About Us
Turning Interest Into Action
The co-founder, Fatima, wanted to start a giving circle that reflected her values, identity, and passions. The 11 founding members represent a wide range of talents, life experiences, passions, and abilities. Just as our founding members reflect a range of identities, we seek that in our membership.
Collective 365 was established with the intent to unite individuals who want to invest, learn from, and celebrate Black & Brown communities. Collective 365 is composed of individuals who seek to support positive change and sustainability in communities of color in the DMV area (DC, Maryland, VA) by combining resources. Collective 365 is reimagining philanthropy by removing barriers for individuals to become philanthropists and those seeking funding. We do this by offering three types of memberships and providing grant funding and capacity building opportunities to our grant applicants. Our ability to support community sustainability is achieved when we center Black & Brown folks as decision makers and thought leaders in their communities. Collective 365 provides Black & Brown communities the platform to define their needs and solutions.
The members’ investments and donations from the community are used to support the grant fund. During the year the members attend educational & networking events to become informed and engaged community members.
Collective 365 11 Co-founders:
Felicia Baez Smith, Allison Gilbreath, Ryan Gilbreath, Jenaé Harrington, Julian L. Marsh II, Bianca Myrick, Abbey Philips, Frank Pitchford, Fatima M. Smith, Amanda Thompson, & Griff Yancey
Collective 365 Founding Board Members:
Abbey Philips, Allison Gilbreath, Amanda Thompson, Ashley Gaddy Robbins, Bianca Myrick, Felicia Baez Smith, Jenaé Harrington & Ryan Gilbreath
Rest & Joy Founding Advisory Board Members:
Abbey Philips, Bianca Myrick, Daryl Fraser, Fatima M. Smith, Jessica Smith, Kristin Lennox, Lenise Mazyck & Vanessa Durrant
The Why
To give Black & Brown communities the support to define their needs and solutions.
Mission
Facilitate opportunities to learn about community needs through service engagement, educational and networking events in order to support the sustainability of communities of color through philanthropic giving.
Focus areas
Health | Education | Social Justice | Workforce Development
The How
1. We focus on the root causes of economic, racial, and social injustice.
2. We strive to include the people who are impacted by those injustices as leaders and decision-makers.
3. We also aim to make the field of philanthropy more accessible and diverse.
4. We are accountable, transparent, and responsive in their grant-making.
(source: resource generation)
Board of Directors
Fatima M. Smith, MSW
(Founder)
I wanted to create a way to celebrate & invest in Black & Brown folks who are doing dope things in their community. I knew I wanted to do something that put trust in those doing the work and saw that what was being done was not working.
"I don’t break the rules, I just challenge them”
- Ella Baker
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Alana Glover, Esq.
I want to be involved in an organization that turns “interest into action.” This organization is not only an organization that discusses the issues facing Black and brown communities, it focuses on actually providing financial support and resources to these communities. Collective 365 is committed to more than just identifying problems, Collective 365 is committed to solving them.
"Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”
-James Baldwin
Bianca Myrick
(Board President)
I wanted to be a part of changing the face of philanthropy, specifically as it relates to decreasing funding barriers for black and brown organizations.
There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you
-Maya Angelou
Click On Their Images To Learn More
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Sarah Jane Brubaker, PhD
I appreciate opportunities outside of academia to support social
change and work toward social justice, and to work with organizations that develop and celebrate innovative and equitable ways of doing their work.
“You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And you
have to do it all the time.”
-Angela Davis
Natisha Knight
(Board Vice President)
The mission and vision of the organization align with my personal values. Collective 365 gives ownership and decision making power to the very people best equipped to make decisions to uplift and empower Black and Brown communities.
“You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.”
― Maya Angelou, And Still I Rise
Patrick “Paddy” Link
(Board Treasurer)
As someone who has worked in traditional non-profit fundraising spaces, I know the many barriers put up that prevent people from accessing funds for their cause. Often these barriers disproportionately affect Black and Brown folks, and I saw an opportunity here to even the scales in a game-changing way. I wanted to utilize my non-profit skills that I have built over my career for an organization I truly believe in!
“Go out on a limb, that’s where the fruit is!” and “If you never spread your wings, you never learn to fly"
Amanda
Hagerman-Thompson
I believe in community. I believe that we have within our community a collective of individuals and organizations that can do great things with and for our community. I love giving back, and I love serving MY community.
"Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly."
- Langston Hughes
Emma Yackso, MSW, LCSW
(Board Secretary)
It’s time to build something different--a way of getting money directly into black and brown communities through organizations that are of, and genuinely committed to lifting their folks up.
“Even when the truth isn’t hopeful, the telling of it is.”
- Andrea Gibson
Abbey Philips, MSW
I find a lot of daily inspiration in the work I see happening in the community, but oftentimes that work is not invested in or celebrated. Collective 365 is raising the bar in how we approach equitable investments and philanthropy while giving its membership and grantees a meaningful opportunity to continue building community. This work is essential to equity and uplifting voices and I am so honored to play a role in expanding this mission and vital work.
