The
Seventh National Conference on Black Philanthropy
"Strengthening Black Communities through Time, Talent and Treasure"
Introducing
"A Philanthropic Covenant with Black America"
This conference will be presented in conjunction with The Association of Fundraising Professional International Conference on Fundraising
Sheraton New Orleans
New Orleans, LA
March 29 - April 1, 2009
Pre-Conference Activities: Saturday, March 28, 2009
| Featured Keynote Speakers | |
|---|---|
 |
 |
| Chris Gardner | Michael Douglas |
Introduction
The Seventh National Conference on Black Philanthropy, “Strengthening Black Communities through Time, Talent, and Treasure,” will be held, for the first time, in conjunction with The Association of Fundraising Professionals’ (AFP), International Conference on Fundraising. This arrangement is expected to bring great benefits to both parties. The National Center benefits because, by “piggy-backing” on AFP’s conference, the Center’s costs will be greatly reduced, while greatly extending our buying power. Further, it responds to a consistent demand by a growing number of conferees for more training in resource development, and given the current state of the American economy, all nonprofits, but especially those serving Black and other minority communities, will have to become more proficient in the art of fundraising. AFP’s conferees, on the other hand, will increase the diversity of its audience and their conferees will be exposed to subject matter not usually available to them. The National Center and AFP regard this as “win-win situation” for both organizations.
The theme of the conference will be “Strengthening Black Communities through Time, Talent and Treasurer,” a phrase that will be adopted by the National Center as a permanent motto. The theme will emphasize the Center’s new focus on actively working with Black communities using philanthropy (time, talent, and treasure) to address lingering social justice issues. The culmination of this work will be expressed in the new “Philanthropic Covenant with Black America,” a blueprint outlining specific approaches to such work.
“The Philanthropic Covenant,” written in part with a grant from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, will be published in December by Wiley and Sons. It will have ten chapters on subjects that will include environmental racism, giving by individuals, mobilizing volunteers and utilizing strong Black families to help build strong communities, among others. It will also contain recommendations for generating funds that can be used to support activities in Black communities that frequently have difficulty finding funding. And finally, it will present the concept of the “Covenant Commitment,” a promise by an individual or group to undertaken a project, program or activity that will benefit Black communities in one of the areas identified in the “Philanthropic Covenant.” All conferees will be asked to make a “Covenant Commitment” before leaving the conference. These “Commitments” will be posted on our website following the conference, so that others can join or support them.
Finally, all of this will be put to the test with an enhanced “Hands-on-Philanthropy” Day in which conferees from both the National Center’s and AFP’s conferences are expected to participate. In cooperation with the Louisiana Recovery Development Foundation and other local agencies, the National Center is planning a program that will have a meaningful impact on the New Orleans community both during and after the conference.
Goals
The goals of the Seventh National Conference on Black Philanthropy will be as follows:
- To increase knowledge of how philanthropy, defined as “Time, Talent and Treasure,” can strengthen Black communities by helping to solve long-term, seemingly intractable problems
- To increase the number of individuals and groups willing to work on these problems;
- To help new audiences learn about the history, and scope of African-American philanthropy and its contributions to American society as a whole; and
- To make a positive contribution to the rebuilding of New Orleans through the use of “Time, Talent and Treasure” provided by people attending the conference.
Format
The educational program of the Seventh National Conference will change slightly in recognition of the very large program offered by AFP. Since AFP offers more than 100 workshops that will be open to all National Center conferees, the Center will concentrate on Panels, Distinguished Speakers and events which AFP conferees will be able to attend. The Center has also been working with AFP on the choice of Main Speakers, the first of whom is listed below. The Center’s programming will be as follows:
- Keynote Speaker
Christopher Gardner (the person whom Will Smith played in the 2006 movie, “The Pursuit of Happyness”)
Michael Douglas
- Panels (preliminary)
“Philanthropy and Children and Families,” organized by the Annie E. Casey Foundation;
“You, Too, Can Be a Philanthropist,” organized by Ameriprise Financial Institution;
“A Philanthropic Covenant with Black America” organized by the National Center for Black Philanthropy;
“Philanthropy and Higher Education” organized in conjunction with the National Organization of college Parents, Inc.; and
“Philanthropy in Sports and Entertainment” organized in conjunction with the National Alliance of African American Athletes.
- Events
Pre-Conference Workshops (tbd)
Prayer Breakfast
Black Business and Philanthropy Program
Philanthropy Awards Dinner
General Reception
- Distinguished Speakers
TBD
- Hands-on-Philanthropy Day
Once again, the conference will feature this highly successful program that was first introduced during the Fifth National Conference in 2005. On the day before the Minneapolis conference opened, nearly 50 volunteers from among conference attendees worked for several hours at one of 6 nonprofit organizations in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Nearly 40 volunteers worked in four community agencies in Washington, DC prior to the last conference in 2007.
The National Center will be working with the Louisiana Recovery Development Foundation and with two local community agencies to develop a volunteer program that will have meaning beyond the few days of the conference. AFP will also be working with its local chapter on the same agenda. Preliminary plans call for special workshops to be offered outside the conference walls someplace in the local community at minimal charge to local people. The training will be followed up one-on-one consultation and technical assistance with volunteers. And conferees will again have the option of making a financial contribution to the agencies the volunteers work with, additional plans are also in the works.
- Projected Attendance
400-500
- Registration Fee
Regular: $495
Late: $525 Members of the National Center receive a 10% discount off their registration fee.
- Number of Days
5 Days (Saturday – Wednesday)
- Preliminary Conference Program
Saturday
"Hands on Philanthropy Day"
Pre-Conference Workshops
Sunday
AFP Bookstore 8:00am - 5:00pm AFP Profess. Academy 9:00am - 12:00pm AFP Grand Markeplace 12:00pm-4:30pm 7NC Opening 7NC Panel (Philanthropic Convenant) Keynote Speaker (C. Gardner) Welcome Reception
Monday
AFP Bookstore 8:00am - 5:00pm Workshops 8:00am - 9:15am Marketplace 8:45am - 4:00pm 2d Keynote Speaker (TBD) 9:30am - 11:00am Distinguished Panel (AFP) 1:15pm - 2:00pm Distinguished Panel (7NC) 2:15pm - 3:00pm Workshops 3:45pm - 5:00pm Philanthropy Awards Dinner Program (7NC) 7:00pm - 10:00pm
Tuesday
AFP Bookstore 8:00am - 5:00pm Workshops 8:00am - 9:15am Marketplace 8:45am - 2:00pm 2d Keynote Speaker (Michael Douglas) 9:30am - 11:00am Distinguished Panel(7NC) 1:30pm - 4:30pm Black Business and Philanthropy (7NC) 5:00pm - 6:30pm
Wednesday
Prayer Breakfast (7NC) 8:00am - 9:30am AFP Bookstore 8:00am - 12:30pm Distinguished Speaker 8:30am - 9:30am Workshops (AFP) 10:00am - Noon Distinguished Panel (7NC) 10:00am - Noon
