Our Vision
As a united force of Black women, BWGive envisions a transformed era of philanthropy, where collective action fuels positive and sustainable change, nurtures growth, and empowers under-resourced communities to prosper and reach their highest potential.
What Is Collective Giving?
Collective giving, also known as “giving circles,” brings together like-minded individuals to support shared causes by pooling their resources and making collective decisions about where, when, and how to distribute grants. This collaborative approach allows individuals to have a greater impact collectively than they might have alone. Collective giving offers numerous benefits, including increased engagement, social connectivity, and the ability to make significant contributions to multiple organizations.
How It Works
Collective giving involves three main steps:
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Give: Each member contributes to a grants pool. Through collective giving, the pool of grant funds grows, enabling impactful grants to be made.
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Example: 200 Full-Voting Members each contribute $550 to the grants pool, totaling $110,000.
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Vote: Members participate in the decision-making process by voting on proposed grants. Each member has one vote.
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Grant: The accumulated funds are awarded to area nonprofits working to foster sustainable change in communities of color (excluding 9% administrative cost to BWGive).
Benefits of Collective Giving
Collective giving offers a range of benefits:
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Higher Engagement: Donors become more involved in the grantmaking process, leading to a deeper understanding of community needs and increased investment in outcomes.
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Independence: Giving circles maintain independence by not affiliating with any single nonprofit, allowing donors the freedom to explore new opportunities.
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Strategic Philanthropy: Members learn how to achieve significant change by working together.
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Social Connectivity: Members have the opportunity to volunteer, participate in events, and actively build their community together.
Our History
Founded in 2016, the Black Women Give Foundation (BWGive) - led by Shana Salley-MacMillan, Summer Willow Fitch, Jacqueline Ferguson, and Tamika Otis—launched a movement to engage Black women and their families in philanthropy through the power of collective giving.
Like many giving circles, BWGive is rooted in a dual purpose: to deepen members’ understanding of community needs while amplifying the impact of individual contributions through shared investment.
Through our grantmaking, we prioritize initiatives that:
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Strengthen the capacity of organizations committed to meaningful, measurable outcomes
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Support innovative strategies that drive real change
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Advance sustainability to ensure long-term community impact
At the heart of BWGive is the belief that collective giving is transformative. By pooling resources, knowledge, and networks, we foster connection, shared responsibility, and accountability to the communities we serve. This approach not only builds solidarity among Black women but also expands our collective influence in philanthropy.
Together, we are amplifying voices, resourcing grassroots solutions, and driving lasting change.
Our Core Values
Empowerment
At the core of our mission is empowerment. We are dedicated to equipping under-resourced community organizations with the expertise, tools, and confidence to become community changemakers. Through collective giving, we empower donors to exercise their philanthropic potential, giving them a voice in shaping the future.
Collaboration
Collaboration is at the core of our approach. We know complex social challenges require diverse perspectives and collective action. By working together, we amplify impact and leverage the full strength of our community. We actively partner with organizations, communities, and stakeholders to build a strong network of support - advancing shared goals and driving meaningful, lasting change.
Sustainability
We understand that lasting change requires a commitment to responsible and enduring solutions. Our philanthropic efforts are designed not just for immediate impact but with a focus on long-term benefits. We strive to create a legacy of positive change for future generations.
About Membership
Here’s how BWGive’s Collective Giving Model works:
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To become a Full-Voting Member, the individual must be 18 years old and donate $550 by December 1, 2026. Of that amount, $500 goes straight into the pool of grant funds for the coming year. Donations under $550 are non-member contributions; 90% goes to the grant pool, and 10% covers administrative costs.
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Membership is a one-year commitment, and there is no obligation to participate beyond donating.
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We offer both member-exclusive events and events open to all donors.
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Grant finalists are determined through an extensive process of proposal review and evaluation by members, and grant recipients are selected by a vote of the membership — one member, one vote.
Our members represent a diverse mosaic of backgrounds, religions, occupations, experiences, beliefs, and individual interests. We are professionals, entrepreneurs, educators, mothers, sisters, daughters, activists, students, and retirees hailing from various corners of the country, united by our shared commitment to philanthropy and social change.
