Independent (Jeri Rayon)

As the founder of The Black Donors Project, a grassroots participatory action research initiative, I focus on exploring Black philanthropic donors who support the arts. This project delves into the intersections of philanthropy and culture. My tenure as the executive director of Rennie Harris Puremovement from 2002 to 2016 was marked by elevating the Hip Hop concert dance company. My leadership is defined by strategic programming, anchored in art and social justice. In 2016, I initiated Artists Within Reach: Notes to My Younger Self, originally a sponsored project of Rennie Harris Puremovement. This three-year project was a response to the increase in mass shootings in America, aiming to provide young artists a space to process these events. Collaborating with 18 nonprofit youth arts organizations, the project engaged over 1,200 young people, employed 32 artists, and utilized 7 Black-led arts facilities. It featured Grammy, Tony, and Academy Award winners, a Guggenheim Fellow, and NAACP Image Award recipients, fostering community dialogues and diverse perspectives. The project was designed to promote community-wide conversations, engaging multiple perspectives on topics relevant to today's youth. It served as a platform for equitable dialogue and cultural engagement within our communities. The Black Donors Project challenges the traditional exclusion of Black communities from philanthropy. It employs a multi-layered approach to recenter Black philanthropic giving as a tool for community enhancement. The project reimagines philanthropy through the lens of Black arts and culture, focusing on the intersectionality of Black philanthropic giving as activism. It aims to dismantle systemic inequities and foster social change, positioning Black donors as catalysts in their communities. I was a 2022-2023 Leaders of Color Fellow and participated in the 2023 Social Justice Giving Project Cohort II. As a founding member of Women of Color in the Arts and a 2023 Skoll World Delegate, I continue to expand my impact in these areas. Currently, I am developing “The Broke Philanthropist,” an online course that serves as a guide to everyday philanthropy. This course emphasizes the impact of small donations in driving social change. I am completing my Master’s degree in Media, Ethics, and Social Change at the University of Sussex. I am also an invited speaker at the 2024 Forward Global summit in New York, an opportunity that aligns with my ongoing commitment to reshape philanthropy and advocate for the arts as catalysts for social change. Additionally, I am excited to return as a Skoll Delegate in 2024, furthering my engagement in global philanthropic discussions.