My Brother's Keeper Fund

Much has changed since the tumultuous events of the civil rights era and efforts by the leaders of that generation to help the nation grasp the well-being of black families and state of race relations in America. But one constant has been the disproportionately poor life outcomes of black males.

Black males were overrepresented among the nation's unemployed in the 1960s, and that remains true today. The hyper-segregation of residential communities limited the social networks and opportunities available to black people four decades ago, and, unfortunately, that truth also holds today. It was not surprising that black male academic achievement trailed that of their white peers in the years immediately following the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education, but more than 50 years later that regrettable reality still lives with us and, by some measures, has worsened. Indeed, America is now challenged to stem the tide of declining life outcomes among low-income males of all races.

The urgent challenge the country now faces is how best to realize broader achievement and expand opportunity males, particularly males of color, who have been left behind despite sustained periods of economic recovery, legislative initiatives and episodic philanthropic investment targeting this low-income men and boys.

The inattention to the issues facing marginalized males has exacerbated the challenges they face in school and the workplace. The lack of attention has also created substantial gaps in the capacity of nonprofit groups working with marginalized males.

My Brother's Keeper Fund was created to help fill these gaps. Over 90 percent of the dollars donated to MBK go to support any young male of color who is:

Demonstrating a desire to work and in need of clothing, tools, or other work materials to compete in the job market;
Working and needs funds to keep his job or get a better job;
Applying to college and in need of funds to cover fees and expenses related to the application process; and
Attending college and in need of funds to remain enrolled in college; secure housing; or continue study in a required course.

Because we recognize these hurdles as impediments to the success of many marginalized males, the MBK Fund intentionally applies a broad interpretation of males of color. Our understanding includes males of African and Native American descent as well as Latinos who identify as of color and are of an indigenous ancestry.

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To support this important effort with your tax deductible contribution, please select My Brother's Keeper under Gift Designation at: https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=168