The Power of Collective Giving
Top 3 Reasons to Join KTGC
- Have an impact in the Black/African descent LBTQI community.
- Learn what is possible with your finances and your philanthropy.
- Because it’s fun!
KTGC Launch Event June 27th, 6pm
Astraea Foundation
116 East 16th Street, NY, NY 10003
To RSVP or for more information, email info@kitchentablegivingcircle.org.
Established by LGBTI philanthropic advocates and Astraea donor partners Kim Ford and Karen Sebastian in 2009, Kitchen Table Giving Circle (KTGC) is poised to make its first grant. What began as a vision has become a reality, made possible by practicality, focus and individual contributions. KTGC is a philanthropic vehicle for LBTQI women of color interested in financial literacy and community empowerment. Housed at Astraea, it is a clear example of the power of collective giving.
The giving circle is a natural evolution of Kim and Karen’s deep personal commitment to their community—both identified as activists early on in their lives. Formerly a staff member at Astraea and deeply involved in many social justice organizations,Kim now focuses on nonprofit capacity development. “I was able to see which organizations fell through the cracks for funders, and became passionate about advocating for them,” she said.
Karen moved to New York after college to begin volunteering with Kitchen Table Press, the first African American Lesbian publishing house in the U.S. She was hooked, volunteering with almost every LGBT social justice organization in the city. Her mentor, the late Candice Boyce, founder of the oldest black lesbian organization in the U.S., always said, “Those who can support social justice efforts must.” Karen carried this personal mandate into her work in the world of corporate development. She has also provided numerous financial literacy workshops in the community.
A few years ago, Kim noticed a national trend: Black LGBT programs, prides and other initiatives across the country were losing their funding and shutting down. She conceived a way to provide much-need financial support and brought her idea of a giving circle to Karen. “I didn’t have a ‘how’; I just had a vision. Karen was the first person who didn’t need to hear more. Her face lit up when I asked her if she thought it was feasible. She said, ‘Of course! It’s easy and simple to do,’ and my heart swelled.” Today the circle is growing.
Kim and Karen’s dedication to creating accessible philanthropic pathways has imbued Kitchen Table Giving Circle with an enormous sense of purpose. Longtime Astraea donor partners, they knew that a critical component of the foundation’s mission is to harness the power of collective giving to fuel social movements, a goal aligned with KTGC. They decided to house the giving circle at Astraea, and a partnership was born.
