June 29, 2023

Press Release: Collective 365 Awards Grants to local Richmond business, scholarships for children of incarcerated parents, and a nonprofit addressing food insecurity in the DMV

Collective 365 announces the 2023 grant recipients are ScholarCHIPS, Inc., Glean LLC, & The Good News Community Kitchen receiving $10,000, $5,000 and $5,000 respectively.

January 30, 2023

Trust, Community, Liberation: Connecting with the "good troublemakers" of Collective 365

Collective 365’s progressive, trust-based grantmaking programs are focused on empowerment in Black and Brown communities in the DMV, but membership is not limited by location, age, gender, race, or just about anything. The love for community colors every effort at Collective 365. The push for social, racial, and economic justice for Black and Brown communities moves forward by de-centering whiteness in giving, leveraging social capital and privilege of certain members in a way that is directed by leaders of color.

September 20, 2022

Birth Rights: For Black women, pregnancy can be especially dangerous. The United Black Birth Collective is working to change that

In June, UBBC was awarded a $10,000 grant from Collective 365. The United Black Birth Collective (UBBC), a Richmond-based organization of midwives, doulas and other birth workers who are dedicated to bringing Black babies into the world safely and with fully involved families. UBBC was founded in 2020 by Basmah Karriem, a community grand doula who has worked in the field for more than 40 years; Weluna Finley, a licensed professional counselor; Tomasina Oliver, a certified midwife; and Zakiya Robinson, a doula and massage therapist.

September 1, 2022

Robert L. Dortch Jr. and Collective 365 honored for leadership in local philanthropy

The Community Foundation is excited to announce this year’s recipients of the Giving Black RVA Legacy & Ingenuity Awards: Robert L. Dortch Jr. and Collective 365. These awardees are recognized for their instrumental efforts in strengthening grantmaking institutions and advancing philanthropy as a means of social change, especially for Black communities.

June 15, 2022

Press Release: Collective 365 Awards Grants to LGBTQIA+ Recovery & Black Maternal Health

Collective 365 announces the 2022 grant recipients are United Black Birth Collective and Peter’s Place receiving $10,000 and $7,500 respectively.

February 25, 2022

Applications open for Collective 365 grants

A non-profit is focused on reimagining philanthropy by supporting people, organizations, businesses, and non-profits, making a difference in communities of color in Virginia, Maryland and DC.

August 21, 2021

Collective 365, with 3 social work alumnae, empowers Black, Brown communities with grants

With three VCU School of Social Work alumni among its 11 founders, it’s no wonder that the nonprofit Collective 365 has ambitious plans after selecting recipients for its inaugural grant cycle of $17,500 earlier this year.

May 19, 2021

"I was thrilled!" Five Richmond organizations recieve 2021 Collective 365 grant

Collective 365 recently selected the winners of a $17,500 grant, and out of the seven chosen, five were from Richmond: Slyderz Baseball, Iron Village Preparatory Academy, Black Lives Matter 804, Resume Revamp, and Girls Like Me.

April 7, 2021

Meet Fatima M. Smith | Founder & Social mom-trepreneur

Collective 365 provided many individuals, who were tired of investing in institutions that upheld white supremacy and were anti-Black, an opportunity to invest in a Black & Brown led organization that was reiminaging philanthropy by allowing Black and Brown folks to be the decision makers and thought leaders of their community.

February 16, 2021

Removing Barriers

“We know that Black and brown people meet the needs of their communities and often exceed them with little to no access to funding and other resources, but they’re the recipient of only 2% of traditional foundation giving,” Smith explains, adding that Give Black Richmond provides an opportunity to elevate organizations committed to the advancement and sustainability of Black communities in Richmond. “While the organizations listed on the database have a focus on the Black community, it’s imperative to understand that whenever Black communities thrive, other communities thrive.”

February 16, 2021

Removing Barriers

“We know that Black and brown people meet the needs of their communities and often exceed them with little to no access to funding and other resources, but they’re the recipient of only 2% of traditional foundation giving,” Smith explains, adding that Give Black Richmond provides an opportunity to elevate organizations committed to the advancement and sustainability of Black communities in Richmond. “While the organizations listed on the database have a focus on the Black community, it’s imperative to understand that whenever Black communities thrive, other communities thrive.”

