Supporting communities of color in developing and driving philanthropy is the reason behind a $250,000 grant given by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) to United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region (UWBCKR).

The grant, part of WKKF’s Catalyzing Community Giving initiative, will allow UWBCKR to work with leaders from communities of color in Battle Creek to create philanthropic activities that impact their communities more effectively. The grant will also help UWBCKR evaluate its own investment processes to make sure they’re equitable and relevant to the people served.

“The social issues United Way tackles often affect people of color more than others,” said Nakia Baylis, Ph.D., Community Impact Associate at UWBCKR. “We’re committed to driving positive change in an equitable way across our region. To do that, it’s crucial that we work alongside communities of color, learning from them so we can better support their philanthropic activities.”

Too often, charitable agencies come into communities and try to solve problems without engaging with the people who know those problems best, Baylis explained. A better approach involves self-directed philanthropy—empowering communities of color to develop and apply solutions. This partnership approach creates stronger relationships across all communities while delivering more effective results.

“As a long-time partner with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, United Way is grateful for this opportunity to work hand-in-hand with communities of color in Battle Creek and support them to create lasting impact,” Baylis said.

Between now and August 2022, UWBCKR will receive the grant monies and apply them to do the following:
• Complete an equity audit of UWBCKR’s processes for raising and distributing dollars;
• Hold community engagement training for staff and project partners through the Harwood Institute;
• Conduct community conversations in Battle Creek to identify existing philanthropy in communities of color as well as needs;
• Work alongside those communities as they create new philanthropic initiatives where desired;
• Provide mini-grants to build fundraising capacity for those new, community-led philanthropic activities in Battle Creek;
• Match dollars raised by the cohort of community leaders taking part in the Catalyzing Community Giving project.

WKKF has been exploring and advocating for efforts to drive self-directed philanthropy in communities of color for more than 18 years. The Catalyzing Community Giving effort seeks to raise philanthropic dollars in communities of color while engaging donors around issues that disproportionately affect vulnerable children and families in those communities.

You can learn more about United Way’s commitment to equity on our equity page.