As a country, the United States is in the midst of a long-overdue racial reckoning. Protests of police violence have been taking place nationwide for months, with the shooting of Jacob Blake from Kenosha, Wisconsin igniting even more passionate discussions of racial justice, systemic racism, and what it would take to make our country a more equal place. But the nonprofit sector, which is always dedicated to making the world a better place, has been grappling with the problem of racial diversity and inclusion for years. When executive search firm Battalia Winston examined diversity of nonprofit leadership, they found that 87% of all executive directors at nonprofits were white. Racial diversity in board governance has been lacking for years, and has not been trending toward improvement.
Give 8/28 is a unique giving event with the specific purpose of lifting up Black-led nonprofit organizations. Mightycause is proud to be the platform partner for this event and support organizations that are Black-led and Black-benefitting!
What is Give 8/28?
Give 8/28 is an event put together by Young, Black & Giving Back Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization with a mission to “empower young black professionals, influencers, social entrepreneurs, and activists to effectively invest in changing their communities through philanthropy.” Their event occurs annually on August 28th, to mark the end of Black Philanthropy Month with a day-long giving marathon.
Give 8/28 starts at 8 a.m. and ends at 11 p.m. Every hour of the day, Young, Black & Giving Back Institute and the event’s sponsors will be offering prizes to the participating nonprofits, which gives donors an opportunity to help nonprofits win additional funding!
Participation Criteria
Give 8/28 is serious about its mission to empower Black-led and Black-benefitting nonprofits. All participating nonprofits had to show that at least 50% of their board, leadership, and staff are Black, and therefore represent the populations they serve.
Give 8/28 got a boost this year from the team at GivingTuesday.org, using their voices to make nonprofits and donors aware of this event. This year, the number of organizations participating has more than doubled, with nearly 500 Black-led and Black-benefitting organizations approved to participate, making it Give 8/28’s biggest year since its inaugural event in 2018.
Give 8/28 is the only nationwide giving event that is dedicated to Black philanthropy. Their directory of nonprofits is the most comprehensive resource for Black-led organizations.
Why August 28th?
So, August 28th was not just chosen for Give 8/28’s event just because it’s near the end of Black philanthropy month. August 28th has been a date of great significance to Black history.
On August 28, 1955, 14-year old Emmett Till was brutally murdered. On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech.
On August 28, 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana, devastating its residents, who were 67% Black. And on August 28, 2008, Barack Obama accepted the Democratic nomination for President, making him the first Black man to ever win the nomination and starting his successful and history run for the White House.
How to Get Involved
Find organizations to support
The Give 8/28 search serves as the largest national directory of Black-led and Black-benefitting nonprofit organizations available. You can utilize Mightycause’s search filters to explore and discover causes to support. With a location filter, donors can explore the directory to specifically find Black-led organizations right in their own community.
All of the organizations in the search on the Give 8/28 site have been vetted by Young, Black & Giving Back Institute and meet the criteria that at least 50% of their board, leadership, and staff are Black.
So, if you are looking for ways to show your support, use the Give 8/28 organization directory to find organizations doing important work in their communities and make a donation. With a $5 minimum donation and an easy to use shopping cart, you can donate at whatever level you are able, and find multiple new organizations to support. There are prizes every hour of the event, so your donation could help an organization win a prize!
Spread the word
Something that is free, easy, and truly helps Give 8/28 is spreading the word about their event! Tell your friends on Facebook, spread the word on Twitter and Instagram (using the #give828 hashtag), notify your professional network on LinkedIn. Sending people to give828.org will help more people discover this event, find nonprofits to support, and help lift up the participants.
Thanks for the great article