February 4, 2021

Collective 365 is diversifying the money awarded to nonprofits

With a divisive start to 2021, working together to support underrepresented communities is a step towards healing in the new year. Last year, 12 individuals brainstormed ways to use their talent, time, resources and passion in support of their community. The result? Collective365.

February 2, 2021

‘Reimagining philanthropy’: Non-profit offering grants to support communities of color

A newly formed non-profit says it is reimagining philanthropy by supporting people, organizations, businesses and non-profits making a difference in communities of color in Virginia, Maryland and DC.

January 10, 2021

Minimizing barriers: Company offers grants, resources to help minority communities in DMV

WASHINGTON (ABC7) — A local organization is reimagining the concept of traditional giving circles by helping to support Black and Brown communities in the D.C. area. Collective 365 is a new grant-making and capacity-building organization that awards grants to individuals, groups, businesses, and nonprofits who are doing work with and for minority communities in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

December 2, 2020

Collective 365 is a finalist for the Innovator Award

The virtual award event will be held on December 3, 2020 where the winner will be announced. The evening will consist of:

Trivia hosted by Alex and Laura of Why Richmond is Awesome
Opportunities for all ticket holders to win giveaways from dozens of local businesses such as Quirk Hotel, Common House RVA, Top Golf, Purify RVA, Charm School Ice Cream, River City Roll, Lakeside Park Club and many more
Music provided by DJ JT
And most importantly, a time to celebrate the young professionals and businesses that support them to make our region great- especially through trying times

October 27, 2020

Style Weekly's Top 40 under 40

“People don’t realize that you can be a philanthropist at any age, regardless of socio-economic level,” Smith says. To join Collective 365, a giving circle specifically geared toward supporting the sustainability of communities of color, you need only pay a $50-$100 annual fee. Their grants are nontraditional, meaning they’ll fund individuals and smaller organizations that do not have fiscal sponsors.

August 31, 2020

Two Mics Up Podcast - Ep. 17: The Collective

Today on Two Mics Up we speak with Fatima M. Smith as she explains how Collective 365 works to facilitate opportunities for the community. Collective 365 helps to support the needs of the community through service engagements, and by hosting educational and networking events in order to support the sustainability of communities of color through philanthropic giving.

August 28, 2020

A new way of giving: Collective 365 provides funding to black and brown communities

Collective 365 is kicking off their membership campaign in 2020 and invites you to join as a member or volunteer to share your strengths with organizations who need it most. Grant applications will open in early 2021 and grants will be awarded in April 2021.

August 20, 2020

Alumni in Action: Fatima M. Smith

After working in nonprofits and seeing the shortcomings of traditional funding efforts, Smith and the organization’s eleven other co-founders (including fellow Mason alums, Felicia Baez, BA ‘17, MPH ‘19 and Amanda Thompson, BA ‘10) came together to launch their giving circle to highlight the work of people uplifting their communities and to offer support through investing resources, talent, and time.

August 6, 2020

Meet Fatima M. Smith of Collective 365

We know that only 2% of foundation funding is given to Black and Brown organizations, but that needs to change. Instead of complaining, we came together to create our own funding source. Although I left the non-profit word in 2016, I knew I wanted to do something about it and fast forward four years later I said 2020 is going to be the year that Collective 365 goes from an idea to a reality.

July 28, 2020

Collective 365 established to collectively help communities of color

Fatima M. Smith said she kept encountering amazing Black and brown people in the community who were coming up with solutions to meet a need, but lacking the financial support. After four years of thinking and planning, Smith and 11 cofounders, including a couple from Hampton Roads, officially launched the organization on July 6.

July 6, 2020

Collective 365 Press Release

Today Collective 365 launches their twist on traditional giving circles and serves to give, gather, and grow Black and Brown communities in the DC, Maryland, & Virginia area. They are now recruiting members to join Collective 365 to build a group of individuals coming together to use their talent, time, money, and passion to invest in Black & Brown communities.