ATLANTA — August marks Black Philanthropy Month, a month to highlight nonprofit organizations that support Black communities. Non-profit advocate Floyd Jones says most people have no idea it exists, which is part of the reason he founded BackBlack, a campaign dedicated to closing the funding gap some Black-led organizations face. 

“Black Philanthropy Month has been around for nearly two decades… recognized and celebrated by over 19 million people around the world,” Jones told 11Alive. “But the thing that continues to stir me is, why don’t more people know that it’s Black Philanthropy Month?”

Launched in 2023, BackBlack partners with major giving platforms like GoFundMe, Givebutter, and GivingTuesday to support NGO’s in funding their programs and building their networks. In just over a year, Floyd says the group has raised more than $2 million for over 1,000 Black-led nonprofits nationwide.

“One of the things I always say is that people who are unseen and unspoken often go unsupported,” Jones said. “And that difference deserves to be celebrated and supported and backed.”

Black-led nonprofits receive only 1–2% of philanthropic dollars globally, according to Jones. In 2022, just 0.61% of all U.S. charitable giving went to organizations serving Black communities, according to research from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.

Black-led groups also tend to operate with smaller budgets and fewer resources. Nearly half have only one or two staff members, Jones said, leaving them vulnerable if even a single donor pulls out.

“Many of these Black-led nonprofits are saying, hey, if we lose just one to two donors, our organization will close,” Jones explained. “And especially in this climate right now, we need to say, hey, these organizations… they’re changing our communities. They deserve to be supported and have the infrastructure to continue to succeed.”

On Thursday, Jones will speak at The Giveback: A Black Philanthropy Mixer at The Gathering Spot in Atlanta. The event is designed to connect Black-led nonprofits with volunteers, donors, and peers.

“This is all about strength in numbers,” Jones said. “If you want to go far, go together. And this is an event where you can go together with your people, with your peers, get support and continue to grow.”

For Jones, the work comes down to building community and shifting perspective.

“It’s not an either-or. It’s a both and,” he said. “If my Black brothers and sisters are not doing well, then my white brothers and sisters aren’t doing well. We are in this together.”

For more information on BackBlack, visit backblackmovement.org.