CHARLOTTE, NC – This summer, Charlotte will welcome back a transformative national exhibition that began in the Queen City and is enlivening a movement, nationwide.
On Tuesday, July 15, NGAAP Philanthropic Collective (a volunteer-driven giving circle formed in 2006 as New Generation of African American Philanthropists), Johnson C. Smith University, and Charlotte Museum of History will unveil the “CLT Homecoming” exhibition of Giving Back: The Soul of Philanthropy Reframed and Exhibited—a groundbreaking multimedia exhibit that centers the Black experience with philanthropy and is changing how the people understand and engage in philanthropy.
Characterized by its multimedia storytelling, the exhibit reveals philanthropy as not only a purview of the wealthy, but also a deeply rooted expression of love, care, and collective power in Black culture. The Soul of Philanthropy reframes philanthropy by reclaiming its root meaning: love of humanity.
Co-created by Charlotte residents and NGAAP Founding Members Valaida Fullwood and Charles Thomas, and based on their award-winning book Giving Back, the exhibit has traveled to 35 cities nationwide, sparking significant dialogue, influencing how philanthropy is perceived and practiced, and catalyzing narrative change. Now, in a powerful return home, The Soul of Philanthropy is coming to Charlotte Museum of History for a three-month exhibition in celebration of its 10th anniversary.
“This is a homecoming—not only for the exhibit but also for the many people, nationwide, who have contributed their stories, images and dollars to animate previously seldom-told accounts of Black giving that have been happening all around us for centuries,” said co-creator Valaida Fullwood. “To see our work return to Charlotte, where it all began over 18 years ago when we began developing the book, is incredibly gratifying. I am grateful to Charles Thomas for buying into the vision and dreaming it into existence with me and fellow NGAAP members. We’re illuminating something we have always done: given from our hearts, with our hands, for our communities.”
Opening the same week Charlotte welcomes the NAACP National Convention, the exhibition promises to be a cultural high point of the summer. Visitors will experience interactive storytelling, bold visuals, and a reclamation of the term “philanthropy” — centering it on love, expressed through financial giving as well as generous gifts of time, talent, truth, and ties to community.
“Giving has never just been about money and The Soul of Philanthropy exhibit showcases what it truly means to show love of humankind,” says Ilyasah Shabazz Davis, NGAAP member and senior operations and communications director at Philanthropy Together. “NGAAP’s investment has sparked a national movement! This exhibit is inspiring a new generation of Black philanthropists to lead with heart and culture.”
A FULL-CITY EXPERIENCE: MORE THAN JUST AN EXHIBIT
This civic engagement initiative encompasses art, culture, history, faith, innovation, and social impact through a robust slate of public programming and community activations, including:
- A participatory campaign: #HowWeGive, spotlighting everyday acts of generosity
- Influencer-driven storytelling featuring Charlotte’s cultural and civic voices
- Creative design details such as money-envelope-style invitations — a tribute to familiar traditions of giving
SAVE THE DATE
The Soul of Philanthropy
Tuesday, July 15, 2025 | 11:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Charlotte Museum of History
3500 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, NC 28215
