Resource Library

The Black Church as a Viable Intermediary


Resource from Insights Newsletter
Resource Library

The Black Church as a Viable Intermediary

Insights 1.28.25 Web Header


By Rev. Jamar A. Boyd II, Senior Pastor of Kenwood United Church of Christ, Associate in the Office of the President at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation 

Jamar Boyd

Barnettsville Baptist Church, First Freedom Missionary Baptist Church, Liberty Hill Missionary Baptist Church, Mt. Hermon Missionary Baptist Church, Mt. Lisbon Presbyterian Church, and Mt. Nebo Missionary Baptist Church.

These are not random churches. They are the sacred spaces of my family’s origins of commitment to the spiritual and holistic well-being of Black folks in the Pee-Dee and Lowcountry regions of South Carolina. This is where I witnessed firsthand the powerful and enduring legacy of Black rural philanthropy—and began to think about the role of Black churches as intermediaries between their communities and other sectors.

Recently, I followed out this thought by asking several key Black church leaders about the role of their institutions as intermediaries. The core question, “Do you see Black churches as viable philanthropic intermediaries? If so, why?” is deeply contextual and influenced by our willingness to confront the evidenced failures of government and philanthropy. This question demands an experiential and sector-specific perspective, acknowledging the historical and present-day realities of Black communities and the role that Black churches have played in addressing systemic inequities.

To engage this question honestly, we must consider various viewpoints on the influence and viability of Black churches and faith institutions within a hyper-consumerist culture that often questions their relevance. One of the leaders I spoke with is Rev. Michael Lomax, pastor of Westwood Baptist Church in Richmond, VA, and executive vice president of a privately held community bank. He engaged this question in light of his latest read, The Contemporary Black Church by Jason Shelton. Rev. Lomax shares:

“Black America has long been in a state of Religious Disestablishment, characterized by “the 3 Ds”: Denominational Differences, Demographic Variation, and Debates over the purpose and position of Faith in Black Life. [Shelton] argues that the way forward lies in redefining “viable,” “philanthropy,” and “sustainable.” Can they [Black churches] be viable for long term systemic issues? Short answer: no, because the second generation is never as fervent, convicted, and mission minded as the first, especially as we are seeing the erosion of the concern for Black culture and people. Can they be viable for a generation? Maybe, but it is competing with short term movements. Moreover, Black churches cannot succeed where the government has failed and has a forced coffer that never runs empty.”

Lomax’s observation reveals an opportunity for the philanthropic sector to actively reimagine and redefine its own metrics of viability. This reimagining should prioritize trust-based giving, shifting away from traditional grant-making models towards approaches that center the autonomy and expertise of Black-led organizations. The cultivation of genuine understanding and respect for the unique histories, cultures, and values within Black faith traditions could foster meaningful partnerships with community-based organizations and leaders within Black faith traditions. Ensuring their voices and priorities are central to decision-making processes, this reimagining centers the communal origins of Black churches and acknowledges the ongoing efforts to reclaim these roots across the country. Confronting a more pervasive assumption, Black churches are now positioned to serve as intermediaries within the philanthropic sector.

Across a diversity of faith communities, benevolence funds, tithes, offerings, and scholarships are not merely acts of churchgoing individuals, but undeniable acts of philanthropic commitment. Yet, the communal ingenuity and vitality of Black churches is unparalleled—from hush harbors to freedom schools to refuges of organizing to community resource centers and a continued mission of “treating the needs of the people as holy.” Even so, within broader society and specifically the philanthropic sector, Black churches are reduced to gathering spaces solely prioritizing spiritual ingenuity and vitality. Understanding Black churches and faith communities, along with Black-led grassroots organizations, as collaborators for justice engaged in philanthropic practices—practices that inherently differ from those of the predominantly white philanthropic sector—strengthens the missions of foundations and significantly expands the scope of resource allocation and distribution. This enduring ethos of treating the needs of the people as holy reflects the belief that addressing the social and economic needs of the community is an integral part of one’s spiritual mission. Consequently, reducing Black churches solely to places of worship or strongholds of misused finances is a harmful misconception. Their contributions to society are multifaceted and significant, encompassing social justice, community development, and multigenerational support.

Rev. Malcolm Byrd, senior pastor of Mother AME Zion Church in Harlem, NY, justly uplifts the need for philanthropy to learn and engage with Black faith communities.

“The intervention of white led and prioritized foundations will not suffice as the lack of understanding, unwritten requirement(s), and stripping of equitable distribution is nonexistent. But Black faith institutions, and churches, are the unheard-of long-standing intermediaries. This is where the relationships with foundations, national and community led, are critical—and the education of leaders. Yet, this is contingent upon Black pastors, and faith leaders, knowing the people’s needs within their congregations and neighborhoods as Black suffering continues to yield capitalistic returns that too often fail to transform the spaces and places in need. This will enable Black churches to be intermediaries with trusted community organizations with sensible metrics of transformation.”

Recognizing the full scope of Black churches’ contributions is crucial. They are not merely religious institutions but vital community anchors, driving social change and demonstrating a profound commitment to human dignity and well-being.

