Reclaim, Rise. Christopher Beck

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 02:35:00 GMT

The Black Philanthropy Month Series - Sankofa: Remember, Reclaim, Rise.

Christopher Beck

Hello Giving Black Family,

Here is our final series of conversations to honour Black Philanthropy Month 2025 and celebrate our theme: Sankofa: Remember, Reclaim, Rise!

I sit down with my dear friend, Brother Christopher Beck, Associate Director of Individual and Planned Giving at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia—one of a few Black male fundraisers that I know, and a Member Spotlight of African American Development Officers Network (AADO) .

As I often reflect, every time I speak with Brother Christopher, I never want the conversation to end. His knowledge is deep, his perspective wide, and his generosity and love for Black philanthropy is palpable.

Brother Christopher shares powerful insights on Black philanthropy as both tradition and strategy. He highlights the need to recognize our everyday acts of generosity as philanthropy. Education about wealth-building tools, including investments and land ownership, combined with sophisticated philanthropic vehicles such as Charitable Remainder Trusts and Charitable Lead Trusts are necessary and important philanthropic resources and tools within the African American landscape of generosity.

Black philanthropy through the lens of Sankofa: is about building stronger communities. Drawing from the example of his father’s daily acts of sharing, Brother Christopher reminds us that wealth is deeply connected to generosity: “We’ve gotta get dirt in our name" to be secure in our philanthropy.

This conversation is both a celebration and a call to action—an inspiring close to our Sankofa series.

To Connect with Christopher Beck you can reach him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisbeckone/

Philanthropy Is The Heartbeat Of The World!

#blackphilanthropymonth #givingblack #backblack

The Black Philanthropy Month Series - Sankofa: Remember, Reclaim, Rise. Coach Ernest "Oxy" Koomson

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 02:31:24 GMT

The Black Philanthropy Month Series - Sankofa: Remember, Reclaim, Rise.

Coach Ernest "Oxy" Koomson

Hello Giving Black Family,

In this episode of The Giving Black Podcast, we traveled—at least in spirit—to the home of the global philanthropic tradition of Sankofa: Ghana, West Africa.

We knew we had to include a Ghanaian perspective in this series, and I was introduced to exactly the right person. As fortune would have it, a close brother of mine, while holidaying in Ghana, told me about an incredible coach with an amazing program teaching children basketball skills, helping them grow as student-athletes, nurturing their physical, spiritual, and mental health—and making sure they had fun along the way.

I am pleased to share an inspiring conversation with Coach Ernest “Oxy” Koomson, Founder and Head Coach of The Charm Academy Basketball Program, in Accra Ghana.

This dynamic discussion continues our celebration of Black Philanthropy Month and our series on Sankofa: Remember, Reclaim, Rise. Coach Oxy brings a powerful message: Black faith is deeply intertwined with our destiny, and our destiny is to embody the spirit of Sankofa in all that we do.

There is a sacrificial and spiritual essence to what Coach Oxy is building at Charm Academy. It is more than a sports program—it is a calling to support Ghana’s youth to become future leaders. Whether or not they go on to play professional basketball is beside the point. The true spirit of Sankofa within Charm Academy lies in providing young people with the opportunities for growth and development that Coach Oxy himself did not have as a youth.

Giving Black family, I encourage you to learn more about Coach Oxy and his inspiring work through the following channels:

Email: ernest.koomson1989@gmail.com

Instagram: charmbasketballacademy

Philanthropy Is The Heartbeat Of The World!

#blackphilanthropymonth #givingblack #backblack

The Black Philanthropy Month Series - Sankofa: Remember, Reclaim, Rise. Dr. Mojúbàolú Olúfúnké Okome

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 02:25:24 GMT

Black Philanthropy Month:

Sankofa - Remember, Reclaim, Rise.

Dr. Mojúbàolú Olúfúnké Okome

Hello Giving Black Family!

When I learned about the work of Dr. Mojúbàolú Olúfúnké Okome —Professor of Political Science at Brooklyn College, New York, and Co-Founder of Black Philanthropy Month —I knew we had to speak!

Dr. Okome, a fellow Nigerian, is both an academic and a powerful advocate for pan-Africanism. In this episode of The Giving Black Podcast, she and I explore the importance of a united global call to action around Black philanthropy in its many forms, traditions, and practices.

She highlights the significance and similarity of traditional acts of philanthropy in Black communities around the world: tithing to religious institutions, the history of rent parties that supported community members unable to pay rent, and the breadth of radical generosity, Ajo and SuSu, Pardner, a variety of rotational credit systems in Black communities—much of which goes unnoticed and unrecorded.

Giving Black family, it’s not often we are blessed with such deep academic insight into Black philanthropy. This is a rich, contextual, and flavourful conversation about what philanthropy looks like from a continental, multi-generational, diasporic, and a contemporary African migratory perspective—all of which combine into a wonderful recognition of the unifying power of Sankofa: a principle that binds all Black people together despite the distance of time and space.

Dr. Okome is, in one word, amazing. I am proud to have hosted her—not only did I learn new dimensions of Black philanthropy, but I also gained a new friend and elder in this important movement of generostiy.

You can connect with Dr. Okome via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mojubaolu

Philanthropy Is The Heartbeat Of The World!

#blackphilanthropymonth #givingblack #backblack

The Black Philanthropy Month Series - Sankofa: Remember, Reclaim, Rise. Nasra Ayub

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 02:07:58 GMT

The Black Philanthropy Month Series - Sankofa: Remember, Reclaim, Rise.

Nasra Ayub

Giving Black Family, here is another great conversation for you to listen to!

Nasra Ayub is a young activist, philanthropist, and human and civil rights campaigner. She works at the Phoenix Way , which is a philanthropic initiative within the UK's Global Fund for Children . The Phoenix Way seeks to make funding available for youth-led grassroots community building.

In this episode, Nasra speaks passionately about the importance of hope and the legacy of Black activism in shaping and sustaining community. While at times it feels like radical progress is being made, there are also forces that seek to push Black communities back. Hope is what keeps us moving forward.

Together, Nasra and I reflect on the complexities of philanthropy, especially when resources are limited compared to the scale of need. We engage in an important discussion about why Black philanthropy must support and sustain grassroots initiatives.

Nasra closes our conversation with a compelling call to action: the need for self-care as we work to create solutions within our community. This, too, embodies the spirit of our celebratory series, Sankofa: Remember. Reclaim. Rise.

You'll be able to hear more from Nasra. She'll be returning to The Giving Black Virtual Conference on October 9, 2025 (10:00am -12:00pm EST).

You can also connect with Nasra via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nasra-ayub-320b7a128/

and on Instagram: @nasra.ayub

Philanthropy Is The Heartbeat Of The World!

#blackphilanthropymonth #givingblack #backblack

Black Philanthropy Month: Sankofa - Remember, Reclaim, Rise. Nneka Allen

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 22:33:24 GMT

Black Philanthropy Month:

Sankofa - Remember, Reclaim, Rise.

Nneka Allen

Hello Giving Black Family!

Here's another episode of The Giving Black Podcast. Today we are joined by a friend to the podcast and my Sister-Friend, Nneka Allen, Activist, Mother, Stone Catcher, Freedom Fighter, Founder and CEO of The Empathy Agency and Author of Collecting Courage .

Together we continue in our celebrations of Black Philanthropy Month (August), in honour of our theme Sankofa: Remember, Reclaim, Rise. Sister Nneka discusses the significance of Sankofa in relation to her philanthropic heritage as an Afro Indigenous woman. The spirit of Sankofa was passed on to her through her parents, across the many generations who continued the tradition of generosity:

There's something familial, spiritual, and perpetual about Black Philanthropy expressed in Sankofa - moving forward, staying still, looking back, elevating, evolving with the times.
We say that charity first of all begins at home. This is not an exclusionary stance, meaning we take care only of our own. It's an inclusive posture indicating that we learn most about the spirit of Sankofa, in our families, through our parents, among our relatives, through our stories, and in our communities. This empowers us to be powerful advocates for generosity outside of our homes.
Sankofa is also unifying. It's principles can be seen and practiced across the races and the cultures of our world.

To hear more of more about Sister Nneka Allen, listen to Season One Episodes, 6 , and 11 of The Giving Black Podcast.

Sankofa: Remember, Reclaim, Rise

Sun, 10 Aug 2025 03:12:55 GMT

Black Philanthropy Month: Sankofa - Remember. Reclaim. Rise

August 1, 2025 marks Emancipation Day and the beginning of Black Philanthropy Month.

We begin this important season with a special podcast series dedicated to pioneering people engaged in building on the rich culture and deep heritage of Black philanthropy. Our Sankofa Series pays deference to the Akan people of Ghana, West Africa, who encourage us to learn from the past to build a better future - going forward without leaving anybody behind.

Kicking off this special series of conversations, this episode features Floyd Jones , Chair of Black Philanthropy Month, founder of BackBlack , a multi-platform initiative focused on supporting Black-led nonprofits, and CEO of Floyd Jones Enterprises , which helps social impact leaders grow their work through community-led strategies.

In this animated thought provoking conversation, Floyd reflects on the meaning of Sankofa through his heritage as an African American man and the work that inspires him to collaborate with and support our communities. We connect on several levels as African men engaged in increasing the awareness about Black Philanthropy, and as people passionate about community.

Floyd's passion resonates throughout our discussion, calling us all to Remember, Reclaim and Rise in response to those who are most marginalized and unseen.

As we celebrate Black philanthropy month we hope you are inspired by this conversation and will share it with your friends, colleagues and family.

Philanthropy Is The Heartbeat Of The World

#GivingBlack2025 #BlackPhilanthropyMonth #Sankofa #RememberReclaimRise

Saved By Sabbatical: Part Two Of A Two-Part Story About Exiting Grind Culture

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 23:45:08 GMT

This story is the second part of a series of two stories focused on the cause of burnout and the solution for recovery, a sabbatical.

The first story, “Burdened by Burnout” can be found here .

Spelling out B.u.r.n.o.u.t.

Recently, I spoke with a Black CEO who said, “I always thought burnout was just something white people complained about.” For a long time, this CEO had dismissed burnout as a legitimate condition—viewing it as a classic example of fragility and privilege. That perspective shifted dramatically when the CEO came to recognize in themselves, the classic symptoms of burnout through continuously working very long hours and harbouring feelings of work-related stress. They felt they had no clear solution to either prevent, minimize, or solve their situation. Upon this realization, the CEO took matters into their own hands, resigning from their position.

Their experience as a CEO isn’t uncommon, and indeed gives us greater insight into the burnout phenomenon. A report from Velocity Advisory Group indicates that approximately 70% of high-level executives have considered quitting to improve their emotional well-being. Juno Health reports, that CEO burnout is a major driver of leadership turnover, with 70% of leadership departures attributed to burnout.

Approximately 70% of high-level executives have considered quitting to improve their emotional well-being. Juno Health reports, that CEO burnout is a major driver of leadership turnover, with 70% of leadership departures attributed to burnout.

Another friend and CEO, Rickesh Lakhani, wrote of his experience of burnout:

“I've been open about my experiences in crashing hard during a time when everything bad convened all at once, and even though I thought I was fine, I didn't really realize how bad I was until I stopped, or maybe more accurately, crumbled.”

Burnout is a universal condition—one that affects anyone who works long hours relentlessly, regardless of race, and whether they acknowledge it or not. However, the gap between burnout and our understanding of it may be tied to the fact that it is not easy to diagnose.

According to The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Therapy, burnout is described as "Physical, emotional, and cognitive exhaustion - feeling frustrated, tired of going to work, finding it hard to deal with others at work; negativity or cynicism – being less empathetic with others, detached from work or responsibilities, seeing work or elements of work as a source of frustration; ineffectiveness or low personal achievement – a lower sense of accomplishment and self-worth, self-doubt, experiencing work as unrewarding, feelings of 'going through the motions’; being incompetent, feeling unappreciated; depersonalization – thoughts and feelings seem unreal or not belonging to oneself.” [1]

In any normal circumstance, this troubling list of symptoms would warrant serious attention and deep concern. Yet, when labeled simply as “burnout,” it often fails to evoke the urgency it deserves. We tend to speak of burnout as though it were no more than a minor cold. In reality, it is far more harmful and significantly more detrimental to our health than its connotations imply.

“I’ve been open about my experiences in crashing hard during a time when everything bad convened all at once, and even though I thought I was fine, I didn't really realize how bad I was until I stopped, or maybe more accurately, crumbled.” – CEO, Rickesh Lakhani

So, what happens when an employer recognizes burnout in an employee? What solutions are available?

Surprisingly, there is a “Burnout Inventory” of tools that purportedly help to measure burnout, in eluding the Maslach, Copenhagen, and Oldenburg approaches, Workplace Strategies for Mental Health (WSMH), an initiative supported by Canada Life, has a number of tools and resources for employees to deal with burnout, including a self-assessment to support their success. WSMH, encourages employees to revisit their Job Description with their supervisor to clarify expectations, manage performance, identify formal and informal accommodations, and develop a sustainable return-to-work strategy.

These methods, while well-intentioned, help to safeguard work continuity and minimize HR risk for the employer, rather than create an easy path for employees to personalize their response to burnout. For many employees, they may already be too burned out to even initiate the recommended steps toward recovery. Others, especially those in C-suite positions, may feel that admitting to burnout and requesting time off could be unwise and a career-limiting move. Additionally, there are also self-employed CEOs of small businesses, like me, for whom the standard recommendations for addressing burnout are not feasible in the absence of resources that are available to larger organizations.

These definitions, tools, and remedies curiously avoid naming the cause of burnout. And this is where I think all conversations regarding burnout must start – why does it exist?

Black Culture and Burnout

In part one of this essay, I described some of the challenges faced by Black immigrant entrepreneurs like myself. Here, I aim to explain why I allowed myself to burnout, starting with my culture, lived experience, and philosophies about the role and purpose of work—things that shaped my interpretation of, and responses to, burnout.

Watching TV one day, I listened to African-American businessman and serial entrepreneur Daymond John, Founder of FUBU, state that one of the biggest benefits to being Black and in business, is that “nobody sees you coming.” Quite literally, Black people in business are invisible to the mainstream–until or if, we are successful in the mainstream. As a CEO, I wanted to be seen and to be successful, and I was clearly willing to pay the price. My work addiction was self-inflicted. It was strategic, intentional and in large part circumstantial.

One of the biggest benefits to being Black and in business, is that “nobody sees you coming.”

– African-American businessman and serial entrepreneur Daymond John, Founder of FUBU.

In my particular culture as a Black, African-European immigrant in Canada, work and most especially hard work is an undeniable cultural reality. Mine is a Black identity steeped in the ethic of overcoming all barriers at all cost, and using one’s education and instinct to progress in an unfamiliar environment. Additionally, my culture is geared towards the workarounds—helpful in confronting a problem one does not fully understand or participating in systems that are not built with Black people in mind. And yet I find myself in the Western world, attempting to establish Black participation. As far as success is concerned, I harboured a singular obsession: to be the best CEO doing the best work with the best causes and the best people. This was how my burnout started. And it was what led to me needing a sabbatical to recover.

If We Don’t Grow Old, We Die

The New Year of 2024 opened with a tally of 14 clients at agentsC—our largest ever work roster—while I was also leading two other entities simultaneously, Giving Black, and the beleaguered Association of Fundraising Professionals chapter in Greater Toronto. I had lost some staff, due to the fact that my initial vision for agentsC was eroding. I wanted to be values-led but found myself in a world of budgets, cashflows, and payroll obligations. It’s hard to admit now but I lost the grip on my business, and was both distracted and overwhelmed by my often-conflicting responsibilities and perpetual tiredness.

The pace and pathos of my work life made me miss some important business meetings, turn up late for others, and I also missed important landmarks outside of work: birthdays and marriages of those I loved, and other social gatherings. I could not keep up because I said “yes” to everything work related – requests to meet, requests to speak, requests for support, requests for proposals; all required time and energy investment. My calendar was filled with consecutive meetings. A typical meeting lasted a minimum of an hour, to in-depth discussions with multiple people lasting half or a whole day. I was unable to say, “no”. Last thing at night and first thing on a weekend, my laptop would be open for work continuity.

Busy workers get sick and some die. I knew my cohort of Black men had among the poorest health stats in Canada[2], the UK[3], and USA[4] – probably even globally. I had read articles about relatively young leaders and celebrities experiencing heart attacks, cancer, and strokes: John Singleton, Toni Braxton, and Michael Johnson, to name a few. I also had my fair share of sad stories of close friends who passed away, in their forties and fifties; "Too young", I thought to myself.

One day I complained to my mother that the strains of work, my increasingly poor health, and middle-age were proving tough for me to juggle. Her reply caused me to stop in my tracks; she said, “if we do not grow old, we will die.” This very African proverb felt more like a warning than an irony. I thought about what she meant. I was grateful to be alive but I was feeling increasingly vulnerable, often sick, and very mortal. I was fearful of a personal catastrophe and doubted whether I would see the year through unscathed. While I prayed about it, wondering if I would have the opportunity to grow old or if I would meet a similar fate as my unfortunate peers, I nonetheless continued working unabated, unwilling and unable to stop my work addiction.

I had felt burned out several times in my career, but I was also able to temporarily recover, which in hindsight actually prolonged my burnout, rather than cured it. A new work project, an exciting challenge or a couple of weeks off, at least created a distraction from fatigue. And so, a pattern was developed: get burned out, then mask burnout with something new. I noticed that the frequency of feeling burnout was higher from once or twice a year to every three months. At the peak of this burnout, I always created an even bigger cover to try to mask it, like booking as many overseas work trips as I could. Then I noticed that with travel came even greater levels of insomnia, which aggravated my symptoms, and that I had far less energy than the previous escape. I call this compound-burnout, where things get worse and one’s ability to recover is routinely minimized, caused by a sense of hyper-responsibility, an unreasonable belief that I was responsible for everything.

As a long-suffering insomniac I knew no limits—I would work throughout the day and past dusk and into dawn. I would take a two-hour nap at around 5:00am and a wake up at 7:00am. Work would resume nonstop soon after. At times it was 2:00pm before I realized that I had not eaten since a late 12:00am meal the night before. Skipping meals was diminishing not only my levels of nutrition but also my weight and my strength.

