Now that the calendar has turned to August, the Surge Institute joins global communities in celebrating Black Philanthropy Month, an annual observance dedicated to elevating Black giving, advancing funding equity, and honoring a rich heritage of collective care. 

While formal institutional philanthropy often focuses on large endowments, Black philanthropy has deep, centuries-old roots anchored in mutual aid, self-reliance, and communal care. Long before 501(c)(3) designations existed, Black communities relied on shared resources to navigate systemic oppression. 

The persistent myth that philanthropy belongs exclusively to affluent, majority-white institutions is disproven by data. According to research by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Black households contribute 25% more of their income to charitable causes annually than white households. Furthermore, nearly two-thirds of Black families donate regularly, contributing more than $11 billion each year. This remarkable generosity persists despite enduring systemic barriers and a racial wealth gap that limits the accumulation of institutional wealth.

Even with the giving that permeates Black communities, Black-led organizations face stark, ongoing funding disparities within the traditional philanthropic landscape. Research conducted by The Bridgespan Group and Echoing Green reveals that revenues for Black-led nonprofits are, on average, 24% smaller than those of white-led organizations.

The gap is even more severe when looking at unrestricted net assets, which are the flexible funding vital for long-term organizational stability and innovation. Unrestricted assets for Black-led nonprofits are 76% smaller than their white-led counterparts. This disparity reflects a deep-seated trust gap in philanthropy, where leaders of color encounter restricted funding, inequitable access to donor networks, and heightened scrutiny.

Organizations like the Surge Institute were founded to challenge these inequities directly. Surge’s mission is to empower leaders of color to transform education and youth-serving systems, ensuring that those closest to the challenges hold the power and resources to design solutions.

Donor generosity is essential to sustaining this transformative work. 

Join the Movement: Support Surge This August

This Black Philanthropy Month, we call on the Surge community—fellows, alumni, and partners—to turn reflection into action. You can power the future of Black and Latinx leadership in two vital ways:

• Make a One-Time Gift: Provide immediate support for our programs and leaders by donating directly at surgeinstitute.org/donate.
• Join the IMPACT Community: Create a lasting, sustainable foundation by becoming a monthly donor. Sustained monthly giving ensures Surge can scale its reach and deepen its long-term impact at surgeinstitute.org/impact-community/.

Together, we honor the legacy of those who gave before us, reclaim our economic power, and invest in a future where educational equity is a reality.