Continuing Conversations on Race and White Privilege: Black Philanthropy: More Than a Check

 Black communities have a long and powerful tradition of philanthropy rooted in mutual aid, faith communities, education, organizing, entrepreneurship, and collective responsibility. Yet mainstream conversations about philanthropy have often overlooked this history while simultaneously defining philanthropy through institutions and wealth models that have excluded Black communities.

Drawing on her experience as a nonprofit fundraising professional and leader, Mikaela Levons will explore the history and contemporary practice of Black philanthropy—and what it can teach all of us about generosity, community power, racial equity, and the relationship between money and social change. The conversation will also examine some uncomfortable questions for the nonprofit sector: Who gets recognized as a philanthropist? Whose giving gets counted? Who gets to decide what communities need? And what would change if fundraising were understood less as “getting money from donors” and more as building relationships in service of community?

Mikaela Levons, Director of Development at Borealis Philanthropy, brings over 15 years of fundraising practice to the challenges of structural harm. She is known as a culture carrier who grounds fundraising in equity and partnership, rather than transaction.  Most recently, she was the Chief of Development at Equal Justice USA, an organization that reimagined justice and built community safety across the country. In previous organizations, Mikaela developed data-informed fundraising strategies that aligned institutional giving, major donors, infrastructure investment, and future growth opportunities. She prioritized building strong systems, teams, and collaboration across departments.

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