Black Philanthropy Month: We’re partnering with The Kansas City Defender

August 19, 2026

We’re partnering with the Kansas City Defender for Black Philanthropy Month! 

August is Black Philanthropy Month! Founded in 2011 by Dr. Jaqueline Bouvier Copeland, Black Philanthropy Month is a “global celebration and campaign to elevate African-descent giving and funding equity.” 

Black Philanthropy Month has over 19 million participants across 60 countries. Today, BackBlack founder Floyd Jones serves as the Global Chair of Black Philanthropy Month, and BackBlack is the official home and managing organization of Black Philanthropy Month. 

According to BackBlack, “This new era centers the power of collective giving, bold storytelling, and strategic collaboration to uplift Black-led organizations and communities year-round.” 

“Black Philanthropy Month is an opportunity to celebrate a long-standing legacy of generosity, resilience, and community investment,” wrote Maynard Institute Director of Development Nadia Campbell-Mitchell. 

“Throughout history, Black communities have created pathways of support and opportunity through giving, mentorship, advocacy, and collective action. This month reminds us that philanthropy is not only about what we give, but the impact we create when we invest in one another.

I am grateful to be part of a community that continues to believe in the power of generosity and the importance of building a stronger future together.” 

I am grateful to be part of a community that continues to believe in the power of generosity and the importance of building a stronger future together.

Nadia Campbell-Mitchell, Director of Development

This year’s theme is “Many Voices, One Movement.” We’ve partnered with The Kansas City Defender, an outlet living in the spirit of journalism and advocacy in the legacy of the Black Press. Founded by Maynard 200 alum Ryan A. Sorrell, The Kansas City Defender, the Defender not only operates as a liberationist news outlet in direct resistance to white supremacist framing in media, the Defender supports the growth of Black journalism through investigative reporting, political education, and their Freedom School, the B-REAL Academy.

In addition, the Defender supports the local community in Kansas City with its mutual aid fund supporting a free clothing program and grocery buyout program, as well as emergency assistance to community members in need. The Kansas City Defender also supports the Hamer Free Food Program. Named for revolutionary and freedom fighter Fannie Lou Hamer, who founded the Freedom Farm Cooperative in 1969, the initiative grows, harvests and delivers free fresh produce “directly from Black farms to Black families,” fighting food insecurity while developing and stewarding Black agricultural knowledge and food sovereignty. 

Donations to The Kansas City Defender are considered charitable donations for tax purposes and the Defender is a nonprofit digital organization. 

We’re working closely with Khadijah Bland, Director of Development and Revenue for the Kansas City Defender, who “architects radical, sustainable funding strategies to fuel one of the most unapologetic Black media forces in the country.” 

Bland was named the 2026 Emerging Leader of the Year by the Institute for Nonprofit News. After she helped grow their active subscription base by more than 40%, opened new revenue streams and expanded the Defender’s partnerships and helped track and, Ryan A. Sorrel told INN Bland “is the reason the Defender can dream bigger, plan longer, and fight harder.” 

Khadijah quote here

Through this partnership, we’re supporting Black philanthropy that promotes resistance education, excellence in journalism and direct community action. 

Support the Kansas City Defender during Black Philanthropy Month to help create lasting change, steward existing knowledge and resistance movements and invest in Black journalism in the radical liberationist tradition of the American Black Press.

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