Greater Baltimore raises $1.36 million for Black-led groups in one-day giving drive

CLLCTIVGive mobilized $1,363,382 on Aug. 7 for 136 Black-led organizations across Greater Baltimore, marking its fourth straight year topping $1 million in a single day. The campaign drew 4,160 donors and points to growing support for year-round investment in the region’s Black social economy.

Why it matters: - CLLCTIVGive moved more than $1.36 million to Black-led organizations in Greater Baltimore in a single day. - The campaign is now in its fourth consecutive million-dollar year, showing sustained donor momentum. - The results also point to ongoing needs for flexible funding, capacity building and back-office support across the region’s Black social economy.

What happened: - CLLCTIVLY’s 24-hour giving campaign raised $1,363,382 on Aug. 7. - The campaign benefited 136 organizations across Greater Baltimore. - 4,160 donors made 5,092 contributions during the drive. - Of 148 organizations eligible to participate, 92% received contributions. - Donor participation rose 32% from 2025, when 3,149 donors took part. - The number of donations increased 28% year over year. - Total funds raised grew about 10% from last year’s $1.24 million.

The details: - CLLCTIVGive launched in 2019 with $5,500 raised in its first year. - The campaign has surpassed $1 million for four consecutive years. - CLLCTIVLY awarded $50,000 in prizes to participating organizations through fundraising challenges, random drawings and community participation. - The prizes were designed to help organizations build momentum during the day and expand donor engagement. - Participating organizations, donors, artists, local businesses and community partners mobilized around a shared call to give with purpose. - Carmelo Anthony, Kalen Allen and Sonja Sohn helped promote the campaign and broaden participation. - Community activations included morning gatherings at Mama Koko’s, Good Neighbor and Red Emma’s through the Give Back and Your Drink Is on Us activation. - The day ended with GIVE WITH: A CLLCTIVGive Celebration at the Baltimore Museum of Industry. - The celebration featured music, art, food and storytelling. - Among 131 participating organizations that completed CLLCTIVLY’s capacity questionnaire, nearly seven in ten identified fundraising and development as a priority. - Organizations also reported recurring needs in communications, governance, evaluation, operations, financial management and technology. - CLLCTIVGive is part of CLLCTIVLY’s broader strategy to strengthen Greater Baltimore’s Black social economy. - CLLCTIVLY also announced the inaugural recipients of the Kindred Abundance Fund during the campaign. - The fund is intended to extend year-round investment in the capital, capacity, collaboration and shared infrastructure of community-rooted organizations across Greater Baltimore.

Between the lines: - The campaign is doing more than collecting donations. It is building visibility for Black-led work and helping connect donors directly to community-rooted organizations. - The capacity findings suggest many groups still face basic organizational challenges even as fundraising totals grow. - The shift from a one-day campaign to year-round investment signals a broader strategy: use the annual event to surface demand, then channel that attention into sustained support. - Jamye Wooten said the goal is not just what can be raised in 24 hours, but what becomes possible when people move resources together.

What's next: - CLLCTIVLY said the capacity survey results will help shape year-round work to expand flexible funding, shared services and back-office support. - The organization plans to keep building the systems that allow community power to grow throughout the year. - CLLCTIVGive will continue each August during Black Philanthropy Month as an annual fundraising and awareness campaign. - CLLCTIVLY says it has mobilized more than $7 million and supported more than 400 organizations since 2019.

The bottom line: - CLLCTIVGive has become a major annual funding engine for Black-led organizations in Greater Baltimore, while also pushing the conversation toward sustained infrastructure and long-term investment.