Letter From the Steering Committee

Dear Community Members,

Thank you for your interest and time in the Giving Black® Hampton Roads research project. We are grateful for you and for your efforts to share and amplify the rich history of Black giving in the region.

Historically, Black communities have often been overlooked in philanthropy. Giving Black® Hampton Roads provides a space for Black philanthropic thought leadership and intentional engagement of Black donors. With your help, we were able to engage more than 600 Black residents through surveys, interviews, and focus groups.

As the Steering Committee for Giving Black® Hampton Roads, we are pleased and thankful to have worked with an amazing Advisory Council of Black community leaders. For a year, you have devoted your time and energy to engaging Black voices in philanthropy in Hampton Roads. Together, we have learned more about the history of Black donors who join forces to support their own neighborhoods, schools, nonprofit organizations, and churches. We have heard about many unique attributes of Black philanthropy, such as the collective giving power, efforts to achieve transformational change, and the unwavering determination to provide a better life for their families.

Thanks to your participation, these stories will not fade away. Instead, they serve as a testimony to the strength and generosity of the Black community in Hampton Roads and beyond. This is just the beginning of our journey to deepen relationships within the community and to reimagine philanthropy in a more equitable way.

We are so thankful to work side by side with each of you. We welcome you to continue this journey with us.

Vivian Oden
Vice President for Equity and Inclusion
Hampton Roads Community Foundation

Sharon Goodwyn
Counsel, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
Vice Chair, Hampton Roads Community Foundation

Robin Foreman-Wheeler
Vice President for Administration
Hampton Roads Community Foundation