Michele Courton Brown, Bank of America, Senior Vice President and National Practice Director, will speak at the June convening of Black funders in Boston.

BOSTON, MA - June 4, 2008 - The Black philanthropic community of New England faces a tough challenge when they convene in Boston in June: how to allocate more than one billion dollars strategically when the need is many times as great. New England Blacks in Philanthropy (NEBIP) hosts the conference, "Black Philanthropy - Building Stronger Communities," from June 22-24, 2008 at John Hancock Hall, 200 Berkeley Street in Boston. Among key issues covered, the dwindling numbers of African-American grant makers in senior management positions.

Bithiah Carter, President of NEBIP, says "As funders, we must invest strategically in the Black community to foster self-sufficiency. In these troubled times, it's especially critical for us to initiate the conversation about how we create a framework for more inclusive philanthropic practices and take a more responsive approach to philanthropy in our communities."

Confirmed conference keynoters include the following nationally noted speakers who bring their own varied perspectives on the power and presence of Black philanthropy. Among them:

-Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, President of Spelman College

-Dr. James P. Comer, MD, Professor, Yale University

-Gail Snowden, Philanthropist and NEBIP 2008 Honoree

-Reverend Ray Hammond, MD and Reverend Gloria White-Hammond, MD, Bethel A.M.E. Church

The third such regional event in this decade, the conference will convene foundation and corporate grant makers, philanthropists, community leaders, business leaders and trustees and is open to all. Also welcome are Black researchers and consultants who study Black issues. The purpose of the conference is to examine, encourage and promote Black philanthropy as a means of economic empowerment and civic engagement. Attendees will explore issues of education, health, media and leadership.

Principal Sponsors are: State Street Foundation, The Boston Foundation, the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, and lead sponsor - Hartford Community Foundation.

Other sponsors and supporters to date include: United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley, Associated Grant Makers, Schott Foundation for Public Education, The Hyams Foundation, Third Sector New England, Greater Worcester Community Foundation, Sovereign Bank, and Anonymous Foundation.

About New England Blacks in Philanthropy:

Founded in 2006, New England Blacks in Philanthropy was created to inform and transform the practice of philanthropy in Black communities. The transformation that NEBIP seeks is to create a straight line of sight from philanthropic grantmaking practice to self-sufficiency for the Black community.

New England Blacks in Philanthropy (NEBIP) is an affinity member entity that unites Black philanthropists, trustees and staff of grantmaking organizations. Its purpose is to build a network of support that will enhance the philanthropic community's ability to effectively address the specific needs of Black communities while increasing the influence and presence of Blacks in philanthropy by:

* Informing the grantmaking practice of organizations and individuals who are investing in Black communities

* Advocating for increased philanthropic investments within communities of color throughout New England

* Creating networking opportunities for Black people and therein increasing opportunities for Black leadership and/or representation in influential positions of power in the philanthropic community.

Registration Information:
For a conference schedule and registration information, go to www.nebip.org, email the conference coordinator at pat@bonnerent.com or contact her at (617) 232"“5453.

New England Blacks in Philanthropy

New England Blacks in Philanthropy

More from New England Blacks in Philanthropy