This is a story about Riley R. McGimpsey (28 Mar 1845 – 20 Apr 1934), my great-great-grandfather, as told to me by my elder cousin Nettie McGimpsey McIntosh for my book Giving Back:

Despite common perceptions, Black men have long been industrious. And evidently my grandfather Riley was as hardworking as men of any race come. I call him a Black entrepreneur, but back then industrious is the word people used.

I archive and keep our family’s history. I have scoured over family artifacts and Census data. Some time in the mid-1800s on the McGimpsey farm in Burke County, North Carolina, a slave named Clarissa gave birth to a son she named Riley. While born into slavery, Riley eventually became a sharecropper who sold his part of the produce—corn, wheat, molasses and such. Documents I have come across show his products sold as far away as Mullins, South Carolina…

Did you know that August is Black Philanthropy Month? 

You can help build greater public awareness and sharpen the impact of Black philanthropy. We are excited to introduce and invite your participation in a new multimedia, civic engagement campaign during Black Philanthropy Month 2013 (BPM 2013). Your support is needed to mount an unprecedented campaign to inform, inspire and invest in Black philanthropic leadership—online and offline as well as locally and globally.

August as Black Philanthropy Month was first declared and celebrated two years ago. This year holds special significance since August 2013 also marks the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech and 1963 March on Washington. Commemoration of this watershed event gives cause for reflection and action and gave rise to the focal concept for BPM 2013: Of Dreams and Mountaintops.

Follow BlackPhilanthropyMonth.com for more information over the weeks to come.

Ebonie Johnson Cooper is a member of the CIN giving circle Black Benefactors and founder of Friends of Ebonie, a public relations group focused on philanthropy among Black Millennials. Ebonie recently attended a Black Gives Back event in New York City and below is her account of the evening. Photography by Margot Jordan

Giving has long been part of the African American community. On February 28, Black Gives Back celebrated the giving of our community in collaboration with JP Morgan Chase’s Black Organization for Leadership Development (BOLD) and with support from Community Investment Network (CIN).

Echoing the spirit of black philanthropy, CIN board member and sector trailblazer Valaida Fullwood led the audience on a journey through black giving and how its very essence is being permeated throughout communities across the nation. Audience members listened intently as Valaida shared facts about black philanthropy and how impactful our work really…

I reach but cannot grasp words to plumb the depth of my gratification and overwhelming joy when previewers of Giving Back share their reactions to its stories and photography. A long hope has been that the book would move readers and perchance enlighten and deepen their thinking and giving, for good. This is commentary received last night . . .

“This is the most powerful representation of philanthropy that I have seen in more than a decade in this field. The stories, the quotes, the voices and the photographs are uniformly vivid and extraordinary….A reminder that, in its roots, philanthropy should be felt, not thought.”

— Robert K. Ross, M.D., president and CEO, The California Endowment

Speechless…again.

Selected advance readers of Giving Back have begun sharing their commentary on the book over the last week. With an easy willingness, both strangers and acquaintances known widely for intense work and demanding itineraries have, one by one, agreed to read my 400-page manuscript. That astounds me. And then, after reading the work, one responds with these words . . .

“Through a rich tapestry of voices and images, including inspirational interviews, stunning photographs, thoughtful commentary, and wide-ranging quotations, Giving Back captures the essence and generosity of African American donors as never before.  No one—including the leaders of non-profit organizations—could fail to be moved and enlightened by these vivid reminders of the potential of African American philanthropy.

“The book is beautiful and so inspirational, I now know what I will be getting everyone as a Christmas present!”

— Michele Minter, Vice President for Development, The College Board

Still over the moon

“Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.” — Henry Ward Beecher

Today is the birthday of Charles W. Thomas, Jr., the photographer for Giving Back. I’m taking the occasion to publicly thank Charles for collaborating with me on this project. Our dispositions and skill-sets proved a good match; however, it was a shared pride in our cultural heritage and love of our community’s stories that defined our work together. (Though, my loyalties as a Tarheel might rightfully be questioned for working so well with a Duke grad! Sorry about that.)

Still an amazingly vivid memory, my initial conversation with Charles happened almost four years ago. We had crossed paths professionally, but neither of us truly knew the other or had never even had a one-on-one conversation. Months earlier, I had conceived of and mapped out the book project…