Black Philanthropy Month, founded by Dr. Jackie Bouvier Copeland in 2011, is celebrated each August to highlight the importance of giving in the Black community.
It comes with this key statistic: Research has shown that, despite persistent income inequality and the racial wealth gap, Black Americans give 25% more of their income to charity than other racial groups in the country.
ROI-NJ spoke with a small business owner (James Walker), a community development entrepreneur (Nana Duncan) and a leader in corporate philanthropy (Calvin Ledford) about their passions for giving back, the role business leaders play in addressing social and economic issues in their communities and advice they’d offer others looking to get involved in philanthropy.
Here’s what they had to say:
Q: What role do you think businesses and leaders play in addressing social and economic change within their communities?
James Walker (owner, Rahway’s Finest Barbershop): I believe that businesses play a critical leadership role in addressing both social and economic issues within their communities. Business owners want the best for individuals who live in the community, and others who frequent those businesses. Interacting with customers every day, we’re able to discuss what’s important to the community, whether it’s having a mentoring event at the high school or having a fundraising event for senior citizens. Changes that benefit the community as a whole should always be on the forefront of a business agenda.
Nana Duncan (founder, Thatcher Duncan Group): I think business leaders, especially entrepreneurs, are in a unique position to deliver social and economic change, because we can pioneer new and more creative business models that address issues that tend to be overlooked by the large, legacy companies and the public sector. We also focus on possibilities. Building a business model that incorporates creating social and economic change is all about seeing the possibilities.
Calvin Ledford (president, PSEG Foundation, and director of corporate social responsibility, Public Service Enterprise Group): I’d say the most important thing is to start where you are. When I started in this role, I knew I wanted to help. Sometimes, giving back means offering your time, your ear, or your energy — volunteering in your community, mentoring a young person or even lending a hand to a neighbor. These small acts can make a bigger difference than we realize.
For those who want to give on a larger scale, I know firsthand that big donations don’t happen overnight. It’s not just about the dollar value, either. The impact comes from passion and dedication. For me, I always knew I wanted to focus on supporting HBCUs because of the role they’ve played in shaping my life. My education at an HBCU gave me the foundation I needed to succeed, and I knew I wanted to give back in a way that helped others have the same opportunities.
So, start by finding what matters most to you. When you’re connected to something that resonates deeply, you’ll start to see the gaps that others might miss. That’s where real change happens — when you put your heart into it.
Q: What advice would you give to other Black entrepreneurs or leaders who want to start giving back, but aren’t sure where to begin?
JW: As entrepreneurs, specifically Black entrepreneurs, providing examples of success, progress and well-being for everyone in the community is of utmost importance. As leaders, you are obligated to start with those less fortunate in the community (often the youth and elderly), and help provide necessary services when possible. Running a business can be demanding, but there’s an old adage, ‘You make time for what you need to do.’
ND: Start small and build from there. Don’t try to do everything. Focus on building your talent around issues that need solutions. Equally important as talent is relationships. Build and nurture them.
CL: Leaders play a pivotal role in shaping social and economic change, and this responsibility is more significant than ever. In many cases, businesses focus on maximizing profits, leaving critical issues like community support and social justice on the back burner. That’s why it’s crucial for organizations to be intentional about making an impact.
At the PSEG Foundation, we focus on three strategic pillars: environmental sustainability, social justice, and equity and economic empowerment. These pillars guide our work, ensuring that we’re not just investing in immediate returns but in long-term, sustainable change.
Q: What has been the most rewarding part of your involvement in philanthropic work?
JW: Helping to provide support, initiative and motivation to those who are less fortunate in the community is the most rewarding part about giving back, for me. Being an example for others is more than just talking, it’s actually doing something that’s going to help. That is one of the motivating factors for my involvement with CASA of Passaic and Union Counties and Child Focus.
ND: The beauty of real estate development is that the results are evident once a project is complete. When we develop an abandoned or blighted property, we can see the improvement to the area, which benefits the surrounding residents. When we provide housing to families who were formerly unhoused or affordable homeownership to a family who could not otherwise purchase a home, the impact is immediate. It is immensely rewarding to me to play a role in changing lives and communities for the better.
CL: The most rewarding part of this journey has been giving back to communities that need it most. Supporting organizations that make a direct and tangible impact on communities of color and young people, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Clubs and YMCAs. This support has been incredibly fulfilling.
As an HBCU graduate, it has been especially meaningful to introduce partnerships with institutions like Hampton University, Howard University and North Carolina A&T University to the foundation. These schools played a pivotal role in shaping my own development, and supporting their continued efforts to educate and empower Black communities has been one of the most rewarding aspects of this work.
I’ve also realized that we are not alone in the fight for a sustainable and equitable future. Meeting with organizations and leaders who share this commitment continues to fuel my hope and keep me motivated.
Q: In closing, please describe some of the philanthropic initiatives or projects that you or your organization are involved in?
JW: I am a volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for youth in foster care, and I serve on the Volunteer Advisory Group for CASA of Passaic and Union Counties, with the organization Child Focus. As a CASA, I visit with a child or sibling group regularly, connecting on things they enjoy and day-to-day happenings, which helps not only to form a bond, but also gives me insight to advocate for their needs in court. These children have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect, so they really need a reliable adult in their lives whose only agenda is looking out for their best interests.
I also belong to a fraternal alumni organization, the Tau Zeta alumni organization of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and, every year, Rahway’s Finest Barbershop sponsors a Muscular Dystrophy Fundraiser in the city of Rahway in conjunction with our alumni organization.
Additionally, I volunteer for “Elijah’s Promise,” an organization that feeds the homeless and hungry every day, 365 days a year. They provide well over 300 meals a day, and 400,000 annually, in New Brunswick and the surrounding areas. I am also a board member of Union County Crime Stoppers.
ND: Social impact and philanthropy are integrated into my business model. Public service has always been my passion, and I view and approach real estate development through this prism. I chose to work in the development space, particularly urban redevelopment, because it is one of the most impactful ways to drive sustainable change in disinvested communities. The most effective way to address disinvestment is through investment. My firm, Thatcher Duncan Group, focuses on projects that combine affordable or mixed-income housing, commercial development and services such as education and health.
Currently, we’re working on a large-scale redevelopment project in Irvington, the Sankofa Enclave at Twenty First Street, that will transform a blighted property in a disinvested neighborhood into a vibrant community with affordable homeownership and rental units, green space, a 5,000-square-foot community development center and a 500-square-foot healthy food eatery featuring weekly farmers markets. This $90 million investment will promote homeownership, wealth creation and health and well-being.
CL: At the core of our mission is a deep commitment to investing in our communities. We take pride in being a good partner and a valuable resource, working hand in hand to create pathways for funding and opportunities. This year, the PSEG Foundation is celebrating a milestone — 10 years of impactful giving through our Neighborhood Partners Program. This program provides grants ranging from approximately $500 to $15,000 for community-based organizations and nonprofits. Since its inception, we’ve donated over $6.7 million to 390 organizations dedicated to uplifting diverse communities, including children and youth, LGBTQ+ individuals, communities of color, veterans and women and girls.
We also amplify charitable giving through PSEG’s Power of Giving Program, which encourages our current and retired employees to support local organizations by matching their donations. In 2023 alone, we matched over $850,000 in grants to more than 950 nonprofits, fueled by the generosity of over 1,550 employee and retiree contributions. Over the past 10 years, the PSEG Foundation has matched over $10 million in grants to nearly 1,000 nonprofits across the country, with the majority supporting communities within our operating territory. Together, we’re building stronger, more inclusive futures.
