Black Philanthropy and Estate Planning Drive Long-Term Giving in Broward County
The Community Foundation of Broward is marking Black Philanthropy Month and National Make-A-Will Month by underscoring how charitable giving and estate planning can help residents create lasting support for local causes.
Black Philanthropy Month, observed globally each August, recognizes Black giving and encourages greater funding equity and community investment. The Community Foundation of Broward, guided by its “Cherish Diversity” core value, has expanded outreach since 2022 to partner with more Black philanthropists. These efforts have contributed to a 71% increase in charitable funds established by Black donors at the Foundation.
Local examples include Burnadette Norris-Weeks and Aaron Weeks, who created an endowed donor-advised fund to provide permanent support for racial justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, and Community Foundation Board Chair Jonathan Allen and Timothy Allen, who established endowed scholarship funds honoring their father, civil rights attorney W. George Allen. Through endowed funds and estate commitments, these families are using philanthropy to expand opportunity and sustain a multigenerational legacy.
National Make-A-Will Month highlights the importance of creating or updating a will, which can direct personal assets and extend charitable impact through planned giving. The Community Foundation works with donors and their advisors to structure estate gifts that launch or grow endowed funds, providing ongoing support for selected causes and organizations. Individuals who include the Foundation in their estate plans may join its Legacy Society, which now includes more than 150 philanthropists who have committed a combined $500 million in future gifts.
A study commissioned by the Community Foundation of Broward, “Unlocking Opportunities: Shaping the Future of Charitable Giving in Broward County”, found that identity influences how and where households give and that diverse donors have been underrepresented in mainstream philanthropy. The research also identified growing interest in strategic giving tools such as donor-advised funds. Today, the Foundation oversees 590 charitable funds and has distributed nearly $215 million in grants since 1984, supporting areas such as education, the arts, career readiness, seniors, environmental resilience, health, housing, disaster relief and nonprofit capacity.
More information about the Community Foundation of Broward is available on its website.