Weakness set in. I could feel it. I was constantly doing more and more and more. Though I had some good habits that served as helpful intervals during my working day, such as cooking and eating nutritious meals, working out, and listening to music; I found I could not stop working. A change may be as good as a rest, but merely changing one’s work style or introducing incremental distractions and hobbies were no guarantee for burnout recovery. There's a real distinction between doing work differently, and not working at all. I knew this because I had trialed other kinds of remedies for my burnout: Fridays off before public holidays, no work on Sundays, no meetings on Mondays, work days that start at 10:00am. None helped, and only all delayed the inevitable breakdown. As one held hostage to work, I didn’t need work to be easier; I needed work to stop.

While I prayed about it, wondering if I would have the opportunity to grow old or if I would meet a similar fate as my unfortunate peers, I nonetheless continued working unabated, unwilling and unable to stop my work addiction.

Saved by a Healing Sabbatical

In the middle of 2024, I find myself in a strange situation—meeting the growing demands of work, while intentionally winding down to protect my mental health—when an opportunity for escape lands in my orbit. My daughter, who recently returned from working overseas, announces she's on the move again—this time to the other side of the world: Australia. Without hesitation, I tell her, “I’m going with you!” I decide—spontaneously and with conviction—to begin the sabbatical I had dreamt about two-years prior.

A sabbatical is an extended period of time off work, to rest, engage in play, and allow for restful dreams and reflections. I knew that work liberation was the best cure for my burnout. I saw it clearly the moment I began plotting our daughter-father escape. Initially I planned for a month, then two, then three, then four. Eventually I opted for a five-month sabbatical. On December 20, 2025 I completed the last of our 14 projects that year and I finally put an end to my obsession and addiction to work.

I left for Australia early in January 2025, and began to put my life back together piece by piece. Rest placed me in a position where I could think deeply about my mental welfare, physical welfare, and spiritual welfare (mind, body, and soul). I was committed to changing things for the better.

At the beginning of my sabbatical, I discovered new facts about my relationship with work, most of which I am able to articulate in this essay. Then I began to regret making so many sacrifices for the sake of work. Being with my daughter and missing my wife, son, and friends while away, made me appreciate much more deeply that I had a family of spectacularly wonderful people and a friend circle that was quite simply brilliant. I considered how blessed I was. I committed to never again sacrificing my family and friendship for a work-priority – at least not consistently and not as an uncontrollable habit. I decided to demonstrate more clearly the ways I could show up and turn up for my family and friends, that I had neglected for so long. And then I decided to have fun and seek joy, and not allow work to snatch time away from me so easily.

A sabbatical is an extended period of time off work, to rest, engage in play, and allow for restful dreams and reflections. I knew that work liberation was the best cure for my burnout.

Creating Personalized Systems for Rest

I’ve come to understand that my culture and upbringing—along with the insecurities I carried about being Black in business, being an immigrant, and constantly feeling the need to prove my worth in the workplace—were not only signs of resilience, but also survival strategies I adopted in the absence of compromise or other feasible options. I was not prepared to give up on my aspirations to be seen and heard but I knew no other way than to work unreasonably hard to pursue these goals. While it saddens me to write this, knowing that many other people share this reality, I hold hope: hope for a life where striving to be seen as worthy does not demand such a high penalty. I did not know of any other form of being than being a work being. And now once again, I feel like a human being.

I know that as a human being, I am inherently worthy—and that worth is not tied to my work. My character, and what I do beyond the confines of my job, are what truly matter. Yet, resting from work remains incredibly difficult, especially when our livelihoods depend on our ability to earn, to be promoted, or to be rewarded—whether through money, clients, future prospects, or financial security. But rest from work does not have to equal loss. I believe it’s possible to form lifestyles that reassure us that rest is not only necessary but potentially just as valuable and rewarding as work—if not more so. So how do we do that? I believe we must first approach rest as systematically and intentionally as we approach work.

I needed to make specific decisions and accommodations to prepare for my sabbatical. I asked myself: What will it mean to walk away from work—entirely? The answers that came back were not always easy but I figured out how to commit to them as necessary building blocks to rest over work, and heal from burnout:

Having a plan: I set rest goals for myself and sought buy-in from my family, explaining why my sabbatical was needed.

Informing clients: This process was difficult as it meant that I had to be prepared to lose earnings, as well as the opportunity to work with incredible people – something which I loved doing.

Closing down: I had to be firm in my decisions, and ability to close agentsC. Whether it was winding down client contracts, ceasing work with staff and associates, letting go of the company was necessary for my own healing.

Planning for income loss: My sabbatical lasted five months. Months, prior to taking this break from work, I tried to live as frugally as I could, and I secured a line of credit to remain financially stable.

Accountability partners: I needed people in my life who would ensure follow-through on my commitment to rest. Frequently we would discuss what rest meant to me and how I would build it into my life as a burnout recovery method.

Total detachment: I deleted all work-related communication and social media apps from my phone (except WhatsApp), and chose not to travel with any other device—no laptop and no iPad.

Leaving Toronto/my home city): I felt that staying in my city would invalidate the essence of my break. I wanted to indulge my affinity for small coastal communities, where the sounds and sight of the ocean would be daily therapy.

Love-language living: I poured myself into what I love most—cooking for others, and spending time with people. Domestic chores become a joy, as did laughing, and simply being present in each moment without worrying about work.

Curiosity over productivity: I explored new places—concerts, restaurants, unknown towns. I met strangers and made new friends. I stayed curious. I kept my mind socially active, overriding thoughts that were once dominated by work.

Wellness rituals: I re-focused on healthy eating, doubled down on my gym routine, and found escape long beach days. I would sleep in the sun, soak in Vitamin D, and let the ocean reinforce my melanin and my joy.

What I learned: My Journey From Absolute Burnout to Healing Sabbatical

I am back from a five-month break that resulted in incredible healing. I returned to work in May 2025. I have gradually re-introduced myself to what is a manageable pace of work. Not only am I well rested, I feel more energized. My joy has returned, and so has my love for making a difference. Going on sabbatical and ceasing all work for an extended period of time was the best gift I could have given myself. I now know how and why over-work, hyper-responsibility, compound-burnout, cognitive exhaustion, Black-immigrant and in business status, and over-ambition, can spiral into a mode of self-inflicted harm through a lack of rest. I know the dangers of being busy, and being in denial about unhealthy work habits.

I also know that life is too short to invest so much time in work. Most importantly, I know that there are diminishing returns and incalculable sacrifices that surround people who do not rest. Irrespective of race and culture and in some cases because of race and culture, burnout is a universal phenomenon whose impacts are too little understood and solutions far too inadequate to prevent or address.

I also know that recovery from burnout is possible – for me, it was a complete removal from work in the form of a sabbatical, which required certain sacrifices and and yet yielded so many rewards: healing, resting, reconnecting, reclaiming time, being with those I love, seeing and loving life, travelling, giving room for spontaneity, allowing for boredom and the mundane, investing time in things I like, devoting myself to self-reflection, and entertaining my curiosities for new environments and the people and communities who live next to and far away from me.

I want to retain this feeling, so that I can be a better and more complete person. I am open to exploring new ways of approaching work, while safe-guarding my mental health and maintaining my joy.

However you choose to prevent, diagnose, or recover from burnout, I hope you will give serious consideration to your personal rest journey. If you experience burnout, examine your condition from the perspective of your culture, lived experience, and your work philosophy—its role and purpose and understand why it exists. Recognize your responses to burnout—whether they help to remedy or only exacerbate the situation instead—and chart your recovery path. Regardless of the type of remedy and duration, be prepared for the economic repercussions, and plan well in advance with the support of your family, especially in the reworking of your finances and family budget.

I believe that rest manifests differently within different people. For me, planting my feet in sand and sea are important to feeling safe in rest. For others, climbing a hill or mountain creates a Zen-like feeling. Whatever you determine to be restful, I hope these essays are helpful to you.

[1] Mental Health – Job Burnout

[2] Mortality inequalities of Black adults in Canada

[3] Ethnic differences in life expectancy and mortality from selected causes in England and Wales: 2011 to 2014

[4] Excess Mortality and Years of Potential Life Lost Among the Black Population in the US, 1999-2020

Angry Black Men

mide@agentsc.ca (Mide Akerewusi) — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 00:18:45 GMT

Angry Black Men

On this episode of The Giving Black Podcast, we explore a powerful topic that cuts to the core of identity, emotion, and stereotype.

Inspired by Claudio E. Cabrera’s article for The Athletic, “ Draymond Green said what many Black people feel. But then he missed the point , ” we dig into the layered meaning behind the label of the “Angry Black Man.” The article reflects on NBA champion Draymond Green’s statement about a perceived agenda to portray him as such—and whether that reflects reality, stereotype, or something in between.

To unpack this, I sit down with two friends and changemakers:
Joe Williams, Managing Director of the Skills Trade Development Program at the Oaks Revitalization Association in Toronto, and
Curtis Carmichael , author, educator, tech entrepreneur, and community activist.

Together, we reflect on how anger shows up in our lives—not just as Black men, but as Black men in leadership, activism, and philanthropy. Are we actually angry? Or are we boxed into a stereotype? Can both be true?

Our conversation is honest, curious, and at times deeply personal. We confront the origins of our emotions, the stigma we internalize, and how all of it impacts how we show up in our communities—and how we both give and seek help.

I hope this episode sparks thought, dialogue, and understanding. If it resonates with you, please share it with your friends and family.

Got guest ideas for The Giving Black Podcast? Reach out to me via DM on LinkedIn or leave a message at www.givingblack.ca .

Philanthropy is the heartbeat of the world.

And...We're Back...!

mide@agentsc.ca (Mide Akerewusi) — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 00:13:04 GMT

...And...We're Back...!

"Good Morning, Good Afternoon and Good Evening Giving Black Family, Wherever In The World You Are." I have missed speaking those words!

In 2023 we produced 13 Episodes in Series One of The Giving Black Podcast. In 2024, we made one Special recording. Half way through 2025, I am sharing my first Giving Black podcast in almost a year!

Sometimes our own thoughts play a role in inhibiting our potential. Knowing that our current global and political climate calls for more debate and discussion about Black philanthropy. I share how I overcame some of my own self-inflicted barriers to striking dialogue about the ongoing need for generosity in Black communities.

I hope you enjoy this episode and will share it with your friends and family. If you have ideas for guests who should appear on The Giving Black Podcast, please DM me on LinkedIn or leave a message at the Giving Black website

Philanthropy Is The Heartbeat of The World!

Burdened By Burnout: A Two-Part Story About Exiting Grind Culture

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 14:39:12 GMT

Part One: In The Beginning

"Self-care is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation." — Audre Lorde

When agentsC launched 10 years ago, I imagined I would celebrate incredible milestones in the future. I didn't know precisely what these milestones would be but I knew they would require hard work. Hard work has since translated into repetitive burnout in pursuit of success. So much so, that by April 2020, five years in and deep into the COVID-19 pandemic, I quietly placed a calendar reminder: “April 1, 2025... Retire.” This wasn’t a futuristic April Fool’s joke. It was an aspiration—a serious commitment to soon stop working, to rest, and to imagine a life beyond the relentless culture of doing and grinding.

April 2025 has come and gone. I am perhaps too young to retire—disappointing news for the younger me who had dreamed that by now, I would be putting my feet up on a sandy beach, feeling the warm tropical ocean breeze, and sipping on an ice-cold gin and tonic (my hot weather beverage of choice). As the fantasy of retirement began to fade in 2023. I instead began planning something more realistic, determined to treat myself to a long break: A sabbatical. The only problem? I was running a thriving business with a packed client roster and a team of five employees.

For the past decade, agentsC's mission has been to add value to our clients’ work, bring diverse thought and knowledge to issues, and help expand the boundaries of fundraising, philanthropy and social change beyond our current imaginations and conventions. Our journey in advancing social change has felt incredible. This year also marks a major milestone—five years of Giving Black™, our platform dedicated to celebrating global Black philanthropy through conferences, podcasts, soirees, and an award for philanthropic achievement. Through Giving Black™, we’ve proudly amplified global Black philanthropy and celebrated the powerful ways Black communities contribute to social change in both culture and the practice of giving.

How could I turn my back on all that was going on, and all that I was responsible for?

Ten Years of Busyness

"Burnout is not the price you have to pay to be successful." — Arianna Huffington

As the proud CEO of agentsC, I have always valued the freedom to express my love fully for social justice. I loved the work I was doing. I loved building a business. I loved being in important conversations with boards and CEOs and executive teams about the brave new world our dreams could explore. I loved the process of change, and I loved being entrusted by so many people and organizations to help shape the direction of their important work.

I often revelled in the privilege of being a friend and confidant to so many incredible leaders undertaking some of the most complex, intricate, and risky responsibilities of their careers. It felt like the perfect symbiosis between my vocation and profession.

The mounting responsibilities of business and busy-ness made me restless, pensive, and demanding. I began to feel the pain of being a CEO who, day by day, week by week, month by month, and year after year was in a cycle of perpetual work with minimum breaks and hardly any rest.

On the surface, I appeared to be flourishing, but underneath, I was struggling—burning out and recovering, recovering and burning out again and again. The pressure to succeed was more than intense. I felt it in my bones and in my fibres. My staff felt it, too. In the absence of coping mechanisms for overwork, I had no choice but to continue with this seemingly unstoppable pace of work intensity.

In any line of work, there comes a point where we reach our limits—knowing where that is requires a great deal of self-honesty and fearlessness. Initially, my limits did not come from my own analysis. It was people in my family and friend circle who sounded the alarm. As their signals grew louder, I increasingly felt my pride as a CEO give way to a growing awareness of the toll that constant pressure of unrelenting work was taking on me. My friend and fellow Co-Conspirator and board member, Esther Saehyun Lee gifted me a Rest Deck to encourage me slow down. At the same time, my Sister friend Nneka Allen, CFRE, COC, PCC was leading by example by taking month-long sabbaticals twice a year. Initially, I considered sabbaticals mildly religious, and somewhat quaint and esoteric. My urge was to continue working unabated, despite the loud warning signals to rest from work.

And yet, I couldn’t ignore the toll that work at agentsC was taking on me. I routinely worked 10-to-16-hour days, including weekends. I was addicted to work but in denial about this fact. I felt guilty whenever I was not working. What I had convinced myself were just the normal demands of an aspiring company of our size were, in reality, unhealthy and unsustainable work habits. We were doing far too much, too fast, for too long; agentsC was taking over my life and the lives of my team, and it began to show.

Built For Burnout

"The expectation that we can be immersed in suffering and loss daily and not be touched by it is as unrealistic as expecting to walk through water without getting wet." — Rachel Naomi Remen

Whenever I am asked what it’s like to run a business, I tend to be enthusiastic with my response. I tell people how great it is to exercise one’s independence, allow full creativity, and participate in an ecosystem of like-minded business people. I also share that business requires perpetual work to be successful – especially if you are (like me) a Black immigrant.

The complexities of being Black, occupying immigrant status, and owning one’s own business in Canada have a compounding effect:

These are not passive statistics—they are dynamic realities at the intersection of race, immigrant status, and business ownership. As a Black immigrant entrepreneur, I too used my own finances to start agentsC – no angel investor, no bank loan, no co-founders. I felt and knew I was alone in this venture, and had to prove I could make it work. I had also quit my job without having a client base. In my first year, I made less than $70,000, not enough to survive on or meet my bills. At the time, I was entering the Canadian consulting/agency environment, I also felt like I was possibly the only Black CEO doing this work. The feeling of isolation was ever-present. The decision to build a staff team over a freelance team created additional financial pressures – meeting the demands of a growing payroll each month using only the money we made, felt like a game of roulette.

Navigating this trifecta (Black, immigrant, business person) added an immense amount of work to an already demanding business environment of balancing the books, service development, product delivery, Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) compliance, and marketing and communications, to name a few recurring responsibilities.

From the start, I was in a complicated situation where it was hard to show-up as Black business person and also demonstrate that I was a capable business person. Capabilities are one thing; there are also complexities that Black people in business experience in our pursuit to earn trusting business relationships within our own communities and in white-majority, and other racially diverse organizations. I begrudged my own efforts to address the perceived “risk” that came with choosing agentsC Inc., as a Black-led agency in a business environment of mostly white-led organizations, agencies, and consulting firms. This is not an argument of victimhood. I am simply aiming to describe what was happening around me as burnout was happening within me.

And yet, despite these barriers, we built a wonderful, supportive client base—people and organizations who recognized the distinct value agentsC’s diverse team offered, and were genuinely eager to work with us and trust our guidance. I've had the privilege of working with more than 100 social and environmental change organizations across Canada and internationally, supporting them through fundraising, philanthropy, and strategic consulting. agentsC has built connections with thousands of diverse change-makers and cause-driven leaders while leading collaborations on the most inspiring projects.

My preoccupation has always been to serve our clients well, and to go above and beyond their required expectations. This was never a contractual obligation. Moreso, it was a reflection of my immigrant mindset. This perhaps made me more prone to overwork and work addiction.

I realized I had never figured out how to survive, thrive, or be successful without working constantly or feeling the pressure to be exceptional in every area. Hard work had its rewards but I felt there was much more I should be enjoying or benefitting from. Ironically, the very places where I invested the most time, energy, and resources in the name of success were also the areas that began to deplete me. Hard work was my fuel and my burden.

Over time, the imbalance of work in my life challenged my mental and physical wellbeing—and even my basic ability to work and live a full life. I came to understand that these factors were the root of my burnout. Something needed to change, and I was ready to change. But how?

The first step to recovery is to believe in the truth that burnout is a burden and rest is both a solution and a right. None of us deserve to be burdened by burnout.

In the second part of my story: Spelling Out Burnout, I share how burnout continued to manifest in my life, and how my sabbatical was the perfect antidote. I also share advice on how to plan for a sabbatical. For now, I’ll remind you of another stirring quote to help you or someone you know feel assured that there are personalized solutions to navigate rest, minimize grind culture, and prevent burnout:

"Rest is not a luxury. Rest is resistance." — Tricia Hersey, The Nap Ministry.

Farewell to the Butterflies

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 14:42:16 GMT

“The butterfly seeks safety in lightness

In weightless, undulating flight

But at a crossroads where mottled light

From old trees falls on a brash new highway

Our separate errands collide

I come power-packed for two

And the gentle butterfly offers

Itself in bright yellow sacrifice

Upon my hard silicon shield.” – Chinua Achebe, Benin Road.

