Philanthropy and the Black Church
Special Collection


This special collection focuses on resources from philanthropy and Black religious organizations, with attention to past and current efforts to strengthen connections between the two sectors.

The Philanthropy and the Black Church Project is a multi-decade initiative to explore the rich history of philanthropy in Black Churches, illuminate how Black faith communities have used their collective resources for social impact, and support Black churches and philanthropic organizations in creating ongoing collaborative partnerships that empower communities, seek social justice, and improve community health.

The Philanthropy and the Black Church project began as a collaborative effort in the late twentieth century to increase mutual understanding and collaboration between Black Churches and philanthropic organizations.  Today, Lake Institute on Faith & Giving and the Center for the Church and the Black Experience at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary continue this mission by convening leaders in philanthropy and the Black church, conducting research, developing resources for mutual understanding, and building relationships.

This special collections brings together research and insight from past and current efforts to encourage informed learning and action by leaders today. It offers:

  1. An archive of materials from the earlier project
  2. A dynamic repository for current and future resources

Philanthropic leaders and Black Church leaders alike are invited to explore this new resource library and use the materials to build deeper, trust-based partnerships that will transform communities for generations to come.


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