Wrapping up the month-long celebration of Black Philanthropy Month, several local nonprofit organizations will participate in the third annual "Give 8/28," a national charitable giving day dedicated to inspiring philanthropy by and for Black communities. For 24 hours on August 28, Give 8/28 will virtually drive support of nearly 400 Black-led and Black-benefiting nonprofit organizations with the goal of raising $250,000 nationwide for causes that directly impact the communities they serve.

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County awarded $250 grants to the first 20 nonprofit organizations that registered to participate within Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties. More than 10 local organizations voiced their interest to join the give day hosted by the Young, Black and Giving Back (YBGB) Institute, which has been offered since 2018.

This year’s local participating organizations include Manasota ASALH (Association for the Study of African American Life and History), Brotherhood of Men Mentor Group, D.I.V.A.S. of Sarasota Inc, Gamma Xi Boulé Foundation, Howard Club of Southwest Florida, Learn My History Foundation, Sarasota Bradenton Kappa Alpha Psi Project Guide Right, Sarasota African-American Cultural Coalition, Inc, Second Chance Last Opportunity, Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative, Truly Valued and Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe.

Give 8/28 was created by the Young, Black and Giving Back Institute, a nonprofit organization that seeks to educate, inspire, and empower Black Gen-Xers and Millennials to invest in changing their communities through philanthropy. Held annually on Aug. 28, the date holds both historic and symbolic significance for Black communities, reflecting the day when Emmett Till was murdered in 1955, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have A Dream” speech in 1963, and Barack Obama accepted the Democratic nomination for President of the United States in 2008, among others.

In order to participate, nonprofit organizations have to demonstrate that their board, leadership, and staff are predominantly Black and that the organization’s primary purpose is to work to build the political, economic, and/or social power of Black communities. Registration ended on Aug. 19; to support participating nonprofits on Friday, August 28, click here.