Dear AFP GTC Members,

It is time to bid farewell as I am in my final week serving as your interim chair. Birgit Burton appointed me for an 18-month term, and I will be stepping down as planned at the conclusion of this period. As an interim chair serving under the most challenging circumstances, I depart feeling that despite the unfortunate and unexpected closure of our chapter in May 2023, we have not only recovered, we have carved out a new future for ourselves, and we are well positioned as a democratic membership organization where the interests of our members are represented.

I leave with much gratitude as the recipient of wonderful encouragement, advice, affection and goodwill in my role. Every member who shared their thoughts and important opinions about what was needed, every diverse person who collaborated through our Affinity Groups, every board and staff member who offered their wisdom, every fundraiser who attended our events, all of those who wrote a message of support for the changes taking place, every co-conspirator who guided me throughout my tenure, every changemaker who inspires constant collaboration, every sponsor who invested in our vision; YOU have all contributed to the transformation at AFP GTC, and it is my sincere hope that YOU will continue to advocate for AFP GTC to be a caring and compassionate place of belonging for all people who wish to be part of a strong fundraising community.

The question, what more can be done to assure the belonging of our members, and demonstrate our passion for racial equity? still stands. We have The PROMISE as our guide, however if there is one thing to note about promises, it is that the true test of them is not what is said or written within them but the actions they inspire within us, towards delivery. The work of rebuilding and changing culture, aligning our values with our actions, and instilling the spirit of togetherness among the fundraising community are all accomplishments that I will forever be proud of working towards. I won’t say the hard work is done; however, I will note that a blueprint for continued change is set in place. I am confident that our Chapter will continue to challenge systemic anti-Black racism within AFP and work to dismantle all forms of discrimination and oppression faced by our members and the broader fundraising community.

Sometime in the future, I hope to share my experiences of change and resistance to change, while navigating the internal culture of AFP. For now, I will say that I am far less hopeful for AFP Global and AFP Canada organizations to competently and convincingly live up to member expectations. This calls their relevance into question.

Some influential fundraisers remain silent on the most pressing issues faced by our sector and our profession. Too many are willing to endure (as attributed to George W. Bush) the soft bigotry of low expectations as they continue to influence and sway attention towards the most trivial and sometimes nebulous issues. Where is the commentary on sexual harassment and discrimination, religious and racial bigotry, calls for peace, and any issues relating to Justice, Access, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (JAIDE), towards change in our sector? If all leaders are silent, then who will speak on behalf of the those who seek equity? Silence and inaction remain a loud and clear indication of complicity among those with power. It’s this silence that leads to soft bigotry and ends in hard bigotry, beginning with an ever-increasing level of tolerance for wrong, and ending with an inability to fight for what is right.

For those of us who are activists in challenging dangerous systems of oppression that perpetuate hurt, hate, and harm, we face the daily risk of the fateful butterfly in Chinua Achebe’s poem, Benin Road . We are in search of safety, taking flight, feeling light, at a crossroads, and buttressed against the force of a hard silicone shield. The interesting thing about silicone is that it cannot resist heat. So, my call to action to you is to please ignite, reignite and remain ignited within this Chapter, within your organizations and within the fundraising profession, to create a type of heat that melts the hardest shield of resistance - silence. Forgive me for being “preachy”, but I would rather be a preacher for right than a silent bystander in wrong!

So, I wish you farewell, and once again share my gratitude for the opportunity to serve you to the very best of my ability over the past almost 18 months. As of December 2, 2024 Ann Rosenfield will be your new interim chair.

We are inviting all members to join us on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM for our Annual General Members Meetin g (Virtual). As they too step down, our interim board will recommend members for our brand new 2025 board. Please register to attend the A GM here . Yo ur participation and endorsement of our new board is important. We need a minimum of fifty members to attend the meeting so that our work will continue in 2025. AFP GTC can only be as strong as the interest shown by you and the accountability that you seek from your board as members.

If you are wondering what is next for me, not only am I ending my role at AFP GTC, I am also closing my tenure as a lifelong volunteer, nearing 30 years of service to many non-profit organizations in Canada and internationally. I sincerely feel that my work is complete. It is time to shift my focus to my family, my friendships, my faith, my health, and my business. I am also stepping back from work, to begin a four-month sabbatical, in December 2024. I will be resting from work, celebrating important milestones with my family, gaining further inspiration and mapping the next phase of my life. For now, I am happy to be a free-floating butterfly on the Benin Road, trying my best to avoid collisions with oncoming silicon shields! (for a while).

Sincere Best Wishes

Olumide (Mide) Akerewusi

The Reason Why There is Joy On My Face

mide@agentsc.ca (Mide Akerewusi) — Sun, 28 Jul 2024 23:38:08 GMT

Special 2024 Giving Black Conference Episode: The Reason Why There is Joy On My Face

Welcome Back, Giving Black Family!

In this special Emancipation Day and Black Philanthropy Month edition of The Giving Black Podcast, I interview my friend, brother and mentor, Ray Williams. I have known Ray for as long as I have lived in Canada (16 years). We speak about the recipe for success of the Black Opportunity Fund (BOF), the organization that Ray co-founded and currently chairs. BOF is a social innovation established to increase the flows of revenue into Black-led, Black-serving, and Black-focused (B3) organizations.

Our conversation returns to a single theme, food as philanthropy. Ray and I bond over our love of food and our introduction to generosity being the dinner table of four friends and their families. Interestingly, our shared roots in South London, form the drivers of his personal approach to philanthropy: food, compassion, and kindness. Whether it's Ray's love for cooking, his connection to George Brown College, where he serves on the board and has earned his culinary arts certificate; Ray elaborates on how food can also open the door to our generosity. Today, Ray is a fundraiser and donor to the Culinary Arts Program at George Brown College.

We talk about ways to drive more funds in to B3 organizations and support philanthropic participation in Black communities, as well as our families "back home", and our religious faith-based organizations.

Ray recently retired as a financial services executive after more than 35 years of experience in Global Capital Markets, during which time he held leadership roles in marketing, trading, risk advisory & execution as well as securitization. Ray is also an Executive-in-Residence at Rotman School of Management and is on the board of the 100 Strong Foundation, where he and I both serve.

Ray's energy and passion for community comes through loud and clear in this Special Episode. We close our conversation with the declaration that we need to build and support more Black entrepreneurs for Black philanthropy to grow.

I hope you enjoy listening to this Special Edition podcast. I especially hope you feel the joy in the conversation between Ray and me. I love Ray's reflection that there's is a reason why there is joy on his face. Philanthropy has the power to make us happy! Click here to learn more about Ray and The Black Opportunity Fund .

To AFP GTC Members, all AFP Chapters, Co-Conspirators, Anti-Racists, and all Stakeholders In The Fundraising Profession Fighting Racism.

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 15:15:06 GMT

PART ONE:

I appreciate the above is quite the audacious title. I hope it attracts your attention and causes you to read further.

As you prepare for giving season, I know that you will likely be caught up in a number of important fundraising initiatives to support the urgent work of your respective organizations. I want to thank you for your continued promotion of creative fundraising techniques and thoughtful community engagement practices during these challenging times. We find ourselves navigating the intersections of racial equity, emerging conflicts, rising interest rates, ongoing inflation, and increasing costs of living that affect both philanthropy and fundraising. The skills and passion of fundraisers, are even more essential to the continuity of the non-profit sector during these trying times. I hope this letter (detailed though it is), and forming two-parts, will bring you up to speed with aspects of what has happened since my last communication to you. I want you to know the things that I know and consider the issues currently at play within AFP GTC. This update may also help to answer some ongoing questions that you might have, regarding the work that is on the horizon.

I hope this letter (detailed though it is), and forming two-parts, will bring you up to speed with aspects of what has happened since my last communication to you. I want you to know the things that I know and consider the issues currently at play within AFP GTC. This update may also help to answer some ongoing questions that you might have, regarding the work that is on the horizon.

I recognize that I have been less communicative than I would have liked since my last message to you in July, 2023. That’s because I have had to learn how to manage the demands of my agency, AgentsC Inc. and balance these with work on the inside of AFP GTC to rebuild our Chapter. These important objectives have required a major time investment on my behalf.

Leading AFP GTC after a period of significant crisis is not light work. It is heavy work! I will go further to say that so far, much of what I have been engaged in stretches way beyond the frame of governance – ensuring we are aligned with our bylaws and legal compliance obligations. Instead, I have been involved in actual work. Fixing, strategizing, organizing, recruiting, planning, problem solving, facilitating, meeting, speaking, engaging… this list goes on, to ensure that AFP GTC maintains a chance of meeting our members’ needs while changing aspects of our culture that cause harm.

In May of this year, I outlined my pledge to the AFP GTC community (partners, members, fundraisers, volunteers, staff, sponsors, and stakeholders). My words back then have been a constant reminder to me and have shaped my approach to the work that needs to be undertaken. I made the following pledge:

Be accountable: Prioritize the interest of members over the interests of the board.
Respond to fundraisers’ needs: Invite all stakeholders to inform the strategic direction of AFP GTC, placing and practicing equity at the centre of our work.
Be totally transparent: Share openly, and communicate the ways in which change is being led, through thoughts, challenges, opportunities, successes, and failures.
I then added a fourth point to this list: Support the AFP GTC to effectively communicate and demonstrate its value. This is the question that many of our members (existing and past) are asking us.

Thankfully, I am not alone in this work. We now have a newly appointed Interim board ( Arleen Benjamin - (Treasurer); Dane Bland , CFRE; Esther Lee ; and Liz Rejman , (Secretary); and Ann Rosenfield , CFRE. The board is joined by two advisors, Birgit Burton, Chair of AFP Global, and Sara Wolfe,- ICD.D , Executive in Residence – Rotman School of Management. My work and that of the interim directors has been supported by our interim executive director.

I am grateful to our ED, the board, and our advisors for their support and leadership, as well as their willingness to join me as we reconstruct AFP GTC. Our interim ED, especially has been a great help in navigating AFP GTC on a steady course of recovery. We are all learning, and I am improving my understanding of my first role in a traditional non-profit Chair position, interim or otherwise. Since June, we have achieved the following important milestones:

June 2023: Appointment of our Interim Chapter President
July 2023: Secured the four calls-to-action leading to restitution for historic acts of systemic anti-Black racism by the former board
August 2023: Appointed an interim board and completed our audited accounts/statements for 2022
September 2023: Hosted the AFP GTC AGM

Our work ahead is to create new systems and processes, practices, and tactics that lead to equity and culture change within AFP GTC. However, it is futile for us to change organizational culture within our Chapter if you and your respective organizations remain unchanged.

Our sector must collectively fight systemic anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism – just two of many issues which I believe hinder our ability to effectively raise funds and create the type of societal and environmental change we all seek. As a community, I invite you to continually take the following actions to ensure our Chapter and our sector thrives:

Speak openly about the acts and issues of racism and discrimination that you observe as you raise funds.
Consider your own biases carefully when you are confronted by them. Be open to feedback, and commit to continuous learning about racial equity.
Be more than an ally. Take action by becoming an anti-racist, and an equity champion. Expand your connections and relationships with diverse fundraisers within your local cultural groups.

There is more work that lies ahead of us. I will outline this in Part Two of my message in November 2023. In the meantime, please send me an email if you have questions or comments.

Olumide Akerewusi

Interim Chair, AFP GTC

makerewusi@afptoronto.org

The Costs and Rewards of Activism as a Business Owner with Olumide Akerewusi

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 14:18:16 GMT

"As much as I know the market has embraced AgentsC, I also believe that there are some organizations, because of the makeup of AgentsC and because of the activism of its founder and CEO, kind of make a choice not to work with or partner or invite us to support their work. But I also just celebrate those who have partnered with us and come to us and sought our help and expertise. And that's where I put the lens." - Olumide Akerewusi

Mide Akerewusi, founder of AgentsC, joined us for an inspiring conversation about courage, activism, and building a business with purpose. Mide shared his journey of stepping into his power as a vocal leader for equity and justice, despite facing discrimination and barriers as a Black business owner.

Highlights:

Pursue your purpose. Mide started AgentsC to follow his calling for transformative change, even without a clear plan or safety net. Saying "yes" to your purpose will open up opportunities you can't yet imagine.
Find your co-conspirators. Mide found strength in numbers by joining forces with others pushing for change. Seek out allies with a shared vision of justice and abundance. Together, you have the power to accomplish more than you ever could alone.
Speak your truth. Mide acknowledged the costs of being a vocal activist, but said staying silent in the face of oppression is even more dangerous. Share your experiences to liberate yourself and educate others. Your voice matters.
Keep learning and growing. Mide confessed that running a business is difficult, especially without role models or a template to follow. Approach each day with a willingness to experiment, make mistakes, and find the "right thing to do." Growth and progress, not perfection, should be the goal.
At the end of the day, we all have a role to play in creating a just world where everyone can thrive. Mide's story is a reminder that when we embrace our purpose, use our voices, and support each other, we become an unstoppable force for positive change. The time for courage is now. How will you answer the call?

Episode 12: Kerrite Bedward: You Always Have To Put Something Back In The Community

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 23:38:37 GMT

Since we launched The Giving Black Podcast in August 2023, members of The Giving Black Family are accustomed to me sharing how each Episode is very special and a must-listen. I always give one reason or another for why you should listen. Most times I share how the podcast explains the varying ways that generosity is manifest in the global Black community.

This Episode is our 12th and final recording for Season One of The Giving Black Podcast. It is absolutely special, and it is a must-listen!

Today, Giving Black Family, I am proud to share with you Mr. Kerrite Bedward! Kerrite is my absolute best friend in the world! I do not say that lightly. I am surrounded by many brilliant and beautiful people in my life. However, Kerrite and I have been best friends for forty years. This October, we celebrate our Birthday Month and reflect on our amazing journey from young boys, to young men, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, husbands, and parents of adult children.

Key to our conversation is the importance of our love for each other, and how the spirit of philanthropy has kept us being friends and brothers for a lifetime. I share how he was pivotal in shaping the direction of my life, and he shares his experience of why generosity is important to him. Kerrite reminds us that our philanthropy must begin at home (with family), and extend into the community. His compelling words: " You always have to put something back into the community ", echo true. After all, charity begins at home but it must travel the world if it is to be seen and felt by all!

Kerrite can be contacted via: https://flakeycrustbakery.co.uk/
and linkedin.com/in/kerrite-bedward-15041162

Issues Impacting Philanthropy and Fundraising. How Change Happens.

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 16:33:37 GMT

The below reflect my thoughts about emerging issues in our sector and examples of how these issues are being addressed. They will serve as a background for a deep panel discussion about how we approach philanthropy and fundraising in an inclusive and culturally diverse way to match the diversity of our communities.

1. Observation: Rising interest rates, mounting inflation, and increased costs of living, creating problems for the sustainability of our non-profit organizations.

Solution: There is safety in numbers. We need greater collaboration between charities, sharing resources, combining work and even merging, to ensure benefits such as purchasing power, economies of scale, and greater mobilization of resources while reducing duplication.
Example: Campfire Circle merged with Camp Ooch & Camp Trillium in 2022 to become a new organization, serving even more children diagnosed with cancer.

2. Observation: Major transfer flows and shifts into community and social causes, with an overall decline in reported tax-receipted giving to registered charitable organizations, creating problems for the sustainability of our non-profit organizations.

Solution: Broader identification and engagement of diverse groups in the community, prospect research into major cultural groups and faith-based organizations, alignment with mosques, temples, synagogues and churches to build engagement and diverse communities of practice. Don’t’ be satisfied with your existing donor pool, seek to diversify it.
Example: Amnesty International adopts a community-centric governance model – selecting diverse board members who are aligned with their cause, building diverse leadership and fundraising teams, and discovering how their work impacts systems that lead to anti-Black racism in Canada.

3. Observation: Growing issues of racial discrimination within the non-profit sector, specifically anti-Indigenous and anti-Black racism, creating problems for the sustainability of our non-profit organizations.

Solution: Leaders need to be better equipped to have the conversation about racial bias, and build systems that specifically dismantle systemic anti-Indigenous and anti-Black racism.
Example: Association of Fundraising Professionals GTC, Canadian Museum for Human Rights, The Art Gallery of Ontario, have dealt with accusations of racism and discrimination which have been publicized. These incidents of staff, board and volunteer harm show the need to improve racial equity in the non-profit sector. Systemic racism erodes public trust and confidence in organizations. Reconciliation, anti-discrimination, JAIDE programming, and culture change are just the beginning. We need goal setting and lasting change!

Healing, Reconciliation, and Action: Lessons from Mide Akerewusi's Journey

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 14:51:22 GMT

Olumide (Mide) Akerewusi talks to Tim about the Giving Black Conference and the dynamic of Black philanthropy as it relates to the larger philanthropic sector. They also discuss the events within the AFP Toronto Chapter and the lessons that need to be learned to move forward as a community.

Episode 11: We Have To Move Out To Move Up

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 14:35:20 GMT

The Giving Black Conference , is scheduled for August 10, 2023, at 9:30am-11:30am (EST). The theme of this year's conference is, Advancing Belonging. It's a subject that underpins Black philanthropy and affects those who seek to create social impact.

On this episode of The Giving Black Podcast, we introduce an open mic for the first time. I invite The Giving Black Virtual Conference speakers to pop-in and share a few thoughts about belonging. I am joined by four guests.

As me and my guests share our perspectives, the conversation gets deep into our personal experiences. Before long, Queen Jade, Vibhuti, Muthoni, Nneka and I realize that our discussions are expressions of hope over adversity. On the subject of career progression, there's one thing that we all know and have experienced; " We ave to move out to move up !". Ultimately, if belonging alludes us in the main, there is a powerful solution. Listen to this episode to find out more.

Be sure to register to attend The Giving Black Virtual Conference 2023. Click here to book your spot. Join us as we celebrate Black Philanthropy Month with a roster of great speakers, soulful poetry, authentic storytelling, calming wellness, and a spotlight on the true meaning of belonging in a social impact context. Check out our registration details and the conference program here .

Accountability? Safety? Value?Questions From Within AFP GTC

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 16:53:07 GMT

The Questions About Safety and Value for AFP GTC Members

Since my appointment as Interim President of AFP Greater Toronto Chapter, I am most often asked to respond to three recurring questions:

Should demands for accountability within AFP GTC continue, in relation to incidents of anti-Black racism?
What does the future hold for AFP GTC, and what will happen next?
Is it now OK or safe to become a member, renew membership, and/or continue to support AFP GTC in other ways, e.g. as a sponsor or an employee?

