General Questions:
How does The Black Women Give Foundation work?
The Black Women Give Foundation is a women’s giving circle that awards grants to nonprofits serving Philadelphia and the surrounding counties. Members pool their individual donations to create collective community grants and learn about local issues and the nonprofits addressing them most effectively.
The Black Women Give Foundation offers three membership levels - Full Voting, Jewel, and Black Tie - each providing different levels of engagement and philanthropic participation. Full Voting members participate directly in the grant selection process by voting on grant awards.
Full Voting Members support the Foundation’s mission through annual giving of $550 or more annually and participate directly in the grantmaking process by serving on grant review committees, evaluating nonprofit proposals, and voting to determine which organizations receive unrestricted operating grants.
Jewel Members support the Foundation’s mission through annual giving of up to $549 and participation in volunteer and community engagement opportunities, without voting privileges in the grantmaking process.
Black Tie Members support the Foundation’s mission and community impact through philanthropic giving. Men may participate as Black Tie Members at either the Full Voting or Jewel level by making an annual gift in honor of a significant woman in their lives. If the honoree is living, the membership and voting privileges may be granted to her. If the honoree is deceased, the Black Tie Member may vote in her memory.
What types of organizations does The Black Women Give Foundation fund with its unrestricted program operating grants?
The Black Women Give Foundation will review grant applications from nonprofits in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties that align with one of our three focus areas: Education, Health and Wellness, or Economic Empowerment.
Is my donation to The Black Women Give Foundation tax-deductible?
The Black Women Give Foundation is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization as determined by the Internal Revenue Service. Contributions are tax-deductible for the year in which they were made. We encourage you to consult your tax professional for guidance.
How much of my donation will go toward the grants versus administrative expenses?
Approximately 91% of member contributions across all membership levels go directly to the grants pool, while about 9% supports administrative and operational expenses that help sustain the Foundation’s work and community impact.
How does The Black Women Give Foundation pay for administrative expenses?
The Black Women Give Foundation is a 100% volunteer-led organization. Administrative expenses are supported through a small portion of eligible member contributions, as well as nonmember donations, corporate matching gifts, sponsorships, and in-kind contributions.
Membership Questions:
How involved do I have to be as a member?
Membership involvement is flexible and designed to fit your interests, availability, and level of engagement. The only requirement is making your annual membership contribution by the end of each membership cycle.
Members are also invited to participate in community events, networking opportunities, educational programs, and volunteer activities throughout the year, while helping spread the word about The Black Women Give Foundation’s mission and impact.
What is the annual membership, engagement and grantmaking timeline?
A membership contribution applies to one annual grant cycle. Membership contributions are accepted from August 1 through December 31 for the upcoming grant cycle.
Annually from January through February, members may participate in grant review committees and the evaluation of nonprofit applications. Grant recipients are selected and announced in March. From April through July, members are invited to participate in community engagement activities, networking events, educational programming, and volunteer opportunities.
Individuals who join after the membership period closes are still welcome to attend events and participate in our activities, and their contribution will be applied to the following grant cycle.
Can I pay my membership contribution in installments?
Yes. Installment payment options are available for members paying online or by check. To participate in the upcoming grant cycle, the full membership contribution must be received by December 31.
Once full payment is received, membership remains active for the duration of that grant cycle.
Why focus grant-making on underserved communities of color?
We believe that organizations working in underserved communities of color do not have access to a committed pool of resources where the primary goal is to assist them in achieving their mission. The Black Women Give Foundation seeks to fund and support the organizations that are addressing issues that more endowed organizations do not consider a part of their social responsibility footprint.
Who decides which grants get funded?
Grant applications are first reviewed and evaluated by member-led grant review committees. These committees assess nonprofit proposals and recommend finalists based on community impact, organizational effectiveness, and alignment with our mission.
During the Annual Meeting, members have the opportunity to learn about the finalists, ask questions, and vote to determine which nonprofits will receive grant funding.
If I can’t make a donation as a member, is there a role for me?
Yes, a very important one. The Black Women Give Foundation is a 100% volunteer-led organization, and volunteers play a vital role in supporting our mission and community impact.
In addition to financial support, volunteers help strengthen the Foundation through community outreach, events, committee service, and operational support.