WS Chronicle

The Black Philanthropy Initiative (BPI) announces $60,000 in grants awarded through its Advancing Equity in Education grant program.  

The fall 2020 grant cycle focused on addressing systemic barriers that make it more difficult for students of color to reach their full academic potential. BPI prioritized Black-led organizations as well as organizations that were actively engaging students, parents, and educators of color, in the design and implementation of their programs.  

Grants were awarded to:  

*LEAD Girls of NC Inc – $10,000 to help middle school girls boost literacy and develop critical social and emotional skills

*My Brother’s Second Chance – $10,000 to provide direct services and support to students of color and their families

*Neighborhood’s Hands – $10,000 to provide tutoring support for elementary students in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools

*Sherman Academy Inc – $10,000 for a parent mentor program and culturally-responsive math and reading materials

*St. Paul United Methodist Church – $5,000 to support a remote learning site providing services to Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools students

*The Dream Team Foundation, Inc – $10,000 to support a remote learning site providing services to Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools students

*Triad Cultural Arts, Inc – $5,000 to support a mentoring program focused on literacy for 3rd grade African American boys

BPI’s focus on Advancing Equity in Education comes from the data in its Rethinking Philanthropy report released in 2018, which reveals how systemic inequities have disproportionately affected the Black population.

BPI currently offers two grant programs: Impact grants and Advancing Equity in Education grants and in 2020 alone, BPI has provided over $100,000 in grants to local programs and initiatives that are working to improve outcomes for Black communities in Forsyth County.  Funding for its grant-making programs comes from the Black Philanthropy Fund, which is supported through community donations.