My answer to the first question is, “yes”, emphatically. Members, volunteers, sponsors and other stakeholders should always seek accountability, especially if they believe that AFP GTC has fallen below the standard requirements of practice. Activism is an important part of having ones expectations met.

My answer to the second question is, “I do not know”. Perhaps I will not know until we have a fully engaged board, and canvas opinion among our members. AFP GTC members must have an opportunity to define the future they want to see. The board will aim to deliver on members’ wishes.

My best answer for the third question is, I do want to say “yes”, it is OK to now enter, re-enter or stay in, the AFP GTC waters. However, my best answer at this time is “maybe”. I believe people should decide for themselves, thus the Oprah quote that accompanies this article.

As the person who on May 10, 2023 encouraged economic withdrawal from AFP GTC through boycotting, until four important calls to action were met; I still cannot say that all is well, even though those actions have been achieved.

Membership renewal or boycotting remain a matter of personal choice and organizational preference. My appointment as Interim Chapter President does not magically solve the problems that existed four years ago or the calcified culture that has beset AFP GTC for a very long time. Two months ago, following mass board resignations, we were all unsure if the Chapter itself would even exist.

Seeking absolute withdrawal one month and taking the helm the following month, has been quite the journey of complex self-reflection and situational analysis. As well, I am exploring and uncovering issues within our Chapter that I find troubling. There’s very little safety in going against the AFP grain, me and my fellow Black volunteers know that from first-hand experience.

I have an AFP Canadian Chapter Presidents meeting coming up on Thursday 19 July, and although I am curious about the nature of this meeting, and the possibility of its outcomes, I feel like I will be entering the belly of the beast. This is after all where AFP culture is formed and reinforced. However, there are harming aspects of the culture that I am committed to dismantling as far as the GTC is concerned. And I know there are several Chapter leaders who also want to take on the work of reform. Between us, we can get it done. That said, I also have recurring questions:

How can I be comfortable in an organization that still expresses disdain for Black board members, Black volunteers, and Black people in general?
How can I ask others to disinvest, while I am investing my own time, intellect, and financial resources into changing AFP GTC? Full disclosure -- after I called for economic withdrawal from AFP GTC by members, stakeholders, and sponsors, I found myself thereafter, registering to become a member, so that I could assume the Interim Chapter Presidency.

Sometimes what is good for the goose is not that great for the gander.

If Dr. Martin Luther King’s assertion is true, that, "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice”, it is clear that justice itself might not be delivered in a straight line. There are twists and turns, bends, and corners that must be navigated as we seek equity. There can be no equity without compromise, and without equity, I believe AFP GTC has no value for its members.

Last week, I posted the full AFP GTC independent IDEA Audit report produced in 2021. It made bleak reading, pointing out how racism, homophobia, and disablism were common throughout the Association. The report mentioned that the culture of the former board was self-serving, and members’ wishes were routinely ignored or labelled as problematic. I’ll stop there. I think you may appreciate my point, and also appreciate why I cannot hand-on-heart say that safety reigns in our Association or point out the value of being a member at this time. I say this especially because those who led the organization prior, have shown no accountability to it, since their unceremonious departure. I will not belabour the fact that these "leaders" still "lead" and "serve", the GTC's fundraising charities. This deserves its own commentary.

I am committed to volunteering my time for safety and value to be established. I cannot say that everyone belongs, however I am committed to leading in such a way that expresses how all can belong. I cannot establish immediate empowerment for our members however, I can assure members that I will empower them to direct our Association towards equity.

Truthfully, optimism is the only value I can present for why AFP GTC should continue to be supported by our members, sponsors, staff, volunteers, and stakeholders. I am excited about what will come next!

A Quick Note About What Comes Next

I and the new board (when announced in August) are here to serve members and the broader national and global fundraising community. Our journey will begin in the Fall with the launch of a mass consultation to better understand the concerns and aspirations of Fundraisers in our region.

I also want to ensure we build collaborative partnerships with other fundraising bodies and associations, so we can provide more robust supports that help us share our resources, and solve common problems. I know from personal experience and anecdotes shared with me, that professional development is also top of mind for the fundraising community.

Perhaps the narrative is not yet one of guaranteed safety, belonging or value but about hopes and wishes for the Association we need to rebuild.

In May of this year, I outlined my pledge to the AFP GTC community (partners, members, fundraisers, volunteers, staff, sponsors, and stakeholders). It’s a constant reminder to me:

Be accountable: Prioritize the interest of members over the interests of the board.
Respond to fundraisers’ needs: Invite all stakeholders to inform the strategic direction of AFP GTC, placing and practicing equity at the centre of our work.
Be totally transparent: Share openly, and communicate the ways in which change is being led, through thoughts, challenges, opportunities, successes, and failures.

I’ll add a fourth point: Support the AFP GTC to effectively communicate and demonstrate its value. I welcome all to join me in the forward path. The waters are travelled safer together, than apart.

The journey continues....

Celebrating Eight Years of Commuity Impact At AgentsC Inc.

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 17:43:47 GMT

The month of June almost passed by without me acknowledging that Agents Inc., the social impact philanthropy and fundraising agency that I founded in 2015, celebrates eight years in business this month! This is one of the proudest milestones in my life and it comes at one of the most challenging times!

The picture accompanying this article is me on Day One at AgentsC. I was smiling but I was actually also really scared because I had quit my job and did not have any clients or a clue about what was about to unfold!

I don't consider myself to be a business person or an entrepreneur. I never considered myself as a “leader” in our sector. And similarly, I have never taken for granted that the special work that me and the members of my team undertake at AgentsC will continue day-to-day.

I believe in justice, and I seek equity. I make my living by doing what I think is right. I show up every day with a commitment to being a better person than I was the day before. I am also acutely conscious that I am a Black man who voluntarily navigates white spaces.

Being Black and in business is a precarious situation. More precarious than one might think, even for someone like me who has spent almost 30 years raising funds for charities across the globe. I continually remind myself that I am an immigrant and recent settler to this land. I am also privileged. The history of Black people in Canada who arrived centuries before me is far more fraught. And the Indigenous and First Nations people who are custodians of the land that I have called home for the past 15 years have been dispossessed. I do business on colonized land. That’s the truth. I am, therefore, responsible and accountable for the way I conduct that business.

To be Black and in business in Canada is to be humble enough to know that our Indigenous brothers and sisters must at all times be acknowledged as those with whom we share a struggle. If it’s hard to be Black and in business in Canada, it is literally doubly difficult to be Indigenous and in business in Canada. Canada had an estimated 66,880 Black business owners in 2018, accounting for 2.1% of all business owners, though we account for 4.3% of the population 1. According to the 2016 census, First Nations, Métis or Inuit persons represented 4.9% of the Canadian population.2 In 2017, 1.4% of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) were owned by First Nations, Métis or Inuit persons.

Not only are Black and Indigenous people still subject to discriminatory acts and perceptions about our place in Canada, we are also subject to the market forces related to rising interest rates, mounting inflation, declining financial markets, and relentless competition. We navigate the culture of racism that places additional weight on our businesses with the forces at play that impact all businesses. Try staving off the pace of “Creative Destruction”, in which the number of new businesses must outstrip the number of businesses that cease to exist, while also understanding that some folks will not do business with you because of the colour of your skin or your tendency to be vocal about anti-Black racism, or both! The struggle is real!

Our businesses cease to exist because we rarely have access to the normal avenues of support such as venture capital, loans, generational wealth, unbiased clients, business-to-business networks, and family legacy. We do not occupy the board tables where the catalyzing deals are brokered. Our business interests are generally unsecured and unprotected.

Though business can be challenging, it is also character-building. I am immensely grateful to the many friends, clients, and supporters who have actively embraced AgentsC in the past, and continue to journey with us into the future. Thankfully, we have navigated some tough times (COVID-19) and some great times (I am always happy when we release new research), and above all, we have created societal change through our work.

The name AgentsC (pronounced “agency”) came from my vision to create a full service agency that would be devoted to social change – thus AgentsC (Agents for social change). I also wanted us to embrace other positively charged C-words: Collaboration, Creativity, Connection, Care, Compassion, Courage … The C’s mean a lot to us. It’s how we know that our clients’ goals are met.

I have always believed in the power of philanthropy to transform lives. Personally, I would not be here without both the spiritual and physical forms of generosity which I have come to know. As we say at AgentsC, “Philanthropy is the heartbeat of the world”. But also, as we know there are many philanthropies. The problem I saw and still see, is that our Western idea of philanthropy seems not to serve its original purpose. There’s a particular type of philanthropy where the largest donations are directed to the institutions that have the most. This leaves an unequal non-profit sector where smaller community based organizations are constantly overlooked for life changing philanthropic investments. Our richest people seem to prefer funding conceptual projects of scale than life-saving community programs. I love grand projects with scale, however we also need to be in community investing massive funds in people who up until now have been overlooked.

So, for us at AgentsC, it’s important to tip the balance of philanthropy towards causes that directly alleviate poverty, seek justice, establish equity, and save the lives of those who experience greatest vulnerability. Our passions are linked to both the Sustainable Development Goals as well as the Social Determinants of Health. All causes which fall under these well-defined themes are causes that me and my team are passionate about supporting.

At our eight year mark, AgentsC’s clients now number almost 70 diverse organizations of every size and cause around the world. I have been proud as we have expanded in Canada, and also brought social change to organizations in the USA, UK, Europe, India, Australia, and the African continent.

It is a privilege to be in service to the non-profit sector. It is a privilege to hold the trust, confidence, and aspirations of people in organizations. It is also a privilege to create personalized solutions to situational challenges and opportunities that spark transformation within our clients. For us, this is not simply our work – it’s most definitely our mission and our purpose!

As I look back over the past eight years, I would list the following eight change achievements that have made me most proud of being a Black person in business, committed to social change:

Since 2015, AgentsC has built a team of fantastic people who are committed to serving fantastic clients.
Since 2016, AgentsC has served up to 70 clients including pro bono projects. Our change work spans, women’s rights, 2SLGBTQ rights, human rights, Indigenous Capital projects, youth and education as well as health and cancer research to name a few.
Since 2019, AgentsC established The AgentsC Equity Philanthropy Fund with the Toronto Foundation to disperse donations to Black and Indigenous non-profit organizations in Canada. We also devote additional cash and pro-bono work on an annual basis to several individuals and non-profit organizations.
In 2020, AgentsC achieved BCorp status, reflecting our commitment to environmental and social responsibility.
Since 2020, AgentsC has brought new research insights into the non-profit sector ranging from the impact of COVID-19 on the Canadian non-profit sector, to the ways that people of African descent participate in philanthropy/ubuntu, and how corporations can and should improve their commitments to equity philanthropy.
In 2021, AgentsC set up the Giving Black conference to celebrate Black Philanthropy. The following year, (2022) we launched the Giving Black Podcast to share global stories about Black generosity.
In 2022, we created an Equity Charter that steeps AgentsC in our values and commitments to the non-profit sector. Specifically, our Equity Charter also reminds our clients of their responsibilities to continue the work of justice.
In 2023, living up to the standards of our Equity Charter, the AgentsC team was compelled to be a stronger vocal advocate in the campaign against anti-Black racism – not just speaking about issues but also directly challenging several institutions to improve their own commitments to equity for Black people.

I don’t know what the next eight years will bring for me or for AgentsC and our clients, but if they are anything like the past eight years, we will continue to create impact by providing a listening ear, while being a caring BCorp business, and a vocal company that champions equity for all. We will continue to be a team of curious researchers, skilled fundraisers, efficient recruiters, insightful organizational strategists, influential culture shapers, and determined truth-tellers.

Happy Birthday AgentsC, and thanks to the global non-profit community and the thousands of people who engage with us through our many platforms, publications and private projects.

Together We Stand

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 17:35:40 GMT

“You don't repair that relationship by sitting down and talking about trust or making promises. Actually, what rebuilds it is living it and doing things differently - and I think that is what is going to make the difference.” ~ Patricia Hewitt

Closure requires acknowledgement on the part of those harmed that they have received satisfactory acts of reparations from their perpetrators for the specific harm acknowledged. To be clear, the overall issues of anti-Black racism in AFP and in the charitable sector are NOT closed. This is exclusively closure on the specific harm of anti-Black racism outlined in the lecture, Us and Them: What It Really Means to Belong and in episode 6 of The Giving Black Podcasts .

Reparations for us are found in our four calls to action:

An unreserved apology from AFP Global for the harm caused to us
Removal of AFP GTC’s 10-star designation by AFP Global
Revocation/return of the AFP GTC Fundraising award given to Caroline Riseboro
Acknowledgement from us that the above indeed forms satisfactory restitution and reconciliation for the harm caused.

Since 2019, we have sought acknowledgement of our harm and this has now been satisfied through an apology by AFP Global. Through Mike’s Monday Message, and the announcement from AFP GTC this week, we are now satisfied that AFP has met these four calls to action and we have no reason to request anything further unless new acts of injustice occur.

In February of this year, we sought restitution in the form of recovering awards of merit. This week the award that was received by the person who led the board during the currency of our struggle has been returned. As well, the performance awards/designations received by AFP Toronto chapter have also now been rescinded. These were crucial steps that led us to this moment of restoration.

However, some practical realities must be considered to successfully achieve belonging and greater safety for Black people. There must be a genuine acknowledgement that Black people are part of the fabric of the charitable sector. We have a right to participate, contribute and lead. True belonging celebrates people’s authenticity and wholeness. It is from this place that we should work in parity side-by-side toward a common purpose.

By way of background, the former AFP GTC board was looking to change things through the passive process of inviting diverse people to the table. What this did in effect is tokenize the people of colour. Change is not passive. Neither is creating belonging passive. Creating a belonging environment is an active process. This sometimes takes the form of conflict. Were the board to have recognized this necessary and natural process they might not have resisted the change our voices were expressing. We were advocating a path to true belonging.

There’s no greater need that people have than the need to belong. As humans our desire to belong is as strong as our need to be loved. And so our need to belong will always be central to the relationships we build at home, in the community and in our places of work.

For many of us, this need to belong extends to our infinite capacity to be generous and to give of ourselves to others. That was the driver for the three of us to join AFP GTC. Not a desire to be seen and esteemed but to humbly serve our fundraising community with the inherent assets we possess: mind, body, and soul.

The three of us entered into the board environment with good intentions of contributing our thought leadership and our lived experiences as Black fundraisers. However, our Board colleagues were skeptical, distrusting, and perhaps even fearful of our participation as equals. What was demanded of us was to be present in body for the sake of diversity optics but absent in spirit and in the expressions of our minds.

When we spoke up about the acts of discrimination we experienced, we were humiliated and threatened with exclusion and legal repercussions, which ultimately led to our principled decision to resign from the AFP GTC board in 2019.

Our journey for an unbridled apology has taken almost four years. It came not as a result of self-reflection within AFP Global and the movement in general, but by a brave few who stood with us and grew to pressure AFP. The rising movement for racial justice, accountability, and transparency echoes the essence of belonging, community and togetherness. Attributes which we have sought from the very beginning of our protest.

Now that closure is being fulfilled, we look forward to AFP honouring the experiences and contributions of Black people. We look forward to how a re-envisaged organization in GTC will be actualized. We anticipate the cultivation of belonging spaces, not solely for ourselves but for all those who have felt excluded, marginalized, ignored or mistreated by people within the very body whose purpose it is to protect and represent them.

Our gratitude to all those faithful activists, co-conspirators and AFP chapters that spoke out, stood up and petitioned. By making our collective voices heard, we have shown that we each have the power to change our Association, our communities, and our places of work for the better. We have been fearless, brave and principled so that equity and justice may be achieved for the many by the many!

"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek." ~ Former President Barack Obama

In Solidarity,

Nneka Allen, CFRE, COC, PCC , Múthoní Karíukí HBSc, MPNL, CFRE

Bitter Issues and Promising Truths: My First Week as Chapter President of AFP GTC.

Mon, 12 Jun 2023 17:51:37 GMT

My cousin in Lagos shared a Yoruba proverb with me over the weekend. It was a phrase I had never heard before. In trying to persuade me to do something I was totally reluctant to do, his words flowed out of his mouth in Yoruba and nestled into my mind in English:

"If I use my mouth to bite a piece of kola nut and offer it to you, you may not accept it, but if I use my mouth to speak the truth to you, you'll not reject what I say.”

His point to me was that certain aspects of life are somewhat trite and other aspects of life are entirely crucial. He wanted me to land on the side of the crucial over an issue I considered to be trite. In the end he won. I acquiesced. I accepted his truth.

I am writing to you, in my capacity as Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Toronto Chapter (AFP GTC) President. My message is not about kola nut proverbs. It's about my first week of volunteering, once again, at the proverbial AFP GTC, after an almost four year boycott.

First of all, I owe deep gratitude to the many people who have reached out to me with amazing words of encouragement and support. I have tried to personally respond to all of your messages, texts, phone calls, and social media posts, and would like to THANK YOU DEEPLY for your commitment to racial equity. Also at this time, I wish to thank the AFP GTC team and my AgentsC Inc. colleagues both of which have been amazingly patient and understanding as I establish a new pattern of work and seek to be swift and ambitious in how this work should be done.

Just over a week into my role as Chapter President, I have some markers to share:

AFP Global has agreed to pursue a formal apology to me, @Nneka Allen, and @Muthoni Kariuki. Global is also looking into removing AFP GTC's 10-Star designation - an award given for strong equity standards, which our chapter clearly lacks.
I have met virtually with the current AFP staff team, who have worked impressively to keep our Association going in the face of immense difficulty - without a board, and Executive Director. Our first in-person meeting will occur this week.
The June AFP GTC Annual General Meeting was postponed because we do not have a board to speak of. We are aiming for a July AGM instead, but only if we can present a roster of at least five interim board members within the next two weeks. Otherwise, our AGM will be shifted to September, 2023.
Conversations about the recruitment of a new Executive Director at GTC, led by AFP Global, were underway prior to my appointment. I have had the pleasure of meeting with and making an offer to a great candidate to lead our Association on an interim basis. Please watch out for an announcement this week.
I have communicated with fellow Chapter Heads in the USA who continue to petition for racial equity within AFP GTC. These Chapter heads are also making their voices heard by petitioning AFP Global to take stronger and more consistent steps. I am particularly grateful to Amy Rowell , Anna January , Nicholas Reising and Taylor S. Wilmoth, MPA, CNP, AFP Chapter Presidents in the USA who have taken direct action. I know colleagues The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) - Nova Scotia Chapter were the first to express their concern, and last week I was pleased to see AFP Edmonton & Area Chapter speak out against racism within AFP.

