A Georgia peach city girl who bleeds orange and green with FAMU pride, who is trained in graphic design and marketing strategy. Joy Webb is a connector and giver of time, talent, and treasure. Joy is a philanthropist on a mission to inspire and inform the masses that they too are philanthropists. We spent a moment with Joy prior to the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis to gain a deeper understanding of giving circles and how everyone can give. We hope after reading this you find a unique way to give back with your time, talent, treasures and testimony.
Tell us more about the Community Investment Network.
Community Investment Network (CIN) is a national network of giving circles. CIN, connects and strengthens African Americans and communities of color to leverage their collective resources and create the change THEY wish to see. The Core Values of CIN include
Philanthropic Leadership
Investing in the supply side of philanthropy by using time, talent and treasure. CIN cultivates a new cadre of philanthropic leaders from communities of color that acknowledge their civic responsibility and embrace their power to influence community change.
Learning Centered Practices
Creating a culture where knowledge and education are fundamental. CIN provides learning opportunities that explore the history of community philanthropy and provide knowledge on strategic giving – giving with a goal.
Inclusive Philanthropy
Connecting people engaged in all facets of giving to enhance the impact. CIN mobilizes donors in communities of color and encourages mutual respect and partnerships with mainstream philanthropy.
Social Justice and Equity
Supporting fair practices that ensure a level playing field. CIN uses philanthropy as a tool to drive social change on issues that directly impact people’s lives.
Collective Influence
Leveraging the power of working together. CIN inspires donors to pool their resources and intellectual capital to collectively build stronger communities.
Explain the concept of a giving circle.
A giving circle is a group who pool their personal time, talents, treasure, and testimony to address social issues in their communities using thoughtful giving strategies. The activities of a giving circle include grant making, advocacy and public education as complementary ways to demystify philanthropy by making it accessible and more democratic to everyday people. Community Investment Network understands the importance of guiding African Americans and people of color to the supply side of philanthropy and to be the first investors in their communities.
What have been some of the earlier successes you can share?
Our circles within the network are our success stories. If I were to highlight a few circles:
A Legacy of Tradition (ALOT)
All black mens giving circle in Raleigh, Durham
During a retreat in 2009, the group decided to focus their grant making on the high number of school suspensions among Black boys in their county’s public schools. At the time, Black students composed 20.2% of the student population, but were 75% of all school suspensions. Circle members attended school board meetings, reviewed county school data, and participated in policy discussions with district officials along with hosting their own meetings called ‘education tours,’ to help them understand the magnitude of the problem. They learned that most students were being suspended for petty infractions and not violent behavior, such as fighting or carrying weapons to school. As a result of concerted community wide efforts, the school system implemented a new policy that required any student facing a long-term suspension (of 10 days or more) to be reviewed before a task force. In the 2010-2011 school year alone, long-term suspensions dropped by 36%.
Birmingham Change Fund (http://birminghamchangefund.org)
Positively impacting Birmingham and making a difference after a decade. To date, has raised over $100,000. BCF has enabled its members to grow in a variety of ways. Since inception, they have grown in the area of philanthropy. As an extension of this growth, they have recognized the influence that they can have in our community and the most effective ways that we can see the results we desire. Consequently, some of the members have strategically and passionately seen the impact of serving the Birmingham City Schools as Board Members. Two of our members, Lyord Watson and Randall Woodfin, took their passion for service, education, and change to the next level by becoming members of the School Board . Randall continued in serving through politics and is now the Mayor of Birmingham.
Circle of Joy (http://circleofjoyatl.org)
The Circle of Joy located in Atlanta, GA leads with treasure and follows with time and talent by providing grants to nonprofits every two years. The money we have given is from members which shows they are on the supply side of philanthropy as opposed to the demand side which receives the grant. Partnering with great community building organizations that are helping our youth in Metro Atlanta be better citizens has resulted in over $100,000 in time, talent, and treasure grants to Atlanta nonprofits.
CoThinkk (http://cothinkk.org)
CoThinkk located in Asheville, NC stands for cultivating diverse opinions to accelerate change, support creative innovation, and build valuable connections and knowledge. The double “k” means “konnections and knowledge”. CoThinkk is important because it is giving communities of color the space to build their leadership and voice. Often times the people in charge aren’t always the most affected by the decisions being made, she said. True community transformation will happen when a more diverse group is present. CoThinkk has become a change-agent in the community both for people of color and the broader population.
How can more people get involved in giving circles or potentially start a giving circle?
The Community Investment Network is a great resource to learn more about giving circles or how to start a giving circle. Also contact your local Community Foundations as they may have giving circles in the community you reside.
Do you believe our black communities struggle with the concept of giving?
The black community as a whole has always given back. It is part of our culture. The way we give has varied but with the giving circle model of giving it leverages time, talent, and treasure which are all very valuable when giving back.
What would be one thing you would share with our readers regarding philanthropy?
The definition of philanthropy is really the love for humankind. The Community Investment Network is working collectively and intentionally to be the change we want to see to make the world a better place.
Tell us what the future holds for the Community Investment Network?
We are speaking at a number of events and conferences this spring to share more on our network and ongoing initiatives.
We are having a College Leadership Summit 2020 AGENTS OF CHANGE Webinar series is starting in April and we are preparing for our annual conference which will take place in Denver, CO this year Oct. 1- 4th. More about these events can be found on our website and social media.
What can non-profits and those wanting to give think about right now to assist those in need from a giving circle perspective?
Working together in the community is what we do in community investment network. I terms of the climate right now we have to all work together collectively to help each other as people’s lives are shifting in terms of employee and schools closing. Brainstorming to see what the needs of the community are and then set a plan in action to help make that change happen.
How can we learn more and get in connect with you?
Community Investment Network website and social media include
www.thecommunityinvestment.org
Community Investment Network on facebook
@cinphilanthrophy on IG
@communitynetwrk on twittter
joy.webb@thecoummunityinvestment.org is my email if you are interested in learning more about Community Investment Network or the signature initiatives #WeArePhilanthropists or EDG curriculum.