Mo’ Money, Mo’ Progress: Amplifying the Impact of Donors of Color

On April 9, 2024, the Marmalade Festival hosted the panel discussion “Mo’ Money, Mo’ Progress: Amplifying the Impact of Donors of Color.” The event featured influential figures in philanthropy like Yvonne Moore, Managing Director of Moore Philanthropy; Hilda Vega, Vice President of Philanthropic Knowledge and Practice; and Solome Lemma, Executive Director of Thousand Currents, who addressed the evolving landscape of philanthropy as shaped by communities of color and historically marginalized groups.

On April 9, 2024, the Marmalade Festival hosted the panel discussion “Mo’ Money, Mo’ Progress: Amplifying the Impact of Donors of Color.” The event featured influential figures in philanthropy like Yvonne Moore, Managing Director of Moore Philanthropy; Hilda Vega, Vice President of Philanthropic Knowledge and Practice; and Solome Lemma, Executive Director of Thousand Currents, who addressed the evolving landscape of philanthropy as shaped by communities of color and historically marginalized groups.

The panelists discussed the overlooked contributions of these communities, the narrow current definition of philanthropy, and the necessity for inclusive practices that recognize and support diverse giving traditions such as mutual aid and giving circles. The 90-minute conversation also explored new strategies for empowering donors of color, aiming to create a more equitable philanthropic sector.

Panelist Quotes

“Historically, the contributions of many groups to the world of philanthropy are overlooked, and their potential impact underestimated. The time to change that is now, by providing donors of color with the recognition they deserve, and offering solutions for those new to philanthropy so they can effectively achieve their goals.”

“Communities of color and other oppressed groups are as generous if not more generous than dominant community peers, but this is rarely recognized. As we think about the next steps beyond this conversation, I’m excited to see how we can develop new tools and frameworks for donors of color that are customized to reflect and amplify their experiences rather than continue to rely on tools designed by and for wealthy white and dominant community donors.”

“Before and beyond philanthropy, there are other social change resourcing mechanisms like giving circles, remittances, and mutual aid that are central to many communities around the world. Philanthropy must recognize these diverse giving traditions in communities of color. These practices are often how communities survive, remain resilient, and overcome their obstacles. Philanthropy can recognize these as pivotal and, in fact, learn from them to engage more in solidarity-based giving that imbues all of these traditions.”