At the beginning of my role on June 1st, I wrote that I became a volunteer at AFP GTC in 2009, soon after arriving to Canada in 2008. Lately, I came across my original AFP GTC membership card. It was dated, December 2008. Just five months after emigrating from London, England. Memories came flooding back, and with those memories came the reality of AFP GTC today.

There have been some bitter issues to accept over the past, and there will be a few more to come. However my hope is that when all is said and done, we will all see promising and encouraging truths that are easier for us to accept about our Chapter.

Episode 10: We Want To Build Critical Thinkers!

mide@agentsc.ca (Mide Akerewusi) — Sun, 11 Jun 2023 01:30:09 GMT

In this episode of the Giving Black Podcast, we celebrate International Men's Health Week (June 12-18, 2023) and Father's Day (June 20th, 2023). Our guest, Owen Thomas, is Managing Director of Future Men ; a multi-award winning charity founded in 1988.

Future Men supports boys and men along the path to becoming dynamic future men, whilst addressing the stereotypes around masculinity and what it means to be a man.

Owen is himself a father to three young women. He has more than 15 years extensive experience working closely with fathers, male carers, boys and men at crucial stages of their lives. He is passionate about addressing stereotypes around masculine culture and identity, and promoting positive well-being and healthy relationships between and among men.

Owen and I are homeboys and OG's (Old Geezers), both of us having been raised in Brixton, South London, around the same time. In this episode, Owen and I talk about our upbringing in the neighbourhood and share how being raised in women centred families formed our early and later outlook on life. We explore what it means to be men of Black and mixed heritage, racial equity, imparting African cultural history to boys and men, and the need for continued collective action towards social justice among Black men.

As we cover the ways to challenge toxic ideas of Black male identity, we land on love being a key requisite of change, and share examples of how love can have lasting and impactful determinants on men and shift the outcome of our lives.

I have made a donation to the work of Future Men. Click here to join me in supporting this important organization.

Time For Change At AFP GTC

Wed, 24 May 2023 17:59:27 GMT

Following the resignation of all members of the board at Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Greater Toronto Chapter (AFP GTC) , Birgit Smith Burton announced that I will be assuming the role of Interim Chair of AFP GTC.

I am grateful to Birgit for placing faith and trust in me to partner with her as we explore the development of a new AFP GTC with new ways of thinking, being, and doing. As well, we must build a new culture, and a new interpretation of what it means to be of service to fundraisers. In our conversations, Birgit and I envisage an AFP that sets the example and builds a blueprint for transformation.

To traverse the path of transformative change, we need first to acknowledge the avenues from our past. As I do so, I see that my appointment is not a marker, a resolution, or a beacon of success for our Chapter or for the AFP movement. This is not yet a moment to feel proud or to congratulate. I am mindful that I am the Interim Chair of an Association that failed me and my friends as volunteers, as members, and as fundraisers, and has by all reports, failed many others too. I am mindful that I am chairing an Association that lacks the humility to properly apologize for its wrongs and finds greater self-assurance in pursuing racism than it did in pursuing reconciliation.

My appointment is better understood as my personal response to a very clear calling to serve, to heal, and to restore trust and confidence in an organization that plays an important role in the pursuit of social justice. I will not dwell on the irony or the strangeness of this situation. I believe it is the right thing to do, and that is good enough for me.

My appointment marks the beginning of a new direction, however my public action and commitment to the movement for change within AFP GTC continues. So, for context, it is important to note that the demands sought by our growing movement for justice at AFP GTC still need to be met. We still need AFP GTC to:

Apologize unreservedly for the harm caused to former board members
Seek reconciliation and restitution to those harmed
Remove the 10-star designation of the GTC
Revoke the Fundraising award given to Caroline Riseboro

AFP GTC needs to carry out the above with courage, ignoring the threat of legal action. While these demands continue to be unmet, I stand by my prior calls to action for economic withdrawal from AFP GTC by sponsors, members, and event attendees.

My appointment is not a solution for the past wrongs. It is the impact of what happens when apologies are withheld. Those who seek the apologies continue their mission, using every means at their disposal to achieve restitution and closure. This is the way justice has worked throughout history. And as is common, the work of fixing falls to the dedication of the very same people who call out most for equity, because those who stand in the way of equity, stand in the way of equity!

I am not backing away from my demand for justice. If anything, as Interim Chair, I am doubling up on my expectation for AFP to do better, be better and set powerful examples of equity to the local and global fundraising community.

I know AFP GTC members are asking why the AFP GTC board of 2019 chose conspiracy rather than conciliation as a means of dealing with conflict, and why the 2023 board collectively resigned, instead of collectively apologized.

I, like so many Black people, have experienced many racist offences in my life, some on the street, some in bars and restaurants, some as I worked, some as I played, and some as I volunteered. Many, I have not acted upon.

The offence caused by AFP GTC is one of those that I did act on. I was and continue to be empowered by self-less advocates for change, people of all genders and races, united in our movement for change. At this time, I would like to thank my fellow co-conspirators, my fellow vocal change advocates, my fellow fundraisers who took a stand, and supporters who gave me assurance in their own unique ways. My aim is to honour your voice, choice and control (power).

My first recollection of volunteering for AFP GTC was in 2009, when as a new immigrant to Canada I spoke at an AFP GTC conference and thereafter was recruited onto a committee. I had pride that I had found a place to belong as a fundraiser new to the city. Each year after that, I either spoke at an AFP conference or served on an AFP committee for the next decade. My volunteering stopped in 2019 when in principle, I resigned from the board, never having felt more betrayed by board peers, whom I had also considered to be my friends. That sense of being failed sits within me. It’s that sense that I bring to the board table – and it manifests in a fear of failing AFP GTC staff and members.

I accept the invitation to chair AFP GTC over the next 18 months as an opportunity to also deliver new experiences and levels of accountability to our staff, volunteers, partners and members. I accept the opportunity to rebuild trust and confidence in the Association, and to be a voice to fundraisers who have felt marginalized, excluded and/or harmed by the Association’s actions. One of my biggest passions is to re-envisage and then reset the purpose of organizations. It’s this area that I especially would like to address as a skill I will bring to AFP GTC.

These are the three priority equity actions I pledge to uphold while I am chair:

Be accountable: Prioritize the interest of members over the interests of the board.
Respond to fundraisers’ needs: Invite all stakeholders to inform the strategic direction of AFP GTC, placing and practicing equity at the centre of our work.
Be totally transparent: Share openly, and communicate the ways in which change is being led, through thoughts, challenges, opportunities, successes, and failures.

The work ahead requires answers to the following questions: “What does a caring AFP GTC look like, feel like, and act like?”. These are questions which I would like to pose to Toronto’s fundraising community. The answers to these questions must influence the direction we travel for the next 18 months and even the next 18 years.

Leadership is first and foremost a pursuit of example setting. I am prepared to lead by example.

Episode 9: Understanding African Philanthropy

Tue, 23 May 2023 00:33:42 GMT

Dr. Keratiloe Mogotsi is Programme Director of Executive Education at Witwatersrand’s (Wits) Business School, Johannesburg. She is also a lecturer on African Philanthropy at the University.

As a pracademic, researcher, Lean Six Sigma coach, project management professional (PMP), Dr. Mogotsi holds a Ph.D. in African Philanthropy. Her research areas include disaster philanthropy, venture philanthropy, African philanthropy and philanthro-capitalism in Africa.

Dr. Mogotsi's passion for philanthropy struck me the very first time we met. As I was conducting research for The Duality of Giving in 2019, she gave her time to the project and shared stories that were both personal and deeply impactful. In Episode Nine of the Giving Black Podcast, Dr. Mogotsi and I discuss what makes African philanthropy uniquely African.

We talk about family traditions that shaped her understanding of generosity. She shares how unique forms of African generosity augmented a broader understanding of family, reaching beyond her mother, father, and siblings. This philanthropy, she argues, was integral to well organized defences by Africans against the spread of COVID-19, thereby reducing the impact of the pandemic across the African continent.

Dr. Mogotsi also shares how African responses to Cyclone Idai (one of the worst tropical cyclone's on record) in 2021 , saved lives and prevented a catastrophe in South-eastern Africa.

Our conversation centres on how the worlds of African Philanthropy and Western philanthropy are merging into new ways and customs for Black people to give. I am left inspired by Dr. Mogotsi's compelling prediction of the future of African philanthropy. It's a future where communities combine indigenous forms of learning with modern philanthropic practices, to tackle the most modern challenges of our time.

It's Time For Economic Withdrawal From AFP GTC!

Wed, 10 May 2023 18:51:08 GMT

“You are not born racist. You are born into a racist society. And like anything else, if you can learn it, you can unlearn it. But some people choose not to unlearn it, because they're afraid they'll lose power if they share with other people. We are afraid of sharing power. That's what it's all about.” ~ Jane Elliott

A couple of weeks ago a demand letter from Caroline Riseboro was issued by her lawyer, Craig Colraine threatening to sue AFP GTC, Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP Global) and AFP Canada if the Associations do not cease and desist their actions in acknowledging the anti-Black racism that occurred during Caroline Riseboro’s tenure as chair of AFP GTC.

Nneka Allen, Elizabeth LeClair and Mide Akerewusi, B.Sc., M.Sc. (Econ), CSR-P, CDEP. are mentioned in this demand letter. To date, none of us have received a copy of the demand letter despite our request for it. Nor have we been apprised of or involved ourselves in any legal action.

Our information comes from second-hand sources who received the demand letter. The letter expressly accuses all three aforementioned AFP entities of defamation whom Caroline alleges damaged her reputation in a statement of apology to Nneka, Mide and Múthoní Karíukí HBSc, MPNL, CFRE. AFP GTC posted this statement on LinkedIn and their website on April 12th and then subsequently removed the statement on April 24, 2023.

Implicit in the demand letter is individual legal action against Nneka, Liz and Mide. From our understanding of its contents, it makes unsubstantiated and discrediting comments against all three of us. Craig Colraine has confirmed the existence of the demand letter through correspondence with Nneka and Liz. Mike Geiger, MBA, CPA of AFP Global has also confirmed the existence of the demand letter through a LinkedIn post at the beginning of May.

It is common to face resistance in the battle for racial justice. Those who gain their power through the oppression of others have a vested interest in preserving the systems of oppression. It is clear that our action symbolizes a threat to the current order and active steps are being taken to silence us and those who support racial justice in the charitable sector.

Our voices will not be silenced irrespective of the actions of others to undermine our genuine and valid complaints. Also, we know that we are not alone in this action. We are making progress. It is important to note that our petition to remove the 10-Star designation of AFP GTC now has over 1,200 signatories. Our movement for racial equity and justice continues to grow with the support of all who seek fairness and justice.

In a recent Linkedin post, AFP GTC seems to be paying simple lip service to the issue of anti-Black racism in their chapter. Further action is required to make AFP GTC accountable as the organization seeks to cloak itself in Caroline's threat of legal action as an excuse for its own inaction.

On April 24th, Nneka, Mide and Muthoni received an invitation from AFP GTC to meet with some of their Board members. On May 1st, we responded to their invitation expressing openness to a meeting on the condition that we receive a genuine apology in advance from the Board leadership on behalf of the individual Board members and that our meeting be independently mediated. To date, they have not responded to the conditions we put forth for such a meeting.

“Now the other thing we’ll have to do is this: Always anchor our external direct action with the power of economic withdrawal.” ~ Dr. Martin Luther King

We are therefore requesting the following economic actions to complement our protest. These actions are open to all individuals and organizations with membership, affiliation, or knowledge of AFP GTC seeking a more accountable and equitable Association. We call for three clear actions in support of the change we seek. We invite you to:

Cease the renewal of your individual and organization memberships of AFP GTC, until the repair is complete.
Boycott AFP GTC conferences, webinars, and workshops as a mark of protest against inaction by AFP GTC to resolve anti-Black racism among its Board.
Apply pressure on sponsors and agencies who continue to support AFP GTC while it perpetuates ongoing racism and withholds a genuine apology.

In solidarity,

Nneka & Mide

When An Apology Multiplies The Harm...

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 19:22:19 GMT

Apologies are meant to turn us outward toward the people who have been harmed. They should acknowledge and take full responsibility for hurtful behaviour. They should not be self-serving, and should not attempt to erase the wrongdoing. Edgar Villanueva wrote in his book Decolonizing Wealth, “Decent people and decent societies admit when they’ve done wrong."

As the primary targets of the anti-Black racism perpetrated by Caroline Riseboro and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Greater Toronto Chapter Board outlined in Us and Them: What It Means To Belong , and through our conversation on the Giving Black Podcast series: Boards And Black Tokenism: What It Really Means To Belong we, Nneka Allen and Mide Akerewusi, must speak directly to the issue of the apology. We believe AFP-GTC’s weak and cushioned words, contained in the message buried on LinkedIn and the AFP-GTC website the evening of Wednesday, April 12th, do not meet the standard of a genuine apology.

Their response does not address the many incidents of anti-Black racism perpetrated against us between 2017 and 2019 or their mistreatment of Nneka in November 2019 involving collusion to humiliate and remove her from the Board.

First, we believe delivering a genuine apology requires the basic elements of anti-racism, which are honesty and humility. Both are missing as demonstrated in their lack of specificity regarding their anti-Black actions. AFP-GTC’s message attempts to sidestep addressing the heart of the issue. What they have done is fail to specifically name and acknowledge their wrongdoing, and the specific harm caused. They fail to name the perpetrators thereby ignoring the responsibility of the perpetrators.

We didn’t simply “feel left out”. We were strategically prevented from belonging through racist intimidation and humiliating acts. The greatest affront to us is that instead of naming the anti-Black racism and its perpetrator and holding Caroline and the Board accountable for their racist conduct, AFP-GTC celebrates her and awards her as Fundraiser of the Year after perpetrating racist violence. They do not even see, or pretend not to see, the blatant cruel irony in doing this.

AFP-GTC used the weapon of public humiliation to cause us harm. That was fully intentional; not an accident. It took significant pressure from third parties for them to finally, issue a “soft apology”, nearly nine weeks after the release of Nneka’s story on LinkedIn. We absolutely reject the notion that they finally “saw the light.” Actually, they were dragged kicking and screaming to this learning opportunity.

We believe fairness delayed is fairness denied. It is only through the sharing of our experiences with and by Co-conspirators did AFP-GTC turn their attention to their past and present acts of anti-Black racist abuse. And again, they were not specific about what acts they refer to and the lessons learned if any. It has been over 3 years since our resignations and this is the first response to what Nneka detailed in her post-resignation letter dated December 12, 2019, to the entire AFP-GTC Board.

Their words of “appreciation and promises to do better” and “learn" are trite and clichéd so as to be meaningless. They have failed to identify the specific measures, beyond waving an audit trump scorecard, they will make in response to the very specific nature of our complaint. We want to know what are they going to do to repair these egregious wrongs.

We believe the virtue signaling and self-serving message about their “Inclusion Diversity Equity and Access (IDEA)” work is a distraction from the racist behaviour that has been documented and witnessed. Racism is a behaviour and we must be held accountable for our actions. We are unimpressed by the hollow and insincere language used in their message which demonstrates yet again their commitment to “looking progressive” instead of being anti-racist. By pointing to their “IDEA” work they seem to believe they can undo the harm caused and reverse the injustice, instead of doing the hard work of seeking repair. This is not accountability because it does not address the anti-Black racism cited in Nneka’s story and the 2-part Giving Black Podcast episodes.

We must share a graphic example of the ineffectiveness of their “IDEA” work. This involves failures in their “IDEA” audit process.

We were originally invited to participate in the AFP-GTC audit after our Brother Rickesh Lakhani and former AFP-GTC Board Member, insisted his participation was contingent on an invitation being sent by AFP-GTC to us and Muthoni Kariuki to also participate so we could share our experiences of anti-Black racism on the Board. The invitation came quickly from the then Executive Director but the auditor was very slow in connecting with Nneka and in the end, she refused to explain how her story would be used in the audit process. The auditor's lack of transparency and openness prevented Nneka from participating in the audit.

We are not the only Black people who were excluded from this “IDEA” audit and we believe that was by design. This experience is very consistent with our past experiences of their “IDEA” work, some of which are detailed in Nneka’s story. Their un-S.M.A.R.T. scorecard and plan to be more “inclusive” are simply words on a page. AFP-GTC’s notion of inclusion is problematic from the start. The fact that this is their priority signals the level of deafness to the desires of conscious Black fundraisers in this sector and in their organization.

Repair can only begin by admitting their anti-racist acts and holding the perpetrators accountable.

We believe when we deliver an apology to someone we've harmed it is expected that the apology be personal and directly delivered to the victims. This did not happen. This statement was impersonally issued by the Board of AFP-GTC, instead of by the President, on behalf of the Board. Apologies are a request and not a statement because the victim has to agree to receive the apology or not. It is a conversation, a dialogue that is the starting place for restoration. It is clear this message from AFP-GTC is a statement and not a request, thus invalidating the act as an apology.

To those who have been encouraging AFP-GTC to honour the gift of our truth and to learn from their mistakes - we see you and recognize your struggle and honour your desire to name anti-Blackness in your midst so that you can change and grow. To AFP-GTA sponsors we invite you to join us, the movement of Canadian fundraisers and anti-racist activists, who have come together to demand change within AFP-GTC. This will require you to review your commitment and support of AFP-GTC in light of the persistent anti-Black racism perpetrated by this organization’s leaders.

We believe it is important to note that the Board of AFP-GTC is currently led by two Black women, Jennifer Bernard and Sandra Sualim, which for us is a demonstration and reminder that anti-Blackness can live in Black bodies. White supremacy culture accepts support from anyone willing to uphold its standards. That doesn’t change the fact that racism is against the law and like all other criminal offences consequences should be expected. This is our starting point on all issues of anti-Black racism.

We call on AFP-GTC to be courageous and humbly admit their wrongdoing, acknowledge what was broken and lost and take responsibility for the harm inflicted. It is our expectation that AFP-GTC will deliver a genuine apology individually to us, Nneka Allen, Mide Akerewusi and Muthoni Kariuki. We want to know what you are doing, your specific actions and behaviours, to avoid this from happening again in the future.

