Reparative Philanthropy: A Call for Justice in Atlanta
Natasha A. Harrison, CommunityBuild Ventures
Atlanta ranks number one in the nation for income inequality—a stark contrast to its reputation as a Black mecca. While sectors like finance, tech, and media thrive, Black communities continue to face generations of disinvestment and disenfranchisement. Despite the city’s prosperity, philanthropic funding has largely failed to address these deep-rooted disparities. Only 20% of philanthropic dollars benefiting Atlanta are directed toward communities deserving of elevation, and Black-led nonprofits remain drastically underfunded.
In response, the Atlanta Black Reparative Fund (ABRF) was created as a restorative and revolutionary initiative to challenge these inequities and shift power to Black communities. This catalytic five-year, $10 million fund disrupts traditional philanthropy by prioritizing community-led grantmaking, Black nonprofit success building, and healing justice.
A Personal Journey: From Poverty to Philanthropy
Imagine a girl growing up in poverty in Atlanta. By the age of eight, she has already endured sexual abuse, witnessed domestic violence, and experienced housing instability. By 18, she had moved 14 times, lost her mother to heart failure just days after graduating high school, and taken legal guardianship of her younger brother.
This is my story.
As a Grady baby raised in Decatur and Atlanta’s neighborhoods, I was consumed with worry—about food, shelter, and safety. I navigated childhood while making adult decisions alongside my mother, and later, for my brother and me.
“People often ask me, “How did you get out?” The answer is complex. My journey was shaped by education, resilience, faith, and a supportive community of teachers, family, and friends. Yet, my story of moving up the socioeconomic ladder is an exception—not the rule. Too many Black Atlantans remain trapped in cycles of poverty due to systemic barriers that reparative philanthropy seeks to dismantle.”
Today, I am the President and CEO of CommunityBuild Ventures. I lead a pro-Black consulting firm committed to helping organizations and leaders understand, embrace, and embody racial equity. I have founded and supported nonprofit and philanthropic initiatives such as BLK HLTH, For Her: A Black Women Giving Movement for Black Girls, and Circle of Joy Giving Circle. Most notably, my team created and launched the Atlanta Black Reparative Fund, a pioneering effort to address systemic inequities in Atlanta’s Black communities.
The Urgency of Reparative Philanthropy
As Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said:
“Philanthropy is commendable, but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice which make philanthropy necessary.”
Atlanta is home to the largest charitable sector in the South. Philanthropy has an opportunity to improve the quality of life and increase the power of our most deserving communities in Atlanta, and be led by these communities.
Philanthropy in Atlanta has historically upheld racial inequities instead of dismantling them. For example, during COVID-19, 74% of relief funding went to White-led organizations, despite Black communities being disproportionately impacted. This pattern—known as philanthropic redlining—continues to exclude Black-led organizations from critical funding, undermining their ability to create long-term solutions.
Money and power are inextricably linked. Systemically underfunding Black communities limits access to housing, education, healthcare, and economic opportunity—fundamentals for meaningful civic participation and empowerment. Without intentional intervention, these disparities will persist, further deepening racial injustice in Atlanta.
The ABRF seeks to correct this imbalance by ensuring that Black communities receive the investments they deserve. Unlike traditional philanthropy, which often dictates how funds should be allocated, reparative philanthropy shifts power to the communities most affected by injustice. Reparative philanthropy is not about handouts—it is about justice, repair, and restoring opportunities that have been systematically denied.
A Proven Model: Community-Led Grantmaking in Action
The ABRF builds on successful models of community-led grantmaking, where decision-making power is placed directly in the hands of those most impacted. CommunityBuild Ventures (CBV) has led this work in Atlanta, facilitating over $6 million in resident-led grantmaking since 2015.
Key Successes:
THRIVE Thomasville: Residents of the Historic Thomasville community granted over $130,000 in direct care support, addressing urgent community needs.
Stadium Neighborhoods Community Trust Fund: After the sale of Turner Field, five historically Black neighborhoods successfully secured $5 million in funding, with CBV helping to distribute resources equitably.
Westside Atlanta Black-Led Organization Success Building: Small grassroots organizations received coaching, leadership development, and $10,000 in unrestricted grants to strengthen their sustainability.
These initiatives demonstrate that when Black communities control funding, they create lasting, transformative change.
The Atlanta Black Reparative Fund: A New Future for Philanthropy
The Atlanta Black Reparative Fund is an urgent catalyst for investing deeply, humbly, and effectively in Black communities. By prioritizing healing justice and power-building, the fund not only redistributes wealth but redefines the relationship between philanthropy and Black communities.
How It Works:
Unrestricted Funding: Black-led nonprofits receive grants with no unnecessary restrictions, allowing them to respond directly to community needs.
Community Decision-Making: Black Atlantans lead the grantmaking process, ensuring funds align with real priorities.
Holistic Support: Communities receive coaching, leadership development, and healing spaces to sustain long-term success.
A Call to Action: Join the Movement
Reparative philanthropy is the path forward for a more just and equitable Atlanta. The ABRF is an opportunity for donors, institutions, and community members to invest in long-overdue repair. Supporting this movement means committing to a future where Black Atlantans have the resources and power to shape their own destinies.
By 2030, the ABRF will have invested $10 million, disrupting systemic underfunding and transforming Atlanta’s Black communities. This is more than philanthropy—it is justice in action.
Join us in funding Black futures. The time to act is now.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Natasha A. Harrison is a proud southern Black woman, wife, and mama. She is an award-winning racial equity practitioner, death doula, and philanthropist. She provides community and heart-centered conversations and experiential learning opportunities to help leaders and organizations understand, embrace, and embody racial equity. She is the founder of CommunityBuild Ventures, a pro-Black consulting firm located in Atlanta. Along with her team, they founded the Atlanta Black Reparative Fund.