In closing, Rev. Amber Lowe-Woodfork, Ph.D. candidate at Indiana University and Associate Minister of West Mitchell CME Church, challenges the philanthropic sector to ask a fundamental question, “What steps can we take to eradicate these issues that will make the sector of philanthropy unnecessary in the future?”

“If the goal is to erase the inequities, to what end will the sector see Black churches and grassroots organizations as viable intermediaries? There are more questions than answers to this query as the need is evident, but there is a need to engage Black faith leaders and organizers through a multifaceted educational framework. Educating faith communities on how to tell their stories and defining and understanding what justice is in the micro and macro will inevitably determine what partnership looks like between both entities.”

The Center for the Church and the Black Experience at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and Lake Institute on Faith & Giving at Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, will co-host the 2025 Symposium on Philanthropy and the Black Church, in Indianapolis, IN, April 10-11. To learn more, please contact us and share your email address to receive updates in the coming weeks.

contact US

Rev. Jamar A. Boyd II is senior pastor of Kenwood United Church of Christ in Chicago and Associate in the Office of the President at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Boyd was a graduate fellow of The Gift Collaborative of Black Theological Education & Black Faith Traditions. He holds a Bachelor of Science in sports management from Georgia Southern University and a Master of Divinity from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology of Virginia Union University. Additionally, he is a member of the Aspen Institute’s Religion & Society Program and a board member of the Oikos Institute for Social Impact.

Expanded Perspective: An Entry Point


By Tasha Gibson, Senior Program Manager, Lake Institute on Faith & Giving 

Tasha Gibson

Recently, I moved to a new place to live. Almost everything that I used in my old place made the move with me. But one of the things that I chose to give away was a coat tree, a place to put coats, hats, scarves (things I use every day in Indy these days!). It was a landing place, a home for useful things.

The Philanthropy and the Black Church project produced several useful things, resources for both Black faith leaders and philanthropic leaders to put to good use in their organizations. In the 1980s, the Philanthropy and the Black Church project began through a partnership between the Council on Foundations, the Ford Foundation and the Lilly Endowment, Inc. The original project wanted to broadly address the separation between religious organizations and philanthropy and focused specifically on the need for both Black faith organizations and philanthropy to partner together.

Currently, the project lives on through a partnership between the Center for the Church and the Black Experience at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and Lake Institute on Faith & Giving at the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Together, these partners hosted a symposium in 2023 and released two reports in 2024 about the need for collaboration between philanthropy and Black faith organizations, including Black churches which often engage in a kind of philanthropy of their own.

Recognizing the need for collaboration is significant because of what Rev. Jamar Boyd states so clearly in his article above:

“Understanding Black churches and faith communities, along with Black-led grassroots organizations, as collaborators for justice engaged in philanthropic practices–practices that inherently differ from those of the predominantly white philanthropic sector–strengthens the missions of foundations and significantly expands the scope of resource allocation and distribution.”

Both the collection of publications from the historic project and the reports that resulted from the current project now have a landing place, a digital home. The special collection of resources is now accessible on a special collection page on Lake’s website and on the Center for the Church and the Black Experience’s page on Garrett’s website.

As the collection grows, the hope is that both researchers and practitioners will find an entry point into the useful resources that can inform partnerships and collaborations for greater social impact.

To learn more and follow the Philanthropy and the Black Church project, sign up to receive updates.

Philanthropy and the Black Church Featured Resource

Philanthropy & the Black ChurchPhilanthropic institutions and the Black Church are co-creators in addressing community health and social justice. The Philanthropy and the Black Church resource library illustrates how these two sectors can work together to empower communities, providing research and case studies that showcase successful collaborations.

VIEW COLLECTION

Begin exploring the resource library with our featured resource: Knowledge, Language, Relationship, and Self Identity: Keeps to Mapping the Landscape of Philanthropy and the Black Church. This report provides key findings from a set of conversations that Rev. Jennifer Watley Maxell conducted with Black religious leaders, focusing on how they see the landscape of philanthropy and where they turn to, from a place of trust, for funding and support.

READ REPORT

Leadership Spotlight: Rev. Libby Davis Manning & Rabbi Adam Miller

We are pleased to spotlight two exceptional leaders who serve on Lake Institute’s Board of Advisors: Rev. Libby Davis Manning, Chair, and Rabbi Adam Miller, Vice Chair. Both bring unique perspectives and a wealth of experience to our work. In their individual articles, they share their thoughts on the intersection of faith and giving, and the emerging trends shaping the future of philanthropy. Click below to read more from Rev. Manning and Rabbi Miller.

Libby Davis Manning

Rev. Libby Davis Manning is Chair of Lake Institute’s Board of Advisors. She has served on the board for four years.

Learn more

Rabbi-Adam-Miller

Rabbi Adam Miller is Vice Chair of Lake Institute’s Board of Advisors. He has served on the board for five years.

learn more

DATE: January 28, 2025
TOPIC: Research and Scholarship
TYPE: Article
SOURCE: Insights Newsletter
KEYWORDS: Black Church, Black Church Leaders, Black Faith Communities, Faith and Giving, Faith Communities, Faith-Inspired Organizations, Fundraising Practice, Generosity, Philanthropy, Philanthropy and the Black Church, Religion and Philanthropy, Religious Giving, Religious Leaders
AUTHOR: Jamar A. Boyd, Tasha Gibson