Black Giving Collective

The Black Giving Collective supports Black-led, community-based projects in our region that foster self-sufficiency and address key quality-of-life challenges. Through its work, the Collective advances social and educational development and promotes dialogue that strengthens racial understanding. 

The Black Giving Collective Fund maintains the mission of its predecessor, the African American Giving Initiative, while embracing the diverse experiences within the Black community, including African Americans and people of African, Afro-Caribbean, and Afro-Latin descent.  

Established in 2011, this initiative is focused on creating an endowment fund with broad community support and to provide grantmaking for needs that are specific to the Black community in the greater Rochester region. Contributors are committed to making a positive change in problem areas experienced most strongly within the African American community.

Gifts to the Black Giving Collective will be designated for two purposes — half for grantmaking that year and half to help build the endowment. 

We encourage giving to the Collective from anyone who believes that a community is only as healthy as each person’s neighbor.

To Give

Use our easy and secure online form or mail a check, payable to Rochester Area Community Foundation (with Black Giving Collective in the Memo line) to Black Giving Collective , c/o Rochester Area Community Foundation, 500 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607. All contributions to the Collective are tax deductible

To Apply

To be eligible for a grant from the Black Giving Collective visit the grant page for more information and how to apply.

2025 Grants

Eighteen grants totaling $228,706 were awarded to:

BreatheDeep, Inc.: Restorative wellness and mental health through culturally responsive programs

Celebration of Life Community Inc.: Help Me Read One-on-one tutoring

Coordinated Care Services, Inc.: Greater Rochester Parent Leadership Training Institute Teacher Diversity Project

Delphi Rise: Mental health and substance use prevention for youth in rural Wayne County

Dolah Me After Care: The Mom A Hand Ahead (MAHA) Project and The AfterMath Support Groups

Garth Fagan Dance: Garth Fagan Dance Student Ensemble

Glow Up Girl Inc.: Investing in Rural Leadership through Out of School Programming

Heritage Christian Services: Empower to Lead, increasing representation of women of color in leadership roles

HOPE585: Strengthening Families to Prevent Child Welfare System Intervention

Interdenominational Health Ministry Coalition: Community Counseling Circle Mental Health Program

Jefferson Family Health Fund: African American Diabetes Intervention for Brown Square

Rochester Education Association for the Development of Youth (READY): READY Liberation Teaching Academy

Sankofa Family Counseling Services, LCSW, PLLC: Efficiency & Access to Care Upgrade Project

Urban League of Rochester: summerLEAP learning program for children

Visual Studies Workshop: Being Black in America Collective Action Project

Voices of Community Activists & Leaders, Inc.: Growing Black Civic Power in Rochester

YMCA of Greater Rochester: Empowering Connections for Black and Brown Seniors at Thurston Road YMCA Neighborhood Center

Young Women’s College Prep Foundation, Inc. Preparing Young Women for Tomorrow

2023: Three grants totaling $7,500 were awarded to:

  • Cancer Support Community Rochester: For Mapping My Journey in Communities of Color, a comprehensive outreach, advocacy, and education program within the African American and Latino communities focusing on addressing health disparities around cancer preventative health. $2,500
  • Greater Rochester Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI): A Coordinate Care Services, Inc. initiative focusing on equipping Monroe County parents with advocacy skills to influence their community and increasing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts in our region. $2,500
  • Hope Initiatives CDC, Inc.: Restoring Lives, a program that focuses on restoring lives challenged by the effects of incarceration, substance use disorders, and poverty, addresses immediate needs through the provision of furniture, household goods, moving and storage services. $2,500

2022: Three grants totaling $7,500 were awarded to:

  • The Commissary Fund Inc: $2,500
  • Raising the Barcode: $2,500
  • Interdenominational Health Ministry Coalition: $4,000

2021: Two grants totaling $8,000 were awarded to:

  • Beyond the Sanctuary: $4,000
  • Rochester Black Nursing Association: $4,000

2020: Three grants totaling $7,500 were awarded to:

  • Center for Employment Opportunities: $2,500
  • Center for Teen Empowerment: $2,500
  • Dress for Success Rochester, Inc.: $2,500

2019: Three grants totaling $8,000 were awarded to:

  • Judicial Process Commission: $2,500
  • Gateways Music Festival: $2,500
  • Mt. Sinai Ministries: $3,000

2018: Three grants totaling $10,000 were awarded to:

  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Rochester: $5,000
  • Quad A for Kids: $2,500
  • Wilson Alliance: $2,500

2017: Three grants totaling $7,100 were awarded to support:

  • Gateways Music Festival 2017: $2,500
  • Cameron Community Ministries: $2,100
  • University of Rochester: $2,500

2016: The Judicial Process Commission: $5,000 

2015: Three grants of $3,333.34 each were awarded to support:

  • Cameron Community Ministries: $3,333.34
  • Gateways Music Festival: $3,333.34 
  • Group 14621 Community Association: $3,333.34

2014: Group 14621 Community Association: $2,500

2013: Gateways Music Festival: $5,200

Other Significant Work

The State of Black Rochester 2013: Education + Employment = Equity was commissioned by the Collective to provide an overview of the racial and ethnic disparities in our community. This 40-page paperback, which is a compilation of essays from prominent community leaders and experts, includes data compiled by ACT Rochester. The book is available in print and in e-book form on Amazon.com.

About Our Logo

The Collective’s logo features a Sankofa bird, a powerful symbol from Ghana signifying the importance of learning from the past to build a stronger future. “Sankofa” translates to “go back and get it” in the Twi language, and is often represented by the Adinkra symbol of a bird turning its head backward to retrieve an egg from its back.

The Sankofa bird became an important visual during the Black consciousness movement, representing the need to understand, connect with, and reclaim African cultural roots disrupted by slavery in order to pursue personal and communal progress. This symbol has continued to be a meaningful motif in African American art, literature, and culture.

For more information on the Black Giving Collective, email dperry@racf.org.