UNCF (United Negro College Fund) has announced the launch of its Philanthropy Institute, which aims to reimagine the practice of fundraising by leveraging culturally informed expertise and a commitment to racial justice and social equity.

Supported by the UNCF Teaching + Learning Center (TLC), the institute will work to address the unique needs of fundraisers working with BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) communities. Believed to be the first of its kind, the institute is designed by and for fundraising professionals at Black and other underserved organizations such as historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

According to UNCF, Black donors give 25 percent more of their income than other racial groups, yet the professionals who fundraise in these communities may not have the insight or training to work within this demographic. To remedy that situation, the institute will serve fundraising professionals at educational institutions as well as fundraising and nonprofit organizations to help them achieve their professional goals and objectives. In addition, it will provide consulting services for organizations looking to expand their fundraising capabilities.

“The [institute] is an innovative development operation that will provide essential resources for fundraising professionals at UNCF member institutions and will further position our schools as competitive institutions for higher education,” said TLC senior director Shawna Acker-Ball. “The institute is set to become a leading education and training organization in the unique BIPOC fundraising space.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Cecile Arcurs)