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About Us

BNCEP is led by a community of Black nonprofit executives driving change across Philadelphia. Together, we model collaborative leadership rooted in purpose, equity, and impact.
who we are

BNCEP

We are a collective of nonprofit leaders in Philadelphia, dedicated to enriching our leadership, enhancing our resources, and amplifying our ability to support residents and organizations thrive, thereby contributing to a flourishing city and region.

At the heart of our mission is a simple yet profound principle: supporting organizations led by Black executives benefits everyone. Our focus is on skill development, leadership enhancement, and nurturing community and culture. In pursuit of these objectives, we actively engage in:

  • Activating trust-based philanthropy
  • Cultivating culture, building professional and personal skills, and catalyzing collective impact
  • Centering well-being, encompassing both individual and communal care

Collectively, our initiatives span across every neighborhood, providing a wide array of services. These endeavors serve as a catalyst for improving overall well-being, enhancing quality of life, and fostering prosperity in Philadelphia.

Funding Managed

Jobs Supported

Active Members

Our Mission

BNCEP’s mission is to cultivate supportive networks for nonprofit leaders and their organizations and increase the level of support they receive from the philanthropic community.

Member Pledge

All members are required to review and sign the BNCEP Pledge, committing to enhancing leadership & well-being, community building & advocacy, and effective organizational stewardship.

History

On June 26, 2020, the Black Nonprofit Chief Executives of Philadelphia (BNCEP) was formed amidst COVID-19 and the aftermath of the George Floyd murder. An affirming and supportive space was needed for nonprofit leaders to unpack and process the changing racial climate and its impact on our personal and professional lives. In addition, Black nonprofit leaders felt a need to offer support to one another during a difficult time. Our first meeting was virtual and included 24 attendees via Zoom. Since that time, the group has conducted monthly virtual meetings and gradually evolved into a viable affinity group for Black nonprofit leaders. Since July 2022, we’ve implemented culturally competent executive coaching; several events that connected Black nonprofit leaders to regional funders to close the social access gap; and a Summer, Fall, and Spring leadership academy offered to BNCEP leaders. Membership has swelled to over 200 members, and future activities to support Black nonprofit leaders have extended to sabbaticals and emotional restoration retreats. BNCEP remains a supportive space, and its value proposition for members is its ability to be a viable learning community and affinity group for Black nonprofit leaders.

core values

The Values That Guide Us

Our values guide our approach to relationship and community building, the execution of our tasks, and driving essential needed change in the nonprofit sector.

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Respect

We hold high esteem for each other. We center inquiry and reflection to drive communication enabling us to prioritize our constituents and our work, to have positive impact within the entire community, and respect the role and work of each member in strengthening our community.

Equity

We exist to ensure that BNCEP members, and communities they serve have access to what they need to serve their constituents and sustain their organizations. Our approach to building and deepening our work is rooted in fairness and justice. Our collective efforts commission a radical and equitable shift in how black-led organizations are supported, elevated, and engaged as leaders.

Trust

We rely on the character, strength, and ability of the individuals in our collective to uplift one another. We work to build open, honest, and transparent relationships amongst ourselves, organizations we represent, businesses, and philanthropic communities to cultivate a foundation of reciprocal trust, partnership, and impact.

Inclusiveness

We promise to prioritize, value, and celebrate all intersections of differences. We believe that black leaders belong at decision-making “tables” and welcome new and experienced chief executives to inform, influence, and activate strategies and initiatives for change.

Knowledge

Our lived experiences, education, professional experiences, growing social capital, and persistent investigation of what’s working and needed to support black-led organizations and the communities they serve to thrive, comprises our knowledge-base and deeply contributes to aptitude for success. We center this knowledge-base and prioritize using aligned data to drive our work.

interesting facts

BNCEP Fast Facts

BNCEP comprises 300+ Black-led organizations, and numerous philanthropic entities, corporations, and elected officials, fostering relationships, advancing leadership, championing equity, and working towards building a thriving city and region for all.  This powerful organization reflects one of the largest, most active communities of Black nonprofit leadership in the region—mobilizing collective impact at scale.

Residents Served

BNCEP members serve over 620,000
Philadelphia residents each year through programs that
improve lives across education, housing, workforce development, wellness, and more.

Financial Stewardship

BNCEP organizations manage more than $719 million in combined funding annually, reflecting not only financial capacity but a growing trust from public and private funders who rely on our members to steward investments in community well-being..

Jobs Supported

Our member organizations collectively support over 19,000 jobs – —strengthening Philadelphia’s economy and sustaining the vital workforce powering community services across all neighborhoods.

Service Areas and Expertise

BNCEP members are delivering critical services while building long-term solutions. There are over a dozen areas of which our members have expertise, including early education, social services, art, criminal justice reform, mental health, poverty, and more. 

Support Us

Help us continue our mission to provide supportive opportunities for Black-led organizations.

Whether through donations, joining as a member or partner, or spreading the word, your support is vital in advancing our mission. Join us in making a meaningful difference today.

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