Your inability to adequately deal with anti-Black racism between 2019 and the issuing of your statement last week is an indication that the entire Board is not fit to serve fundraisers in the GTC. You have yet again demonstrated your unwillingness to grapple with issues of racism and specifically anti-Black racism. This fails to meet our expectations or what we deserve in a response to your harmful actions.

You must genuinely apologize without distraction and to our satisfaction so that trust can be built and transformation can begin. This is simply the first step towards repair.

We are waiting!

Nneka Allen & Mide Akerewusi

Episode Eight: There's Always A Place In Our Hearts To Be Givers

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 15:07:37 GMT

I love to meet people whose stories of philanthropy span the decades! Motunrayo Olaogun is one such person.

Motunrayo works for the Christian Dior fashion label. She is a philanthropist, an entrepreneur, and also founded her own label Ayo Van Elmar .

Gifted with incredible knowledge, Motunrayo was 10 years of age when she helped kids in her neighbourhood with their homework. This quickly grew into a passion to provide clothing and school uniforms for children whose families simply could not afford these items.

In this Episode of the Giving Black Podcast, Motunrayo and I speak about the convergence of fashion and philanthropy - her two passions. She shares her inspiring story about how philanthropy was sparked in her at a very young age, and is now exemplified through her current role as a cause focused donor, while building a legacy within Dior.

In our enthralling conversation, Motunrayo describes how there is a philanthropist within each of us. She observes, "There's always a place in our hearts to be givers", and "What you are looking for finds you".

If you would like to join Motunrayo in her support of KIWAV or the Bbanga Project, please click on the links below:

Kids With A Vision (KIWAV) : An orphanage serving more then 50 children in Jos Plateau - Nigeria:
The Bbanga Project : Building a school to support children's education in Kalangala - Uganda.
LinkedIn .

Episode Seven: Why You Should Listen To The Giving Black Podcast

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 14:00:19 GMT

The Giving Black podcast is the world's first podcast dedicated to conversations about global Black philanthropy.

Throug h the podcast, we interview guests from across the world who have amazing stories to tell about their experiences of generosity and giving. Hosted by Olumide (Mide) Akerewusi, Founder and CEO of AgentsC Inc., fundraiser, philanthropist, and social justice advocate; we explore the many ways that Black people are engaged in community building, partnership working, and social impact through everyday acts of Ubuntu.

In this episode, Mide shares his story about becoming a fundraiser in the UK and Canada. He observes that few people in his profession were/are interested in considering or celebrating Black people as philanthropists.

Mide tells the story of how, through the generosity of the Avast Foundation he launched the Giving Black Podcast in 2022, to ensure important stories of Black generosity are captured.

Listen to this episode to learn why the Giving Black podcast is an important world-wide resource for celebrating and promoting global Black culture. Tune in to all of our episodes.

If you or people you know have a story to tell about Black philanthropy, and would like to appear on the Giving Black podcast, contact mide via the Giving Black Website: www.givingblack.ca .

We would love to discuss your story!

Episode Six (Part 2): Boards And Black Tokenism - What It Really Means To Belong

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 00:09:34 GMT

Welcome to Part 2 of Boards And Black Tokenism - What It Really Means To Belong . In Part 1 , our guests and I tell the jarring story of how we were recruited to a board as token Black members, and quickly discovered that as board members, we were not, and would never be, treated as equal

Here in Part 2 we specify the concrete actions that people and organisations should take to deal with, and avoid, Black tokenism.

Continue the conversation with Mide Akerewusi , Nneka Allen, CFRE, COC, PCC , Founder of The Empathy Agency and Múthoní Karíukí HBSc, MPNL, CFRE , as we explore the profound story shared in Us and Them .

In this episode we discuss the important learning points for organizations to navigate board diversification while also upholding the value and dignity of all involved.

Episode Six: Boards and Black Tokenism: What it Really Means To Belong

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 17:54:45 GMT

Belonging is “the spiritual practice of believing in and belonging to yourself so deeply that you can share your most authentic self with the world and find sacredness in both being a part of something and standing alone in the wilderness. True belonging doesn’t require you to change who you are; it requires you to be who you are.” (Brown, 2021)

In this episode of the Giving Black Podcast I am joined by two of my dearest sister-friends Nneka Allen, CFRE, COC, PCC , Founder of The Empathy Agency and Múthoní Karíukí HBSc, MPNL, CFRE .

We tell the story of what happened when we were each invited to join a non-profit governing board of a powerful fundraising association that aimed to tokenize our participation as Black people. This experience is powerfully shared by Nneka in her University of British Columbia lecture, Us and Them .

How can everyone be powerful? Here is a question that challenges us to consider the existence and experiences of others, inviting us to contrast them with our own. It can inspire the expansion of our beliefs, deepen our understanding and grow our connections, and ultimately inspire us towards manifesting greater equity and justice in our work and lives.

Belonging is a fundamental human desire like love. And the relationship between belonging and culture is intimate.“More than anything, culture creates a sense of belonging…” (Menakem, 2015). Humans need to belong to live meaningful, healthy and wholehearted lives. In the pursuit of equity, belonging must be the outcome for everyone to thrive in an integrated society.

In the first of this two-part recording, we lay out the problem inherently present within an unaccepting organization. In the second part of the conversation, we share some solutions to the challenges of tokenism, and a lack of belonging.

What prevents us all from belonging? Why don’t more belonging environments exist for Black people on boards? Listen to this episode to gain answers to these critical questions.

Also check out the Black Canadian Fundraisers' Collective mentioned in this episode.

WRN Part 1 - Black Philanthropy with AgentsC

Sat, 21 Jan 2023 21:50:10 GMT

Olumide Akerewusi CEO of AgentsC, Black Philanthropists join Ahzjah for an exploration of world and black economic structures and mindsets, and his journey into a successful leadership role to change the world and creating a more equitable landscape for all!

WRN Part 2 - Black Philanthropy with AgentsC

Sat, 21 Jan 2023 21:49:16 GMT

Olumide Akerewusi CEO of AgentsC, Black Philanthropists join Ahzjah for an exploration of world and black economic structures and mindsets, and his journey into a successful leadership role to change the world and creating a more equitable landscape for all!

WRN Part 1 - Black Philanthropy with AgentsC

Tue, 17 Jan 2023 15:03:44 GMT

Olumide Akerewusi CEO of AgentsC, Black Philanthropists join Ahzjah for an exploration of world and black economic structures and mindsets, and his journey into a successful leadership role to change the world and creating a more equitable landscape for all!

WRN Part 2 - Black Philanthropy with AgentsC

Tue, 17 Jan 2023 14:56:43 GMT

Episode Five: Black Tax: Hate It Or Love It?

Fri, 23 Dec 2022 17:14:06 GMT

In this episode of the Giving Black Podcast, we focus on one of the most contentious aspects of African Philanthropy; the concept of Black Tax - an emerging practice affecting Africa's rising middle-class.

Black tax is the term given to the act of supporting one's friends and family through obligation and/or entitlement. It is an extension of traditional forms of philanthropy where Family Begins at Home . At Once Black Tax is a historic reminder of one's tradition of giving, and simultaneously it is an onerous burden threatening to hold back economic progress and wealth creation. Many Africans are in a love-hate relationship with the concept of Black Tax and its pejorative connotations.

In this Christmas special, the Giving Black Podcast hosts three of South Africa's leading lights who discuss their relationship to philanthropy. Is Black Tax an act of generosity or a burden unduly placed on Africa's upwardly mobile young middle-class? What do young African philanthropists do when their immediate and extended families are financially insecure? We explore the contentious nature of Black Tax and how it shapes the lives of three women pioneering new ways of giving ion the African continent: Nyasha Njela, Head of Fundraising at Feenix, Balungile Mabele, Specialist Socio-Economic Development, and Sinenhlanhla Nene, Financial Sector Code & Trusts Project Co-ordinator: Community & Development. They help u s better understand the complex nature of giving as well as the benefits and barriers of generosity in a modern African context.

Episode Four: Greg McKenzie - Anything Is Possible When You Believe In It

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 15:26:59 GMT

We are excited to host Greg McKenzie, one of the UK’s most trusted and prominent news correspondents and documentary film makers. Greg built a successful career as a broadcast journalist at the BBC. In 2022 Greg decided to follow his philanthropic passion - he set up a pioneering social enterprise - the Inside Out Project.

He now works full-time as the founder of the Inside Out clothing company and social enterprise project. Inside Out is the UK's first clothing brand created, designed and hand produced by young people exiting the criminal justice system. Inside Out's main mission is to generate realistic job prospects for young people leaving the criminal justice system, creating opportunities in business through fashion and design.

Greg shares the fascinating story of his social impact journey, and the legacy he is building. His endearing principle towards philanthropy is Anything Is Possible When You Believe In It!

Philanthropy Is The Heartbeat Of The World!

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 19:20:47 GMT

BBC World News: Focus on Africa Interview. AgentsC's Founder and CEO, Olumide Akerewusi discusses the importance of African philanthropy and what makes it unique.

Episode Three: Jerome Tennille - Use Your Influence to Better Your Community

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 23:41:49 GMT

This episode features Jerome Tennille, Director of Social Impact and ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance), at The Uplift Agency. Jerome and I speak about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its role in strengthening Black communities.

We also talk about the need to decolonize corporate grantmaking policies so they become more inclusive of Black decision-makers. Central to our conversation is the responsibility of Black businesses to implement CSR strategies, discussing how to use our influence to better our communities.

Proudly Sponsored By:

Episode Two: Rt. Hon. Madame Michaëlle Jean - An Activist in Rideau Hall

Tue, 13 Sep 2022 14:00:21 GMT

This is the second episode of The Giving Black Podcast. It continues the conversation with Canada's highest profile Black Philanthropist, the Rt. Hon. Madame Michaëlle Jean.

Madame Jean is Canada's 27th Governor General and the first Black woman (person) to fill the role. She is a proud descendent of Haitian-African slaves, and along with her husband Jean Daniel Lafond, co-founded the Michaëlle Jean Foundation, to promote youth advocacy through the arts, social impact, and entrepreneurship.

In part two: An Activist in Rideau Hall , Madame Jean speaks about the important work of the Fondation Michaëlle Jean Foundation, her work with Black and Indigenous youth, and also s hares her philanthropic philosophy - S elfishness is the Opposite of Love.

Episode One: Rt. Hon. Madame Michaëlle Jean - Indifference Cannot Be An Option

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 14:47:41 GMT

The first episode of The Giving Black Podcast kicks off with Canada's highest profile Black Philanthropist, the Rt. Hon. Madame Michaëlle Jean.

Madame Jean is Canada's 27th Governor General and the first Black woman (person) to fill the role. She is a proud descendent of Haitian-African slaves, and along with her husband Jean Daniel Lafond, co-founded the Michaëlle Jean Foundation, to promote youth advocacy through the arts, social impact, and entrepreneurship.

Dear listeners, we could not have asked for a more prestigious first guest than Madame Jean. She embodies all of the elements of Black philanthropy: love, activism, reciprocity, generosity, and vision. In this episode madame Jean shares her parents' principles, which underpin her inspiration for philanthropy - Indifference cannot be an option.

AgentsC’s, Founder and CEO, Olumide Akerewusi discusses the concept of Black Philanthropy with Ngunan Adamu of UPFRONT BBC Radio Merseyside

Tue, 09 Aug 2022 15:06:36 GMT

AgentsC’s, Founder and CEO, Olumide Akerewusi discusses the concept of Black Philanthropy

From EDI to Pie in the Sky: What’s Wrong With Attempts to Solve Systemic Anti-Black Racism?

Wed, 16 Feb 2022 20:06:07 GMT

I’m about to leave town. I am going on a well deserved break. By the time I return, Black History Month will be over. I plan on having fun. My flight is boarding. Before I go, I want to get something off my chest. It’s something that has been bugging me since I first heard about it in 2021, and it was recently confirmed by Canada’s Ministry of Housing, Diversity and Inclusion.

No doubt, to coincide with Black History Month, the government recently put out a call for concepts for a $200-million Black-led Philanthropic Endowment Fund. All good so far, you may be thinking; how generous; that’s a lot of money; at last; Black people deserve this. Well, not quite!

Here’s where some may view me as ungrateful and downright hard to please. Perhaps I am, but there’s validity to my thoughts. The Brits say, one should never look a gift horse in the mouth. But some gift horses do warrant scrutiny. And this is one of them.

This rising conscious moment of EDI geared towards Black people was globally ignited by a brutal dehumanising act that followed millions of brutal dehumanising acts towards Black people in North America, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, and the African Continent throughout our history. Much damage has been done and much is needed to restore our universal civil rights. How those rights are restored is up for debate, some say training for white people, some say reparations, some say confronting, some say funding. I say Black economic empowerment is the best solution. But what happens when a $200 million EDI fund wears the cloak of Black economic empowerment, but may actually disempower Black people?

This fund is the result of government thinking. It probably began with the question, "what can we do to make Black People in Canada happy, and if not happy, then maybe show them we care – a bit?"

The answer came with a word salad of a call that is as lofty as it is vague:

“This call seeks to innovate ideas from Black communities to ensure the Fund meets their expectations and addresses the unique challenges they face…Announced in Budget 2021, the Fund is dedicated to supporting Black-led charities and organizations serving youth and social initiatives and will create a sustainable source of funding to improve the social and economic outcomes in Black communities.”

In other words, we don’t know precisely what this fund may fund, but we hope it benefits Black people to do whatever it is Black people do with funding – social initiatives serving youth, addressing challenges and all that good jazz.

The pledge of $200 million to Black people is a lovely idea, until we look deeply into the horse's cakehole. Without meaning to sound harsh, my idea is to scrap the idea of a Black Philanthropic Endowment Fund altogether! There, I said it! Why did I say it? Well here are three reasons and fundamental flaws that confront this fund when it is eventually awarded:

1. The Math Does Not Work

There are 1.2 million Black people in Canada possibly even more if we consider undocumented people. In theory, if this $200 million fund is shared equally among us, every Black person in Canada would potentially end up with $166 each. But hold on, there’s a catch. That $166 will not be placed directly into our hands. No, it will go to a privileged investor who will tuck it into his/her/their investment portfolio and dole out (if we are lucky) 5% of our $166 per year, infinitum. That’s a whopping $8.30 for we lucky Black people every year. Let’s not spend it all at once. It will likely be another year before the next twelve and a half cents will come our way. Supposing we have a repeat of 1981 when Canada’s Black population grew by 596 per cent? I can’t do the math on that, but I bet it equates to less than a penny for each of us on average.

2. It Creates Competition Instead of Collaboration

Audre Lorde put it best when she said, “In our world, divide and conquer must become define and empower.” In the Black community, we are all too familiar with the effect of divisions within our community. Black people needed to be divided during times of slavery, so they would not conspire against the interests of slave owners. Colonization of the African continent occurred through a system of divisions between people groups and tribes that were pitted against each other. It’s not lost on me that this fund is established by the Ministry of “Inclusion” with criteria that creates competition and exclusion. It has all the traits of divide and conquer. In this winner takes all euro-centric approach to gift giving there can only be one “victor” and there must inevitably be “losers”. In an effective EDI framework, the idea would surely be to prioritize true equity, diversity and inclusion using a collectivised approach to administer the fund so that the community as a whole wins, not just one organization. This is what community-centric fundraising is all about.

3. It Lacks Imagination and Ambition

As a Black tax-payer in Canada, I am miffed as to why the Canadian government would essentially immobilize a $200 million fund through an endowment, when the interventions sought by the Black community are so immediate, so urgent and so long in coming. We know that the urgency of economic empowerment runs contrary to the drop-by-drop intention of an endowment. We need imaginative investments that can accelerate the pace of progress.

An immediate cash fund with the intention to invest in projects that catalyze the most ingenious ideas for community transformation and economic empowerment would be fantastic. Our communities need jobs, access to credit, and the dismantling of racist systems that the government itself constructed. A few such imaginative approaches would be to support Black people to own their homes, acquire tax credits to overcome systemic ant-Black racism, and for Black students to clear loan debt.

To my mind, this endowment fund needs some re-imagining. It is a reflection of some institutional approaches to EDI. Often EDI ideas seem great as they are conceptualized, however, all such ideas must bear further scrutiny before turning them into practice.

EDI is not about gimmicks and sound bites; pie in the sky or bluster. EDI is about honestly staring at the problem and collaboratively working with communities to affect solutions that are authentic and not tokenistic; ethno-centric and not purely euro-centric; immediate, rather than long-term.

I hear the final call for boarding. I’ll end my thoughts by stepping down from my soap box and wishing you a wonderful Black History Month, along with the challenge to re-imagine your EDI strategy so that it is more contemplative and ambitious. Thereby closer to the transformation we all want to see.

.S. Please forgive my typos and grammar!

The Duality of Giving: Conversation With Jamil Jivani on Newstalk 1010

Fri, 12 Nov 2021 18:21:15 GMT

Hear Mide Akerewusi and Newstalk 1010's Jamil Jivani discuss AgentsC's critical research into philanthropy on the African continent, its implications for global development, and how this shifts our understanding of giving among diaspora communities.

Philanthropy Is The Heartbeat Of The World!

Sun, 31 Oct 2021 14:55:08 GMT

BBC World News: Focus on Africa Interview. AgentsC's Founder and CEO, Olumide Akerewusi discusses the importance of African philanthropy and what makes it unique.

The Driven Podcast: Listen to Mide Akerewusi speak about African Philanthropy

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 15:48:25 GMT

Fundraising "Superhero" shares his views on African philanthropy

Audio Podcast available

Mide Akerewusi & Ade Oguntoye On The Power Of Black Philanthropy

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 15:32:55 GMT

When you think about philanthropy, what image comes to mind?

White men with deep pockets opening up their chequebooks writing big donations that barely make a dent in their wallets.

When you think about philanthropy, what image comes to mind? White men with deep pockets opening up their chequebooks writing big donations that barely make a dent in their wallets.

August is black philanthropy month, a time to question their image of philanthropy and offer a space to amplify black voices in the industry. To create a real call for change and be active in creating a more diverse and inclusive space for all philanthropists.

Mide Akerewusi and Ade Oguntoye join the podcast to discuss the Giving Black conference. A global conference drawing philanthropic voices and viewpoints from across Africa's diaspora to explore how collective action can elevate equity in our unequal world.

We talk about the meaning of black philanthropy and how we can challenge our past and make way for a better future.

