The African American Community Foundation (AACF) this year awarded grants to four organizations promoting health, economic and educational opportunities in Charlotte’s black community.
The recipients were:
BLKTECH CLT ($2,500) provides a six-week mentorship program pairing BlackTech CLT members with corporate executives and business leaders to help them grow their businesses and develop professional skills to achieve their career goals.
Raising Smart Girls ($2,500) offers rich and engaging STEM experiences for elementary-aged girls in Charlotte, free of charge.
Teen Health Connection ($2,500) assists with planning and preparation for the 2019 Youth to Youth Leadership Conference and supports alcohol and substance abuse prevention initiatives.
Urban League ($2,500) supports the Urban League of Central Carolinas’ Career Fair, most recently held at Stratford Richardson YMCA.
Rooted in black philanthropy
The AACF is a grant-making program managed by Foundation For The Carolinas (FFTC). The grants were made possible through the Lethia Henderson Fund Endowment and the Elizabeth S. Randolph African American Fund Endowment.
The Henderson Fund was established at FFTC in 1981 to support nonprofit programs and organizations with an emphasis on health and community service. The Randolph Fund was established in 1993 at FFTC to foster philanthropy and to support nonprofit programs and organizations that address African-American concerns.
With the 2018 grants, the Henderson and Randolph Funds have made nearly $500,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations.
Make a lasting impact through collective giving
Keysha Walker Taylor, who chairs the AACF Board of Directors, said the foundation’s success is an example of how individuals can make a wider and deeper impact by pooling their donations through a single grant-making organization, also known as collective giving.
“When you donate through a fund or endowment, those funds are invested, and so they are allowed to grow over time,” she said. “In addition to making a direct, grant-making impact, you are also able to continue to grow those funds for future grants and future generations.”
Get involved
Persons or groups interested in contributing to AACF or opening a new fund may contact Qiana Austin at Foundation For The Carolinas: 704-973-4535 or qaustin@fftc.org. All contributions are tax deductible.
The application process for the 2019 funding cycle will begin in February 2019. For more information on grant requirements and funded projects, visit www.fftc.org/grants.
Video: Brayboy Communications Inc.
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