BPI Announces Recent Grant Recipients and Requests Video Proposals for Impact Grants

The Black Philanthropy Initiative (BPI) announces $117,000 in its Advancing Equity in Education Grants program.  

This grant cycle focused on BPI’s goal of advancing equity in education so that Black students and graduates can gain access, advance, and have the support needed to thrive. BPI prioritized Black-led organizations, schools with a high population of Black students, and organizations and programs that invest directly in predominately Black schools or neighborhoods. 

Grants were awarded to:  

• Authoring Action: $13,000 for Just Us, a creative writing and filmmaking program designed for justice-involved youth ages 12-17

• Carter G. Woodson School: $13,000 to pilot a Restorative Justice program for 7th and 8th graders exploring alternative discipline policies to keep students in school and learning

• Cook Literacy Model School: $13,000 for staff professional development in adverse childhood experiences, trauma-informed teaching, and restorative practices

• Developing Future Leaders, Inc: $13,000 for the Core Pneuma initiative to provide personalized coaching to Black male WS/FCS students facing personal challenges. Participants gain understanding and awareness of self-identity, self-trauma, self-control, and self-mapping

• Konnoak Community Freedom School: $13,000 for a six-week summer literacy and enrichment program serving middle and high school students

• Pathway Community Foundation: $13,000 for a five-month HBCU smart cities challenge engaging WSSU students to learn and build technology-driven solutions to benefit our community

• TURN INC Community Development Corp: $13,000 for the Young Black Men Stepping Up male mentoring program for middle school boys to include a tutoring and enrichment component

• WS RISE: $13,000 for the Academic Proficiency Recovery Program, providing students with customized learning plans, extended learning services, and family engagement support

• YWCA of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County: $13,000 for the Best Choice Center STEM-focused summer camp fostering academic learning, self-esteem, and leadership.

In the fall of 2022, BPI announced a goal of raising at least $2 million over three years—with the vast majority going toward its annual grantmaking programs and the remaining to BPI’s endowment to ensure grantmaking dollars are available for years to come. In 2023 BPI has already provided $161,500 in grants to local programs and initiatives, investing 100% of those funds into Black-led organizations or schools supporting local Black communities.  

BPI currently offers three grant programs: Impact Grants, Advancing Equity in Education Grants, and Building an Inclusive Economy Grants. BPI is accepting video applications for its Impact Grants program through midnight, Monday, July 24. To learn more about these grant programs and to find ways to contribute to this work, visit bpiws.org.