Audio Podcast available here

Of Love: A Message To My Daughter As She Launches Her Career In The Non-Profit Sector

Mon, 31 May 2021 20:13:25 GMT

Dear Young lady, I love you!

You are used to hearing me say that I am your number one fan! It’s true! Nobody adores you as much as I do. There’s so much to tell you, and too little space to write. Because I love you, I feel the need to warn you and to also assure you. I feel compelled to share this letter of love. It is intended for you and others who share your situation – Black women in the non-profit sector. Out of necessity you form a resistance to racism. Your work is steeped in love, however, this work must also endure the barbs of discrimination. “Hatred is your reward for our love” – Bob Marley.

Of You

You identify your pronouns – “she”– “her”– “they”. Yet and in the non-profit sector your are an adjective, “the Black girl”– the “Black person”– the “Black one”– the Black this or that. Your humanity is nearly always defined by the shade of your skin, rather than the content of your beautiful heart.

“Your work is steeped in love however, this work must also endure the barbs of discrimination.”

You seek a place to belong in clinics, labs, surgeries, schools, and offices. Each day, you deal with objections to your presence in white-dominated spaces. Like sexism, which you also navigate, racism has a way of making its victims question their worth. “ Say it loud, I am Black and I am proud ”– James Brown

Of Racism

I want to share some thoughts with you in regard to the real, live, and present situation of racism in this sector. I want to declare that this sector is inherently good but that racism keeps it from being exceptionally great. Early as you are into your career journey, it took only months for you to spot racism. As I previously wrote, racism is experienced on the most mundane of days.

You felt the manifestation of this lately when a senior white nurse told you in the most direct of ways (to your face) that you did not belong in the medical place and space which she occupied. She assumed that your love for your job and good intentions were a veneer for something sinister – a harming of patients and an attack on their safety. She judged that your presence as a Black woman was an offence to patient wellbeing. She questioned your qualifications as a health professional. She sought to demean your African name, asserting that it was not worthy of full pronunciation. Instead, she implied that such a name was strong evidence for a complaint against your presence. She fictionalised an offence. It was totally made up in her racist white mind, and in so doing, she devastated your day.

“I want to declare that this sector is inherently good but that racism keeps it from being exceptionally great.”

She became yet another antagonist in your story of racism in our world. I know that this was not the first time you had been told that you did not belong within a circle of white non-profit professionals, though you are indeed a remarkable professional. Regrettably, it will not be the last.

My dear lady, I write to you today to inform you that over the coming months and years, whiteness will most definitely be the cause of further accusations, further scorn, and further prejudice while you are at work, while you are at rest, and while you are at play.

I know that in your quiet reflective moments, the pain of these insults will linger. These ugly encounters with racism are as damaging as they are spontaneous. They shake your heart physically, rattle your mind emotionally, and rock your resolve spiritually. These impacts have nothing to do with your job – ensuring the welfare of cancer patients. They have everything to do with white insecurity – the fear of a Black woman. Racists seek out their prey. Some days, you are their victim.

You are also Black and strong. As surely as you are Black you will fight hate. You will demand dignity over disrespect, humanity over humiliation. To stand up for your rights means that you will inevitably be in conflict with those who seek to deprive you of those rights. “ Strong enough to take the pain, inflicted again and again ” – Nina Simone

Of White Rage

It took all your courage to stand up to this bully. But you did it. You asserted your identity, your name, your role, your job, your qualifications, your right and your displeasure. You let her know that you saw her attack as an effort to undermine you. Your truth is the weapon that neutralises white rage. This rage comes from racism, which comes from attitudes that form white supremacy:

“As surely as you are Black you will fight hate. You will demand dignity over disrespect, humanity over humiliation.”

Prejudice: forming and promoting opinions without knowledge or objectivity
Power: Manifesting the choice, voice, and control of white people over that of people of other colours and cultures
Culture blindness: assuming that only white culture matters and all other colours and cultures are inferior or relative to whiteness
Perceived comfort: accepting people on the basis of their proximity to, and reflection of, whiteness
Fear: feeling danger when among non-white people and cultures
Change resistance: longing to maintain the culture of whiteness and benefit from its inherent privileges
Racism is the opposite of love. Racism seeks to destroy, never to edify. Racism pulls down, never builds up. “But you keep on putting your foot on me, And I believe, I believe I can break away” – Syl Johnson

Of Solutions

We are in a sector that sees Black people as the problem – the problem of poverty, the problem of diversity, and the problem of difference. However, we see ourselves as holding solutions – the solutions to injustice, the solutions to mediocrity, and the solutions to stagnation.

I do not consider our situation to be of “us against them.” Rather, I believe we are all subjects in a system that centres skin colouration as a marker of human significance. Can you imagine an ocean where fish with white scales exert power over fish with Black scales? Divisions according to race are the way our society operates. A young woman in Black skin must surely be in cleaner’s overalls, not nurse’s scrubs.

We must do all that we can to deconstruct the racist power system in the non-profit sector. All people who value equity have a role to play. Invite your white colleagues to do the same. Challenge them to uphold equity in three ways:

Accept and acknowledge the testimonies of those with lived experience of racism, without needing to argue with or deny their truth
Take a stand against prejudice and racism wherever they see it
Undertake the journey of allyship by being responsible for their own actions

“Being Black in this world is dangerous. Continue to be brave, determined, and smart. Above all, remember you are not alone.”

Racism benefits white people, while disadvantaging Black people. When you demand equity, be clear about what constitutes a real solution versus a performative action. Real solutions require the transfer of power from white to Black. Performative actions create busyness while keeping things the same. When people truly dismantle a racist power structure, everything changes. “ What doesn’t come out in the wash, comes out in the rinse ” – Nas

Of Tomorrow

Being Black in this world is dangerous. Continue to be brave, determined, and smart. Above all, remember you are not alone. Of the small minority of people who may resent your career path, there are many more who will be aligned to your spirit, your love, your skills, and your brilliance.

Who knows what tomorrow holds? Know that as you stand for equity; your very presence contributes to a resilient non-profit sector. Do not tire in this work. Maintain hope. The sector needs you to solve its complex problems, bring healing, and lead its teams into greatness. “ We all must live our lives always feeling, always thinking the moment has arrived ” – Tracy Chapman

I love you, young lady.

From your number one fan!

Mide Akerewusi: Fracture to Failure to Philanthropy

Fri, 29 Jan 2021 18:14:25 GMT

MADE TO LEAD PODCAST

Abdul-Aziz Garuba Jr., MBA, CFE, CPA, CMA invited me on his excellent #Madetolead podcast. It ended up being one of the most frank, enjoyable, and entertaining discussions I've ever had about my journey as a Black British African man living and working in Canada.

Audio Podcast available

Imagine Canada's Multicultural & Newcomer Charitable Giving Study

Fri, 09 Oct 2020 18:34:12 GMT

Imagine Canada’s Multicultural & Newcomer Charitable Giving Study is the single most exciting research produced on Canadian philanthropy that I have read – ever!

Why? Because it acknowledges the truth that philanthropy is not one monolithic act uniformly undertaken by all people in the same way. Metaphorically speaking, philanthropy consists of a multitude of flavours and textures. It can be esoteric, nuanced, and complex, especially when we try to compare attitudes among genders, races, and cultures. Imagine Canada has opened our eyes to this important reality. Giving is not the sole practice of White people. People of colour are equally and sometimes more so engaged in philanthropy.

We all know one size does not fit all but what this study does is to share a range of cultural attitudes that may shift our fundraising perspectives and goals. I wholeheartedly commend the many organizations that participated in and funded this important piece of work. I am especially pleased that Imagine Canada and its partners have undertaken this work because it also provokes fundraisers to stop treating donors with a broad brush when it comes to asking, stewarding, and renewing. We now have the important basis to understand attitudinal differences and can now act on these with smartly tailored approaches to the task of fundraising and relationship building.

Stratifying giving attitudes according to generations of newcomers in Canada does a lot in helping us learn about each other. This understanding will hopefully spark more responsible and inclusive approaches to engaging, acknowledging, and celebrating diverse people in our fundraising sphere.

Knowing that some racial groups are more likely to donate to social issues and that others are more directed to funding health-related institutions is actually helpful. Additionally, knowing that new immigrants to Canada are involved in what we, at AgentsC, call the “Duality of Giving,” an active commitment to give informally through remittances sent to one’s friends and family in their country of origin, as well as giving formally to registered charities in one’s adopted country.

This duality leads us to understand that immigrant communities often give more of what they have than their White multigenerational peers in Canada. Next month, AgentsC will publish critical research that speaks more to this duality. It is marvellous to read about the acknowledgement of informal giving in the narrative of how immigrants give formally.

In July of this year, AgentsC brokered a discussion about equity in the Canadian non-profit sector. What came from that discussion was a commitment to work with a small team to create an Equity Charter. We are close to sharing our work in this area, which also overlaps with the world of philanthropy. Three connected streams of the soon-to-be shared charter are:

A commitment to undertaking research into the role of Black people and other people of colour engaged in the world of philanthropy.
Adapting current philanthropic models to include multi-cultural perspectives on giving, such as the Circle of Courage and Ubuntu.
Recruiting more diverse non-profit teams that truly reflect and represent Canada’s rich and diverse cultural tapestry.

There’s more to come from the Equity Charter team. However for now, I am excited that with this one research project, Imagine Canada has once again shown leadership by giving voice to people of colour.

If there is one critique I have of Imagine’s research, it is that the first-person narratives are missing. These would help us to humanize the attitudes we keenly read about. Equally as important, why is a distinction made between Arab and Iranian participants who are geographic neighbours on the global stage, yet Black Caribbean and Africans are lumped together despite their respective countries being thousands of miles apart? Why are Chinese donors included and Korean donors not? What about Latin Americans and recent White European immigrants? And what might we learn from the numbers if a baseline of the White majority could be used as comparison for a more holistic understanding of race and philanthropy differences and similarities?

These questions are meant as an incentive to all of us, to continue to research this most interesting of subject areas, so that we may expand our knowledge about people who give. Notwithstanding, Imagine Canada’s research is groundbreaking and I, for one, value it so much. Thank You!

Imagine Canada’s Multicultural & Newcomer Charitable Giving Stud y

Equity & COVID-19 in the Non-Profit Sector: Resilience, Risk and Innovation

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 18:37:37 GMT

AgentsC is hosting a special spotlight on equity, and resilience building in the non-profit sector on Thursday, June 25th, 2020 at 8:00am.

This session will be presented by Mide Akerewusi and Steve Richter of AgentsC Inc., and Monica Merrifield who is an internationally recognized strategic risk leader and author.

The presenters will explore how equity translates into action, and the resilience imperative for purpose-driven organizations to navigate through these times of unprecedented change.

We will also share practical approaches for building capabili ties that help us understand and solve the problems that matter, while managing uncertainty in productive ways.

Learning Outcomes:

Pursuing equity in current times
Non-Profit sector research results - connecting risk management with fundraising
Principles and practices for building resilience, managing risk, and innovating in times of uncertainty
Equity as a driver for positive change and future results

Click here to register: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/106977781424

Join AgentsC's Google Meet on Thursday 28th May, 2020

Fri, 15 May 2020 18:41:20 GMT

Google Meet Details

AgentsC is hosting a Google Meet to share results of our COVID19 Non-Profit Sector Survey.

About this Event.

Hosted by: AgentsC team members, Mide Akerewusi and Steve Richter

Day: Thursday 28th May, 2020

Time: 8:00am to 9:00am

We'll have the answers to the most important questions being asked by non-profit employees and volunteers:

1. What are the factors for fundraising success during COVID-19?

2. What priorities is the non-profit sector addressing during this time?

3. What personal concerns do employees and volunteers have for their jobs?

4. Who's staying and who aims to leave the sector?

All attendees will receive a complementary copy of AgentsC's COVID-19 NonProfit Survey Results

Spots are limited. Register for free today to be a part of the conversation.

We look forward to the discussion!

The Future Of Giving, For Our Post-COVID-19 World

Fri, 17 Apr 2020 18:56:34 GMT

During and after the COVID-19 era, change will be the key to our survival. Perhaps the biggest change in society we will see is not from a reactionary global economic decline, but an acceleration of changes brought on by social distancing. Even now, attitudes to working from home, business continuity, and service delivery are setting new standards for how we will interact post- COVID-19, and technology seems to be at the centre of it all.

Donors identify a wide range of social problems as most important for our future:

Developing treatment or cures for a disease; Hunger and access to nutritious food; Access to basic health services; Protecting and preserving the environment; Access to quality basic education; Access to clean water and sanitation; Violence and conflict; Access to shelter and affordable housing; Economic development and growth; Access and opportunities in higher education; Preservation and advancement of arts and culture; Expanding opportunities for women and girls; and Access to opportunity for racial and cultural minorities:

In our Post COVID-19 world, how will charities engage technology to leverage their expertise, and engage the aspirational dreams of the people they serve, as well as donors in addressing the complex needs of those most at risk in society?

Transparency and technology empower donor giving:

Salesforce’s Nonprofit Trends Report states that 41 per cent of nonprofits are scaling their technology and infrastructure to meet the growing needs of their constituents. Indeed, more than 60 per cent of nonprofits do not have an integrated omni-channel response to fundraising where digital, marketing, communications, events, direct marketing, and major gifts operate on a shared platform with a diversity of people skills.

Charities face a new landscape where accelerated adoption and integration of technology can no longer be a luxury that they delay. It is now an immediate necessity. A digital-first strategy seems more common-sense than nice-to-have.

One benefit of an omni-channel digital-first strategy is the emergence of a culture of team collaboration in gathering, using and sharing critical information. The second benefit of a digital first approach is linked to how technology will bridge the important intersection between fundraising and public trust. Donor trust and loyalty depends on effective communication. By integrating communication technology such as webinars, video messaging, and texts, charities could once and for all eliminate one of the biggest barriers to giving - transparency.

At AgentsC, there are five technological considerations that we see forming the core of charities' omni-channel digital-first fundraising strategy, post-COVID-19. These are not necessarily new platforms; indeed, we argue for an increase in the use of technology that is already at our disposal to increasingly permeate traditional analogue-based fundraising in charities:

Using existing digital tools:

A new reality

1. An Augmented Reality: Augmented reality, where virtual elements are integrated into real life, has successfully been used by a host of organisations including the NHS in the UK to seek blood donors. It can be adapted to attract the participation of major donors to a variety of activities, including site visits, donor walls, and even to connect with field workers across the globe, and almost all situations we can imagine.

2. A.I. Revolution: Artificial Intelligence gives a new window into understanding philanthropic potential. Whether it’s in the use search for hidden donor potential, the creation of donor personas to better understand motivations for giving, predictive modelling for donor potential, or planning your next bequest/estate gift, A.I. will increasingly provide scientific support for rapid growth in revenue in the future.

Inclusion transforming philanthropy

3. Virtual Donor Engagement: The Covid -19 pandemic recently caused Camp Oochigeas’ Sporting Life 10K event to be adapted from one big race to individualised runs in participants’ own communities. There are obvious savings on venue hire and licence fees to making events virtual, as well, the potential to be more inclusive by reaching large numbers of diverse participants from a range of online communities. Incorporation of the applications that allow donors to participate in virtual social spaces and among their peers could offer the next best thing to being there in person.

Better Monitoring and Use of Big Data

4. Constant Donor Cultivation: We are now used to the constant flow of news and information about the spread of COVID-19. In keeping with this emerging custom, charities’ Facebook Live feeds and Twitter accounts can be utilised to produce hour by hour seamless updates about key decisions made within the organisation, to track how projects and programs are evolving, or even provide real-time information flows about how donations are being put to use to support the lives of stakeholders. Such methodologies may yet replace the traditional quarterly newsletter while also leveraging insight and access to information that tells us about donors’ online networks, thoughts, opinions, likes, and actions.

5. Digital Meeting spaces: Conference meeting apps and platforms are here to stay: Zoom, VidyoCloud, GoToMeeting, and a plethora of other platforms have been designed to keep people all around us and across the world from spending money on travel. Virtual meetings will be prioritised over local, domestic and international travel, vastly reducing travel expense, time, and our carbon footprint.

Imagine a world where recorded webinars replace dense annual reports, or where data from digital connectivity drives decision-making. This is the essence of a digital-first strategy. Omni-channels simply occur when we combine that technology with the best minds in our teams.

Digital connectivity makes it easier for charities to amass important data on donor behaviour, attitudes, giving history and interests. These provide the basis for organisationally specific research that can better inform effective fundraising strategies. Such an approach removes the guesswork and the random nature of some fundraising practices to far better effect than traditional methodologies.

The Girl Scouts of America found this to be true when they optimised their Salesforce database to digitise the supply chain of cookie sales. In making this leap, the organisation demonstrated that it was perfectly feasible to use databases not just to capture donation data but to also expand product sales. If an openness to technology and the right people and skills are available, even the seemingly impossible may be achieved.

Crowd-Funding will continue to play a robust role in social change:

Donors are adopting new definitions of giving, while being more determined than ever to drive social change as part of an online community. The role and importance of charitable giving will not diminish. Individual giving is part of our society’s fabric. However, COVID-19 is yet another indicator that crowd-funding is seen by many as a viable alternative to formalised charitable donations.

There's an important consideration of how an omni-channel approach to donor engagement can embrace crowd funding. This is especially important as a new formula for cultivating donations among communities of colour.

Integrating Change Strategies:

At AgentsC we’re keen to support charities in building and implementing integrated change strategies towards transformational fundraising. Tell us how you and your charity are embracing change during COVID-19. Click below for our anonymous survey:

COVID-19's Impact on Non-Profit Organizations - English

COVID-19's Impact on Non-Profit Organizations - French

References:

Fundraising Around The World, More Strategic, 2019

Plethora of Platforms

Creating a Digital First Strategy

Black Toronto Community Support

Football’s international response to the COVID-19 crisis

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 19:07:01 GMT

The arrival of COVID-19 has had a dramatic impact on each country’s healthcare system, so much that several of them are being pushed to the brink . The crisis is truly global and the response from all us needs to be as well. In recent days, the players of the World’s truly global sport, football (soccer) have begun to issue theirs.

Many playing in Europe’s top domestic leagues (which have now all been suspended) are mobilising their financial clout to raise all-important funds for combating the COVID-19 threat. Sweden’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic, recently launched his campaign to “Kick Coronavirus Away” , an ambitious plan that seeks to collect 1 million euros to the Italian health care system. Lionel Messi and Pep Guardiola have donated a combined 2 million euros to the Spanish effort against COVID-19. English defender Ashley Young, who just started playing in Milan, has also been keen to use his celebrity to instruct people on how to stay safe during the crisis.

