Philanthropy & Racial Justice Course
“Philanthropy is commendable but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice which make philanthropy necessary.”
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
It would be difficult to name a major social issue in America today that is not the focus of philanthropy. Health care, education, affordable housing, workforce development, immigration, to name a few. In these and many other areas, philanthropists seek to meet the needs of individuals and communities. But in America, you can’t separate these issues from that of race and racial equity. Now more than ever, philanthropists are struggling to decide how they can maximize their influence, dollars and convening power to spark racial justice.
This experiential course provides students with a “hands-on” experience as philanthropists, charged with awarding grants to Washington, D.C. region community-based nonprofits.
Read more about the 2023 Class $25,000 awards to local nonprofits.
Philanthropy Class Participating Nonprofits
- Asian American Youth Leadership Empowerment and Development (AALEAD)
- Black Swan Academy
- Central American Resource Center (CARECEN)
- Center for Inspired Teaching
- Critical Exposure
- D.C. Hunger Solutions
- D.C. Jobs for Justice
- Fair Budget Coalition
- Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop
- IMPACT Silver Spring
- Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC)
- Many Languages, One Voice
- Miriam’s Kitchen
- ONE DC
- Public Allies
- Safe Places for the Advancement of Community and Equity (SPACEs)
- See Forever Foundation, Maya Angelou Public Charter School