About The Conference

Welcome to the Fourth Annual Giving Black Virtual Conference! Thank you for joining us on August 1, 2024 as we gather to celebrate Emancipation Day and the beginning of Black Philanthropy Month. As with all of our past gatherings, this Giving Black Conference promises to be a warm, engaging, and rewarding occasion for our community of friends, family, colleagues, and supporters who meet to learn, network, and share.

While The Giving Black Virtual Conference may be new to some, we know our most passionate followers are back for their fourth, third, or second instalment! However many times you may have attended The Giving Black Conference in the past, it’s important to know that we are now in community. You are now part of The Giving Black Family. This is a community where we enjoy Black celebration, Black poetry, Black wellnesses, Black storytelling, Black thought leadership, and explore the incredible power of Black philanthropy.

Olumide Akerewusi

Founder & CEO of AgentsC Inc.: Canada

Jade Nikolaou

Strategic DEIB Advisor to the CEO, SecondMuse

Aldeli Albán Reyna

Director of Grants and Community Initiatives,

Laidlaw Foundation 

Camila Pereira

Senior Manager of Development, Child Development Institute

Birgit Smith Burton

Founder and CEO, African American Development Officers Network 

Ikem Opara

Director of National Learning Partnerships, Rideau Hall Foundation 

Floyd Jones

Founder, BackBlack 

Kimmel Alcide

Founder, The Everyday Yogi Inc. 

Naolo Charles

Director of Communities, McConnell Foundation 

Mark Beckles

Vice President of Social Impact & Innovation, Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) 

Nicole Salmon

Founder & Principal Consultant, Boundless Philanthropy 

Dorian Spears

Director of Partnerships & Strategy, Gender Equality in Tech (GET) Cities Initiative

Nneka Allen

Principal and Founder,

The Empathy Agency Inc. 

Nyasha Njela

Director Southern Africa, Revolutionise 

Patricia Hamzahee

Co- Founder, Black Funding Network 

Sipho Kwaku

Director of Belonging & Equity, WoodGreen Community Services 

Life’s persistent and most urgent question is

‘What are you doing for others?’