Yet, the need for aid is far from being exclusively European. Liverpool forward Sadio Mané, whose philanthropy is fairly well-known , has offered 45,000 euros to his native Senegal, where a state of emergency was just declared. Tottenham winger, Heung-min Son pledged his support in the form of 65,000 pounds to his native South Korea, one of the first countries hit by the virus.

Why has COVID-19 resonated so much with footballers and why are we hearing so much about it? Perhaps where football stands out from other internationally popular sports is its truly global reach – it’s played everywhere, from the development to the world class level. Therefore, the response is necessarily international. Many of these players feel strongly about helping both their host and home countries at the same time. Their response is simple: they see a need, they leverage their celebrity and they act.

It’s worth exploring the power of sporting figures to raise awareness about societal issues. However, the main question is how can we in the non-profit sector leverage our leadership and contribute to the end goal of stopping COVID-19? Following in the footsteps of these footballers by donating to our local health charities that need our support, especially those dealing with the most vulnerable, and making it public, would be a start.

AgentsC's COVID-19 Survey

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 19:02:10 GMT

Thank you to all who participated in our COVID-19 Survey. The Survey is now closed. Please stay tuned for our webinar later this month where we will share results.

Take part in a Canada-wide COVID-19 survey for people in the non-profit sector.

Thu, 09 Apr 2020 20:23:12 GMT

Do you work in the non-profit sector in Canada?

Has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted your work?

Would you like to know how others in the sector are responding?

This survey is intended for non-profit employees, volunteers, and board members.

Share your thoughts and experiences and we will publish the results as a benchmark report for this unique moment in time. Results will be freely available and published when the survey closes on Friday 24th, April 2020.

Click here to take part:

COVID-19 Non-Profit Sector Survey (English)

Cliquez ici pour remplir le sondage en (Français)

Please share with your networks and encourage them to take part in the survey. The more responses we garner, the more we can share with government, policy makers, and leaders across the sector. We will also be able to pinpoint areas for support for post-COVID-19 recovery.

This survey is produced by AgentsC.

AgentsC is an international, non-profit consulting firm, based in Toronto, Canada. We offer comprehensive, transformational change to clients wanting to achieve sustainable, revenue growth, as well as rigourous program evaluation and impact measurement of their projects.

Contact Mide Akerewusi, Founder and CEO at mide@agentsc.ca or visit www.agentsc.ca for more details.

Mide Akerewusi, Founder and CEO of AGENTSC on overcoming fear

Sat, 04 May 2019 19:15:23 GMT

By Amanda Minuk

Mide Akerewusi is the Founder and CEO of AGENTSC , a fundraising and social change agency helping organizations attract significant financial investments. Mide’s story reminds us that fear can be a powerful emotion in holding us back from accomplishing our dreams, no matter where we are in our career. But when we overcome the voice in our head holding us back, we have the freedom to achieve. Mide’s success shows us the power of perseverance and grit and shares some practical tips for a career with impact.

What does meaningful work mean to you?

Meaningful work is mindful work. We often equate the value of our roles with job titles or perks. However, a friend helped me understand years ago that my vocation – my purpose – is more important than my career and what I do.

I have never aligned with the concept of the 9 to 5. For me, my work is meaningful when it involves a 24/7 commitment to getting things done. I think meaningful work also requires partnering with meaningful people, meaningful teams, and meaningful organizations.

There is a meaningful eco-system and I am glad to be part of it.

Tell me about your company and why you started it.

AGENTSC is an agency specializing in fundraising and social change. We help social impact organizations attract significant financial investments. Our clients are some of the world’s most successful nonprofits, spanning Australia, Canada, UK and USA.

I had a pretty exhilarating ascension through the ranks of fundraising, working for a number of inspiring nonprofits in the UK and Canada. By the time I had reached the top of my profession, I was only 37 years-old and knew deep inside that I had missed the opportunity to fine-tune some of my leadership skills. Thus I took a step down the career ladder to work for Pathways to Education for almost five years, acquiring the skills and experience that I lacked.

I knew entering into my job at Pathways, that the mark of accomplishing my mission would be the successful completion of their $185 million fundraising campaign and a marked reduction in the number of youth dropping out of high school. When we achieved these goals, I had the confidence to launch AGENTSC.

Today AGENTSC is respected and recognized in different parts of the world for our great work.

What is the greatest challenge you had to overcome to make this idea a reality and how did you go about doing it?

Fear was my greatest challenge. To be precise, fear of not having clients and money to sustain the business felt stifling. As much as I felt ready to go it alone with AGENTSC, I was scared to take the first step. Though I have always been someone who throws caution to the wind and takes big risks, I am far from cavalier. I wanted AGENTSC to be really successful and that added to my anxiety.

Three things helped me overcome my fear:

I had support from an excellent career coach who helped me set goals and important steps towards my vision
I built a network of trusted self-employed people who were supportive of the concept of AGENTSC and shared advice and expertise to launch the business
My family encouraged me to go for it. They believed in what I was trying to do.

What advice do you have for people looking for meaningful jobs?

In her book entitled Grit , Angela Duckworth talks about passion and perseverance as the hallmarks of success.

On a practical level, grit helps you continually work to refine your ambition, embrace a commitment to lifelong learning, and stay focused even when you experience knock-backs or encounter barriers on the way.

My advice to people seeking a meaningful job is don’t settle for anything less than your dream job. Have some grit. Be 100% committed to the search. If you get knocked down seven times, stand up eight times.

Do you have a philosophy you live/work by?

I have three philosophies I live and work by:

Always put the interests of others above your own
Dream big dreams
Never let a mistake leave the kitchen (thank you, Gordon Ramsey)

The Challenge Of Funding Social Innovation In Nonprofits

Mon, 30 Jan 2017 14:35:57 GMT

The UK’s Department for International Development (DfID) recently decided to pull funding for a pioneering program promoting girls’ rights in Ethiopia. Seemingly under pressure from @MailOnline), DfID parted ways with Yegna, leaving many in the nonprofit sector wondering what could have justified this about-face.

The Coles Notes: Yegna is not your typical food program doling out protein wafers and soluble carbs to the needy. Neither is it a general invitation to surprise aunty Helen and uncle Roy with the gift of a chicken or goat for Hanifa in rural Mozambique. Based in Ethiopia, Yegna is a trailblazing socially innovative program of Girl Effect , which, in turn, was created by the Nike Foundation and @NoVoFoundation to help us all think differently about the power and potential of girls in global development. Yegna incorporates non-traditional development programming such as a musical radio drama, a girl band churning out hit music, and a popular and impactful talk show that encourages debate between parents and their children. It is the jewel in the Girl Effect crown.

But that is precisely what @MailOnline was upset about. Why, they ask, do British taxpayers have to pay for a pop band in Ethiopia while funding problems are affecting the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK?

It’s a bit like asking why we have to spend so much money on space travel when public spaces could do with a bit of touching up. I shouldn’t have to explain that international aid and the NHS have no connection. There’s no zero-sum game. Every pound pulled from Yegna is not going back into the NHS. But some British taxpayers, just don’t care. On the subject of foreign affairs or international aid, they have a negative response to anything that remotely requires collective or social responsibility.

Should Yegna, an innovative approach to social justice, suffer due to the fact that it doesn’t meet the conformist approach to development adopted by most other international nonprofits?

In Yegna, there are no depictions of children crying in orphanages. No distended bellies. No visible Western saviours. No rock bands, wristbands, or headbands. Yegna is different, relevant, real, and representative of where and how girls see themselves. As a social innovation, it presents straight-up Girl Power for the people, by the people, creating impact that has not been seen before; or so DfiD has proudly boasted as it consistently awarded the program an A grade for the last three years of evaluations : 84% of girl listeners say Yegna has helped them become more confident. 76% of girl listeners say Yegna has inspired them to continue their education. 65% of all listeners say the radio show has made them think differently about girls’ rights to safety, independence, and self-determination.

Thanks to this superb program girls are now learning about their rights to protect their bodies, get married when they’re ready, and prevent violence against women and children. But the Daily Mail continued baiting a reaction from taxpayers by labelling Yegna as a waste of their money. Public opinion followed suit, and DfID capitulated, as it announced it was pulling government funding in the new year. Yegna is now a poster child for what not to do, especially if we aim to sustain social innovation.

Where is the justice and what is the nonprofit world to do when the media, the public, and politicians yield so much negative bias towards creative solutions for social and economic change for the poor?

Despite its significant achievements in effectively and efficiently reaching over 1 million people on a weekly basis, Yegna is viewed as a wasteful program. This as Oscar Wilde would say, is the government manifestation of knowing the price of everything, but the value of nothing. No doubt, the organization (only one among many) is the victim of a misunderstanding regarding the role of nonprofits in creating new methodologies to solve old problems.

This phenomenon has implications for our work here in Canada.

In Canada, International Development agencies are among the least trusted of all nonprofit organizations [1] , and as a country, our overall level of global engagement is at an all-time low [2] .

Mental health, social exclusion, homelessness, displaced people, food insecurity, youth unemployment, human trafficking, racism, sexism, gender inequality and homophobia are seemingly intractable challenges that contribute to the high level of need for nonprofit organizations in today’s world. While the number of Canadians who claim tax receipts for charitable donations appears to be in decline, nonprofits are under increasing pressure to demonstrate immediate value to donors. In such a competitive and demanding environment, risk-taking and innovation are the first casualties. The non-profit sector is encouraged not to rock the boat.

They say in Ethiopia that smooth seas do not make skilful sailors. It’s sad that too few funders (private or public) sign up for their donations to be used to trial radical solutions that may or may not work.

So is it time to re-write the script for funding social change? Should we not reward rather than punish nonprofits that try to innovate? Are we too accustomed to traditional approaches to poverty alleviation that deny beneficiaries choice, voice, and control, and negate lasting change? What if we did things differently?

Dynamic investments from microfinance schemes ( Grameen Bank ) to philanthro-capital initiatives ( Regeneration of Detroit ), the creation of movements though volunteerism ( Movember ), social businesses ( Paintbox Bistro ), crowd funding ( GoFundMe ), crowd lending ( FundThrough ) bequests ( Wealth Transfer Explosion ), social responsibility employment programs ( HireUP ) and endowments ( Harvard University ) are emerging as the most innovative, impactful, and sustainable forms of revenue generation. Also, the popularity of apps and technology to solve logistical challenges ( UBER ), are taking root in our society.

The nonprofit sector as a whole needs a chance to develop, trial and scale similar innovations that tackle poverty and its effects. But it’s hard to do so when the steps to innovation place funding at risk or far from reach. Technology surely holds the answer to creating new approaches. However, we will only leverage new opportunities for social change when nonprofits are trusted to use funding in a creative way.

Here’s what every nonprofit can do to kick start a process to engage funders in conversations about social innovation:

Develop a clear vision that is solution oriented, aspirational, and anticipatory of future social needs
Demonstrate your expertise by researching and reporting on the problem you are aiming to solve
Invest time in consulting experts and including stakeholders as leaders in delivering your vision
Invite donors to input into your plan and ensure that expectations are aligned
Engage professional fundraising experts to help you figure out ways to build broader funding partnerships
Go public with your vision and raise awareness for the change you are aiming for
Curate your experience and the steps you are taking, so the broader nonprofit community can learn from your approach

As a board member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Toronto Chapter, I am excited about a new development. It's called AFP Insights - an initiative to better understand innovative fundraising techniques shared by the world’s leading nonprofits and smart thinkers.

Insights will be a resource to those who want to connect, support, or replicate pioneering fundraising and revenue generation practices. It’s an important first step to creating new avenues for fundraising in the 21st century, and a resource for equipping the next generation of nonprofit leaders to continue to spark new Yegnas.

While Insights is a small step in the right direction, we should all do more to spotlight and celebrate the great innovations that exist within our sector and be vocal about the need to sustain them at any cost. Get in touch if you have ideas about fundraising or thoughts you’d like to share about this article.

Mide Akerewusi, Founder and CEO of AGENTSC a company devoted to nonprofit change, sustainability and major gift fundraising.

[1] Lasby, D., & Barr, C. (2013). Talking about charities 2013. Canadians’ opinions on charities and issues affecting charities.

[2] Assessin g Canada’s Global Engagement Gap, Robert Greenhill and Megan McQuillan, October 6

65a34dea

Agents Inc. Awarded B Corp Certification

This is a proud moment for us at AgentsC!

What's Trending? Black Climate Action

Dreams do come true.

July was a memorable month.

Then came August.

Then September came.

I knew I knew too little.

Who said ignorance is bliss?

How can Black climate action enter the picture?

The Black Male Work-Experience

Mide (Olumide) Akerewusi, B.Sc., M.Sc. (Econ), CSR-P, CDEP. Response....

Bro! Thanks for sharing.

What Happens When We Feel The Pinch?

Unicorn Black Men And Universal Issues

Admirers, Admirers, Everywhere, And Not A Job In Sight

Despite our many admirers, we remain on the periphery of full acceptance/integration into the systems of Contracts, RFP's, Engagements, and Paid Work. We are are often remote from consistent opportunity!

The Need For Tremendous Leadership

I've said many times, our sector has a habit of avoiding the realities we face. We need inner strength to truly fight for what we believe. If we shy from impacting the world, the world will most certainly impact us. Surely, this is the echoing call of Climate Experts such as yourself.

We Need REAL Solutions

Black Philanthropy Month Is Here, And It's Here To Stay.

African philanthropy is one of the world's most generous, and least recognized giving traditions.

Its growth and global giving indices and stories rarely reach fundraising strategy and practice

We should recognize, document, and amplify Black philanthropy all year round

The Producers: Gleaux & Tell Series With Queen Jade and Dorian Spears

The Producers Gleaux and Tell Series:

Betting on Ourselves - Building Empires,

﻿ Co-creating the Future, and Transforming Criticism Into Fuel. Dorian Spears.

The Producers: Gleaux & Tell Series With Queen Jade and Michael Tennant

The Producers Gleaux and Tell Series: Empathy as Strategy - How Centering Empathy Unlocks Innovation, Equity, and Sustainable Impact. MIchael Tennant ﻿

The Producers: Gleaux & Tell Series With Queen Jade and Jason Teeters

The Producers Gleaux and Tell Series: Jason Teeters - Rest as Resistance: Redesigning Leadership, Reclaiming Balance, and Reimagining the Systems that Shape Us.

The Producers: Gleaux & Tell Series With Queen Jade

The Producers:

﻿ Gleaux & Tell Series With Queen Jade

Sankofa: Remember, Reclaim, Rise - Let's Talk About Boards and Governance

Sankofa: Remember, Reclaim, Rise - Let's Talk About Boards and Governance

The Giving Black Conference 2025 - Sankofa: Remember, Reclaim, Rise. Jason Glover

THE GIVING BLACK CONFERENCE 2025

Sankofa: Remember, Reclaim, Rise.

The Black Philanthropy Month Series - Sankofa: Remember, Reclaim, Rise. Christopher Beck

The Black Philanthropy Month Series - Sankofa: Remember, Reclaim, Rise.

﻿ Christopher Beck

The Black Philanthropy Month Series - Sankofa: Remember, Reclaim, Rise. Coach Ernest "Oxy" Koomson

The Black Philanthropy Month Series - Sankofa: Remember, Reclaim, Rise.

Coach Ernest "Oxy" Koomson

The Black Philanthropy Month Series - Sankofa: Remember, Reclaim, Rise. Dr. Mojúbàolú Olúfúnké Okome

Black Philanthropy Month:

Sankofa - Remember, Reclaim, Rise.

Dr. Mojúbàolú Olúfúnké Okome

The Black Philanthropy Month Series - Sankofa: Remember, Reclaim, Rise. Nasra Ayub

The Black Philanthropy Month Series - Sankofa: Remember, Reclaim, Rise.

Nasra Ayub

Black Philanthropy Month: Sankofa - Remember, Reclaim, Rise. Nneka Allen

Black Philanthropy Month:

Sankofa - Remember, Reclaim, Rise.

Nneka Allen

Sankofa: Remember, Reclaim, Rise

Black Philanthropy Month: Sankofa - Remember. Reclaim. Rise

Saved By Sabbatical: Part Two Of A Two-Part Story About Exiting Grind Culture

Black Culture and Burnout

Saved by a Healing Sabbatical

Creating Personalized Systems for Rest

What I learned: My Journey From Absolute Burnout to Healing Sabbatical

Angry Black Men

Angry Black Men

On this episode of The Giving Black Podcast, we explore a powerful topic that cuts to the core of identity, emotion, and stereotype.

Philanthropy is the heartbeat of the world.

And...We're Back...!

...And...We're Back...!

"Good Morning, Good Afternoon and Good Evening Giving Black Family, Wherever In The World You Are." I have missed speaking those words!

Philanthropy Is The Heartbeat of The World!

Burdened By Burnout: A Two-Part Story About Exiting Grind Culture

Farewell to the Butterflies

The Reason Why There is Joy On My Face

Special 2024 Giving Black Conference Episode: The Reason Why There is Joy On My Face

To AFP GTC Members, all AFP Chapters, Co-Conspirators, Anti-Racists, and all Stakeholders In The Fundraising Profession Fighting Racism.

The Costs and Rewards of Activism as a Business Owner with Olumide Akerewusi

Episode 12: Kerrite Bedward: You Always Have To Put Something Back In The Community

Co-creating the Future, and Transforming Criticism Into Fuel. Dorian Spears.

The Producers Gleaux and Tell Series: Empathy as Strategy - How Centering Empathy Unlocks Innovation, Equity, and Sustainable Impact. MIchael Tennant

Gleaux & Tell Series With Queen Jade

Christopher Beck

I love to meet people whose stories of philanthropy span the decades! Motunrayo Olaogun is one such person.

Motunrayo works for the Christian Dior fashion label. She is a philanthropist, an entrepreneur, and also founded her own label Ayo Van Elmar .

In this episode of the Giving Black Podcast, we focus on one of the most contentious aspects of African Philanthropy; the concept of Black Tax - an emerging practice affecting Africa's rising middle-class.

This is the second episode of The Giving Black Podcast. It continues the conversation with Canada's highest profile Black Philanthropist, the Rt. Hon. Madame Michaëlle Jean.