Since the program's inception in 2018, the Black Philanthropy Circle (BPC) has committed $316,150 in funding to Indiana University projects. This year’s grant awards support a range of university initiatives that aim to make IU more welcoming, equitable, and accessible for the Black community. For more information on the BPC, please visit this webpage.
“The BPC strives to be an example in higher education of how collective action can enhance engagement and philanthropy in support of Black students, alumni, faculty, staff, donors, and allies within the Indiana University and IU Foundation communities. We were impressed with the quality and breadth of programming occurring across the IU system and are delighted to provide over $89,000 in grant support and award fully or partially 11 of the 21 grant applications we received this year. We look forward to continuing to increase support and positively impact future grant cycles.” - Pamela Miller Hatcher and Kevin Gay, BPC Awards Committee Co-Chairs
The 2023 BPC grant recipients are:
Project Title | Project Synopsis | Project Contact for Media |
Steel City Black Knowledge Bowl | The program is designed to demonstrate academic knowledge of the African Diaspora and its accomplishments in human history and engage youth scholars in the IU Northwest area in recalling pertinent historical information. | Emily Banas 219-980-6536
|
Explore My Success | This project will provide an opportunity for students from partnering K-12 schools to visit IU Northwest to participate in postsecondary learning and career exploration interactive workshops aligned to the Next Level Programs of Study (NLPS) implemented by the state of Indiana to include education, health sciences, communication, business, and criminal justice. | Emily Banas 219-980-6536 |
Business Plus Program 2023–2024 | This project is aimed at recruiting students to the Kelley School of Business Indianapolis by providing scholarships to admitted underrepresented minority students after the completion of an inaugural 5-day orientation, setting the stage for an environment of belonging, community, academic support, and professional development needed for business degree success. | Melissa Thomas |
Revealing Black Indianapolis: Making the History, Heritage, and Significance of Black Communities Visible Through Community-Engaged Student Research | This project highlights the research of graduate and undergraduate students working within IU Indianapolis' Africana Studies Programs by bringing students, faculty, program staff, community members/experts, community organizations, and funders together. | Loretta Good goodlr@iu.edu |
IU Fort Wayne Healthcare Career Exploration Academy (Gr. 7–12) and Summer Camp 2024 | In conjunction with the Boys and Girls Club of Northeast Indiana, this project will introduce high school and middle school students to health careers and provide opportunities for hands-on experiences in a variety of healthcare disciplines taught by faculty and staff from IU Fort Wayne. | Marissa Lewis 260-257-6764 |
Association of Black Culture Centers Annual Conference | The Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center (NMBCC) will host the Association of Black Culture Centers (ABCC) annual conference where attendees including culture center staff, undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and community organizers from across the country will convene in interactive workshops, think tanks, speaker forums, networking sessions, and performances. | Gloria L. Howell, Ph.D. 812-855-2139
|
Africa Business Week | The second annual Kelley Africa Week will create awareness about African businesses, opportunities and potential challenges of doing business, emerging business trends, and the role of Africa and African students in global business. | George J. Vlahakis II 812-855-0846 |
Facing the Façade in the 21st Century | In consultation with the original Facing the Façade Director, Jerald Harkness, the IU Libraries’ Moving Image Archive seeks to leverage faculty, staff, alumni, and Black student expertise to provide a clear and compelling perspective on Black student experience at IU Bloomington. | Michelle Crowe 812-856-4817 |
The 2023 BPC & WPLC grant recipients are:
Project Title | Project Synopsis | Project Contact for Media |
Civil Rights Heritage Center-Clemente Course in the Humanities Project (CRHC-CCH)
| This project will support a year-long course of study in the Humanities on the IU South Bend campus to support people living on low incomes and who have not been able to pursue higher education opportunities due to life circumstances or have been marginalized by inequities in society. | Rob DeCleene 574-520-4679 |
IU Auditorium Presents: Step Afrika! & Auditorium Kids on Campus | IU Auditorium welcomes Step Afrika! to the Bloomington campus for a residency including a public performance, engaging community programs such as Auditorium Kids on Campus, designed to highlight their work as the country’s preeminent multi-ethnic ballet company and their mission to provide access, opportunity, and empowerment through dance. | Ryan Sheets 812-855-0640 |
Get Ready for Your Close-Up: Providing the IU Community with Free Access to Professional High-Quality Headshots | Support of the Iris Booth project, a self-service digital photo booth located on the IU Bloomington campus, will allow the IU community to create professional, digital, high-quality headshots for use in employer networking, professional development, and other career planning activities. | Steve Barnes |