As a collective, we learn about local needs in underrepresented communities of color and the nonprofits working to meet those needs. Our process includes researching, discussing, and experiencing the vital work being done, as we simultaneously identify gaps in services to our communities. At the end of each grant cycle, we culminate our findings and, as a collective, we vote to award impactful grants. We are working to foster positive and sustainable change within underrepresented communities of color.
We remain excited about:
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Being a united force of Black women dedicated to making a difference in their communities.
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Reshaping the landscape of philanthropy, moving away from the exclusive realm of the wealthy or affluent.
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Creating positive and sustainable change in underrepresented communities of color, which fosters collaboration and empowerment.
We would love to have you join us!
Our Membership Types
Join Us
Join as a Member for 2026
We welcome all donations from who want to join us in collective giving! Make your donation on or before December 1, 2026 to be a member who funds and votes for grants to be awarded.
Payment options:
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Check
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Credit card processed via PayPal
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Installments. (Email us for a special installment link.)
Donate to the Grants Pool or Other Programs
We greatly appreciate — and rely on — donations to support BWGive’s collective grantmaking. Donations to BWGive are:
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Fully tax-deductible.
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Support Operations: Donations fund the essential daily operations that enable BWGive to accomplish its mission.
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Join the Black-Tie Club: Although BWGive is a women-led philanthropic effort, men are welcome to support our efforts by donating via the Black-Tie Club. We encourage our men to consider sponsoring the women from their networks such as from their school, church, community, and place of employment.
Be a Corporate Sponsor
Corporate sponsorship provides essential support for BWGive’s grantmaking, education, and membership activities. Please contact us to discuss.
Our Causes
Health & Wellness
Our funding priorities focus on advancing the well-being of individuals and communities of color through culturally responsive approaches. We support initiatives that address healthcare disparities, expand access to mental health services, and promote preventive care and healthier lifestyles. We also invest in programs that strengthen relationships among individuals, families, communities, and their environments—through efforts such as conserving and enhancing open spaces and fostering community thriving. Additionally, we include animal welfare as a key priority, recognizing the role of humane care, responsible stewardship, and the human–animal bond in building healthier, more compassionate communities.
Education
We support education initiatives that foster learning and skill development across all ages. Our priority is equitable access to high-quality opportunities—including formal education, vocational training, adult literacy, and continuing education. Through these investments, we strengthen educational outcomes, improve literacy, and promote lifelong learning, empowering individuals and building skilled, knowledgeable communities.
Economic Empowerment
In this category, we support economic security initiatives that empower communities of color through financial education, asset-building, and related services. We prioritize efforts that equip individuals with the knowledge and tools to navigate financial systems and build long-term stability. Through these investments, we aim to address systemic barriers and historical disparities that have limited economic advancement.
Grants
BWGive’s grants support initiatives across three key categories: health and wellness, education, and economic empowerment. In education, we prioritize projects that promote equitable access to high-quality education for all age groups, fostering lifelong learning and skilled communities. Our health and wellness grants focus on addressing healthcare disparities and empowering communities to adopt healthier lifestyles through culturally sensitive services and environmental initiatives. In economic empowerment, we support programs that equip communities of color with financial education and tools to overcome systemic barriers, fostering economic advancement and empowerment.
BWGive requires program alignment with our core objectives, aiming to facilitate systemic change, apply innovative solutions to critical needs, and produce measurable impact on the lives of underserved individuals, families, and communities of color.
BWG is particularly interested in programs that:
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Include innovative and creative solutions.
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Are based on ethical standards and best practices.
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Include strategies for sustainability beyond the funding cycle.
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Incorporate collaboration and cooperation among nonprofit and community partners.
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Have the potential for long-term impact and may be scaled if successful to serve other populations and geographical territories.
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Include evaluation tools and protocols to monitor program outcomes.
News & Events
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
Membership Questions
Let's Chat
Contact Us
Black Women Give Foundation
501(c)(3) Public Charity
PO Box 188 Bala Cynwd Pa 19004
267-277-3090