Spirit of Abundance - African American philanthropy - includes related information

With millions for charity to her credit, this sister knows our gifts can give us a say

ASK CHERYL D. POLK TO RAISE $100,000 for a good cause and, without blinking, she's likely to answer, "When do you need it?" You could say this sister has goodwill in her genes: She's following her parents' lead.

"Every day I saw my father giving--helping his church, his community, our family," says Polk, remembering her childhood days when her dad, pastor of New Light Baptist Church in Omaha, was often called away from his family to tend to his congregation. And Polk's mom balanced the roles of preacher's wife, full-time worker and mother of seven.

Today the grown-up Polk, a 36-year-old mother of three, is part of a wave of sisters and brothers ushering in an era of Black self-help. As a premiere fund-raiser in St. Louis, Missouri, she calls on friends, colleagues and corporate heads to dig into their pockets and company coffers and support good works. In addition to handling her regular job as director of donor services for the American Red Cross, Polk has worked to raise more than $3 million for organizations like the Girl Scouts and the United Way.

"United Way is better because of Cheryl, and the community is better," says Charmaine Chapman, president and CEO of the United Way of Greater St. Louis. Polk joined United Way in 1993 as a "leadership giver," one who donates $1,000 or more. Then she began calling on Blacks to give to the organization. Her fund-raising track record was so good--she won several awards--that at one time the United Way employed her as a consultant.

Why does she give so much to charity? "Too often people of color are highlighted as recipients of services, but not as contributors," Polk says with a saleswoman's pitch that can send you to your purse. "It's important for us to be part of the leadership of organizations that impact our communities."

More of us are getting that message. The number of African-American donors is rising, largely because of increased wealth in our community and a widening of the gap between rich and poor, philanthropy experts say. As giving declined from 77 to 73 percent among Whites and from 65 to 57 percent among Hispanics, Black household contributions to charities rose from 51 percent in 1993 to 53 percent in 1995, according to the latest survey by the Independent Sector, a group that tracks giving in the United States. And the poorest are the most generous: Americans with household incomes of $10,000 and under gave about 4.3 percent of their incomes to charity.

Now philanthropy experts are encouraging us to go one step further--to give strategically. We can do that by donating to the causes that benefit Blacks and by demanding a say in how our money is used.

Are You a `Responsible Giver'?

If anyone knows about giving, we do. During slavery, free Blacks pooled their funds in church and mutual aid societies to feed, clothe and even free other Blacks. In our 200-year tradition of philanthropy, we have given more to our churches than to any other cause, funding everything from scholarships and insurance funds to burial funds, says Black philanthropy scholar Emmett D. Carson, who is the president and CEO of The Minneapolis Foundation, which promotes philanthropy in the Twin Cities.

"There was a time when most of our giving was prompted by crisis," in response to emergencies, oppression and disasters, says Carson. He sees us all as philanthropists even "if you give a dollar to a kid knocking on your door."

Today our giving is more often prompted by a desire to ensure that our organizations--like the National Urban League, the National Black United Fund, the United Negro College Fund and the NAACP--can help our people in the coming years.

The next step, Carson says, is for Blacks to become "responsible givers"--to feel a sense of ownership of the organizations we help.

"As a responsible giver, I'm going to ask for annual reports and go to meetings," Carson says. "I'll ask, `What have we accomplished? How does one join the board of this organization?' As you become involved, an organization will start to reflect your concerns."

Active involvement will be the message at the second National Conference on Black Philanthropy, a gathering of individuals and organizations--the National Black United Fund and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, for instance--seeking to increase giving among Blacks. Rodney Jackson, the conference organizer, says hundreds are expected at the next gathering on May 17-19 in Oakland (call [888] 557-3593 for more information). Attendees will hear from speakers on topics like raising money and setting up special funds such as church endowments.

Giving: Pass It On

Cheryl Polk could teach even the busiest among us something about giving. Each day she squeezes eight or so calls for pledges between meetings and other business at the Red Cross. She still finds time for her children, Clarissa, 11, Catherine, 8, and 5-year-old Charles, III, thanks to her husband, Charles Polk, Jr., a lawyer and banker, who helps cook, clean and ferry the kids to and from school and activities.

Their household is infused with the spirit of giving that Cheryl knew as a child. She has a standing date with a classroom at Beaumont High to talk about opportunities beyond high school. Charles mentors boys, and he is so active in the Greater Mount Carmel Church in St. Louis that he goes by the nickname Deacon Polk. The Polk children send letters and cards to sick members of their church and visit nursing homes.

The family also gives money to the organizations Cheryl serves. But Cheryl feels her time and expertise--she now teaches the art of raising money--are best used teaching others to do for themselves.

"I'm often asked to volunteer or serve on various boards of directors, not because I'm tied to a large corporation that can contribute financially but because I am a doer," she says. Her parents, the Reverend Raymond Hill and Viola Hill, should be proud.

RELATED ARTICLE: Won't Hurt a Bit

Looking for an easy way to give? There's good news: Your contributions are tax-deductible if they are made to a nonprofit organization. By giving noncash gifts like stocks, mutual funds and 401(k) plans, you avoid capital-gains taxes and can save 55 percent of estate taxes or the 39.6 percent income tax to be paid by heirs. Be sure to ask the recipient of your donation for proof of its nonprofit status.

Some of the many ways you can give: * Cash or check, * Pledge to be paid over time. * Payroll deduction, * Stocks * Retirement assets. ,,Honor or memorial to someone special, * Holiday or birthday gift in the name of the recipient. * Planned gifts (bequest in a will, a life-insurance policy, a trust). * Time or expertise. * Sponsorship of a fund-raising gathering. * Nonfinancial donation (clothing, furniture, old car, house).

RELATED ARTICLE: Give It Up for Big Givers!

From Oprah Winfrey and her millions to the 90-year-old Oseola McCarty, who gave her $150,000 life savings for scholarships, to those of us who share what we can, all our gifts can make a difference. Other notable givers:

Benefactor                        Amount
Bill and Camille Cosby          $20,000,000
Willie Gary (lawyer)             10,000,000
  and wife Gloria Royal Gary
Earvin "Magic" and Earletha       5,000,000
  "Cookie" Johnson
Michael Jordan                    2,000,000
Evander Holyfield                 1,200,000
Earl G. Graves (publisher,        1,000,000
  Black Enterprise)
Matel Dawson, Jr.                   900,000
  (Ford factory worker)

Benefactor                           Recipient
Bill and Camille Cosby          Spelman College, Atlanta
Willie Gary (lawyer)            Shaw University, Raleigh,
  and wife Gloria Royal Gary      North Carolina
Earvin "Magic" and Earletha     West Angeles Church of God
  "Cookie" Johnson                in Christ, Los Angeles
Michael Jordan                  James Jordan Boys & Girls
                                  Club, Chicago
Evander Holyfield               Windsor Village United Methodist
                                   Church, Houston
Earl G. Graves (publisher,      Morgan State University, Baltimore
  Black Enterprise)
Matel Dawson, Jr.               United Negro College Fund
  (Ford factory worker)

Robin D. Stone is the deputy editor at ESSENCE.

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