"All that you touch you Change. All that you Change Changes you. The only lasting truth is Change. God Is Change." -Octavia Butler
Kheila Jones, MPA
Investing in our communities is the baseline for achiving social and economic equality. Collective365 provides an platform for me to promote economic growth amongst black and brown communities and foster an environment to perpetuate generational wealth.
"Life is like a camera, just focus on what's important and capture the good times, develop from the negatives, and if things don't work out, just take another shot."
- Unknown
Sean Smith
I joined Collective 365 because I’m personally committed to ensuring that the 90% of BIPOC-led businesses and organizations that fail within the first year due to a lack of funding have equitable access to the resources and funding they need to thrive and positively impact their communities.
“Those who say it can’t be done are usually interrupted by others doing it.”
- James Baldwin,
Notes of a Native Son
Aaliyah Lambert
I would like to be a part of "bridge" between black and brown communities when handling conditions that effect how a community thrives and sustains itself. Collective 365 is asking the questions: "What do you need?" and "How can we help?" then proceeding to provide the appropriate resoures to ensure that these communities are seen and have what they need to continue sustainable growth.
Tiffany Williams
I joined Collective 365 because I am inspired by the legacy of my friend, Luc Severe, who created opportunities for nonprofits and businesses that are traditionally disenfranchised.
“You are your best thing.”
- Toni Morrison
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Fatima Yousofi
I've spent most of my life in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia, and I proudly identify as a DMV native. Throughout my decade-long journey in the public and nonprofit sectors, I've seen firsthand how many well-meaning governments and NGOs often overlook the very communities most affected by their policies or that they intend to serve: communities that are often disproportionally made up of people of color, like me. I've also witnessed time and time again how the most transformative changes in these spaces are usually led by advocates from within these black and brown communities. This is what drew me to Collective 365's mission as an organization that doesn't just acknowledge the communities affected by economic, racial, and social disparities but is committed to amplifying their voices. Given my background in philanthropic research, I was also impressed and inspired by Collective 365's drive to make the sector more inclusive and diverse, ensuring it truly mirrors the communities it often aims to serve. I'm excited and honored to contribute to such a challenging but essential cause.
“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”
&
"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style."
- Maya Angelou
General and Voting Members
Alan Delbridge
Alesha Wilson
Alexandra Boone
Alexsis Rodgers
Allison LoCicero
Amanda Long
Amanda Pohl
Amber Vernon
Amy Peck Abraham
Anderson Hayes
Angela Brown
Anisha Walker
Anitha Pai
Anna Danese
Dr. Anthony D. Sandifer
Ashley Dobson
Becca Richardson
Becky Odor
Catherine Estevez
Catherine Foca
Chantel Williams
Charles Holloway
Chloe Edwards
Cindy Hutcherson
Clair Koroma
Crystolyn Macklin
Dana Shields
Dana Walker
Danielle Gilbert
Daryl Fraser
Donte McCutchen
Edward Gerardo
Elizabeth Wong
Emily Yeatts
Emmanuel Caudillo
Fabrizio Fasulo
Fatima Yousofi
Geoff LoCicero
George Kelly
Haliya Roberts
Hannah Robbins
Hollee Freeman
Isabel Eljaiek
Jackie Robinson Brock
Jameson Babb
Jennifer Young
Jessica Forsythe
Johnathaan Pannell
Johnetta Guishard
Joni Celiz
Joy Shaw
Justin Shreve
Karen Brown-Davis
Kayla Brockington
Kelly Thomasson
Kenda Sutton-EL
Kennith C Waller
Kenton Sneed
Khadijah Williams
Kheila Jones
Kimberly Parker
Kisha Webster
Kristin Faison
Laurin Stamps
Leigh Busby
Lindsay Lane Robinson
Lisa Amazigo
Lisa Hicks
Lisa Jobe-Shields
Liz Canfield
Lizzie Garrett
Marie Cornwall
Marisa Harriston
Marlo A. Quarles
Mary Kwak
Mervyn Han
Michelle Waller
Mie Strickler
Natalie Evans Harris
Natalie Garramone
Nicole "Nicki" Lynn Lee, PhD
Nikieta Lambert
Nishaun Battle
Patricia Bradby
Patrick Belcher
Patrick Link
Preston Roy
Rachael Deane
Rachel Gallagher
Raleigh Layne
Ralph Grove
Rashad Richardson
Rebecca Carter
Robert L Dortch Jr
Robin Gahan
Sabrina Jordan
Sarah Milston
Sean Smith
Dr. Serelda Herbin
Shandra Claiborne
Shannon Britt Sneed
Shannon Jeffries
Shantell Chambliss
Shelton Akande
Sonya Hough
Stephanie Mace
Taikein Cooper
Tally Botzer
Tamanika Williams
Tara FitzPatrick
Tasha Chambers
Tishaun Harris Ugworji
Twyla Twyla Garrett
Valerie Liggins
Vanessa Durrant
Victor McKenzie, Jr
Whitnee Liverpool Cummins
Yolanda Avent
Zena Collins
Zipporah Levi-Shackleford