You Don't Need Millions to Give Back: Redefining Black Philanthropy with Ebonie Johnson Cooper
In this powerful episode, I kick back with Ebonie Johnson Cooper, Executive Director and Founder of the Young Black and Giving Back Institute (YBGB). Featured in Essence Magazine, Jet Magazine, The Washington Post, and ABC7, Ebonie work addresses a critical gap in the nonprofit sector: Black-led organizations continue to be significantly underfunded despite serving vital community needs. This conversation explores the transformative work of Give 8/28, the power of giving circles, and practical strategies for supporting Black-led nonprofits in your community.
The Origin: Building Community Through Philanthropy
Ebonie’s journey began in 2009 when she noticed young Black professionals were actively engaged in philanthropy, but their contributions remained invisible. She started having conversations about what it meant to be young, Black, and philanthropic.
"I started to realize we are doing this work, but no one really knows," Ebonie explains. "I had friends in different spaces where there weren't a lot of us. So I started having these conversations about what it meant to be young and Black and in philanthropy."
In 2014, the organization officially became the Young, Black and Giving Back Institute, offering board trainings, fundraising workshops, and networking events that brought together people across the philanthropic spectrum.
Give 8/28: A National Day of Black Philanthropy
Unlike Giving Tuesday or community foundation giving days that often fail to connect with Black nonprofits, Give 8/28 was designed specifically for Black-led organizations.
"Giving Tuesday's not for us, a lot of the community foundation-based giving days are not for us," Ebonie notes. "We've had so many community foundations reach out because they're like, 'We had such and such giving day and we've had a hard time connecting with our Black nonprofits.' Surprise, surprise."
Why August 28th Matters
The date holds profound historical significance for the Black community:
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech
Senator Barack Obama announced his presidential campaign
Jackie Robinson was admitted to Major League Baseball
Chadwick Boseman passed away (2020)
"It's just such a serendipitous day for us in the Black community," Ebonie shares.
2024 Record-Breaking Results
283 registered organizations participated nationwide
Over $258,000 raised for Black-led, Black-benefiting nonprofits
Organizations demonstrated creativity in fundraising campaigns
Community foundations across the country partnered with the initiative
"What excites me the most every single year is to see how creative the organizations are," Ebonie enthuses. "It's a day that they can call their own. Giving Tuesday's not for us, and a lot of community foundation-based giving days are not for us."
Giving Circles: Democratizing Philanthropy
Giving circles are a form of collective giving rooted in cultural traditions across ethnic communities. Known by different names, Susu in West Indian communities, Tenda in Korean communities, these models pool resources for greater impact.
"Collective or community giving is something that ethnic communities do," Ebonie explains. "You might have heard your parents, Black folks down South, West Indian, who call it Susu. Everybody puts money in a pot, and every month or however often they rotate, that person gets the money of that pot."
Challenges Facing Black-Led Nonprofits
Through grantmaking, YBGB discovered that smaller organizations often achieve more with less. They implemented an inverted pyramid approach, giving larger grants to smaller organizations.
"One of the smallest organizations got the biggest grant because when we looked at what she was doing, she was doing a lot with a little bit," Ebonie notes. "A $15,000 grant is really gonna help to line your pocket so that maybe you'll have overflow versus that larger organization."
Investing in Nonprofit Leadership
YBGB partners with the University of Maryland's Do Good Institute to offer graduate-level certificate programs for nonprofit leaders serving Black communities.
"It's important that we not only equip organizations with financial resources, but we're also helping to equip those leaders," Ebonie explains.
Many founders start with passion but lack formal training. "Oftentimes, our fellows will tell you, 'I was winging it,'" Ebonie shares. "You sit in a class and you're like, 'Oh, I've been working harder, not smarter.'"
The Future: Joy, Freedom, and Being Seen
When asked about the future of Black philanthropy, Ebonie paints a picture centered on joy rather than constant struggle.
"It is this moment of unequivocal joy," she begins. "Joy is the greatest sense of peace that one can feel. I think it's about being seen."
Key Takeaways
For the nonprofit sector:
Trust-based philanthropy reduces barriers while maintaining accountability
Smaller organizations often maximize grant impact more effectively
Cultural representation in leadership matters for effective service delivery
For donors:
Giving circles make philanthropy accessible
Payment plans democratize participation
Collective giving amplifies individual impact
For Black communities:
Give 8/28 provides a dedicated giving day designed specifically for Black-led organizations
Fellowship programs invest in leadership capacity building
Community vouching systems build trust and accountability
Visit give828.org and youngblackandgivingback.org to learn more. You can also connect with Ebonie on LinkedIn.
