“A Philanthropist Is Anyone Who Shows Up”: Claudette Baker on Redefining Giving

For Claudette Baker, philanthropy has meant a lifelong commitment to strengthening communities through her professional work in nonprofit leadership and public service and her personal giving. Claudette is a retired consultant to nonprofits and foundations and currently devotes her time and expertise to philanthropic initiatives. She has held several leadership roles with African American Legacy (AAL), an affinity fund of The Chicago Community Trust, and continues to remain involved with the Fund. She is also a member of Chicago African Americans in Philanthropy (CAAIP) and the Chicago Foundation for Women’s West Side Giving Circle (WSGC).

In recognition of Black Philanthropy Month in August, Claudette chatted with the Trust’s Affinity Funds Specialist Carrie Goodale to discuss her professional and philanthropic journeys, what it means to be a philanthropist, and who inspires her.

Tell us a little about your philanthropic journey. What initially inspired you to give?

My journey started in my childhood. My mother instilled in my sister and me the importance of giving, starting with her handing us money to put into the offering at Sunday school. As we got older, part of our weekly allowance had to go into the offering. That’s when my entrepreneurial spirit kicked in. I was like, “Wait, I need to make some money, since I have to give a portion of it away.” I started selling ice cream cones, and if a kid came along who couldn’t afford an ice cream cone, I would give it to them.

That same spirit of giving lives in me today. My giving priorities are to my church, to the African American community, and for a special project that my husband and I have adopted in Ghana.

How would you define a philanthropist?

Look at me. A philanthropist is anyone who shows up for a community. It’s about giving something, whether that’s time, treasure, or talent. We’ve been conditioned to think of a philanthropist in a certain way, but the look of philanthropy is different these days—you can’t define a philanthropist strictly by the size of their bank account. That is a definition that needs to be changed. We can all be philanthropists!

You’ve had a long career that crosses public and private sectors. How has your career journey inspired your approach to philanthropy?

I’ve worked in for-profit, not-for-profit, and government organizations, as well as an independent consultant to foundations and nonprofits. Each one of these spaces has taught me something very real about capitalism, about who gets access to opportunities and who doesn’t, and about how to solve community problems. What I know for certain is that it takes all of these sectors working together to achieve real change. I value the intersectionality of this work very deeply.

How have your roles with African American Legacy (member, grants committee member, Donald Stewart Fellow chair, life director) differed from your roles with other notable philanthropic initiatives such as CAAIP and West Side Giving Circle?

My roles with all these organizations are more similar than they are different. I carry the same privilege and purpose of giving my time, my talent, and my resources. My work with these organizations affords me the opportunity to learn more about nonprofits on the ground in Chicago. These organizations enrich people’s lives, strengthen neighborhoods, and advocate for structural change within systems that have historically been unjust and inequitable.

Both African American Legacy and West Side Giving Circle funding centers the Black community. AAL funding focuses on a few priority areas such as community mobilization and community wealth building, while WSGC prioritizes empowerment of women and girls. We sometimes fund the same organizations, which means more dollars flowing into our community! Our grant partners consistently express how important our funding is as many are small organizations, and, for some, our grant is the only grant they have ever received. In turn, they leverage our funding to grow and obtain additional dollars from major funders. CAAIP does not award grants like AAL; it advocates for philanthropic investment in the Black community and for advancement of Black leadership. The work of all three of these organizations really excites me.

What do you hope to see happening in philanthropy in the future?

When we talk about philanthropy these days, there’s a lot of discussion about where power lies. The truth is, power has historically rested with those who hold the checkbook, and for far too long that power has been exercised inequitably—particularly in Black and Brown communities. Communities define who they are and have a vision for what they want to become. The role of philanthropy is to invest in that vision at a level that makes meaningful, lasting impact possible. I think philanthropy has to go deeper in responding to what organizations and communities are saying they need. That requires shifting the model from philanthropy defining what communities need to one of building trust, creating partnerships, and sharing accountability.

In the spirit of Black Philanthropy Month, who inspires you?

I’m so inspired by my great-nephew, Judah, who already knows the importance of giving. He has approached me about donating to causes that support children and has contributed about $20 from his own bank account. That is a legacy of philanthropy in the making. Along the lines of family, I am also inspired by Black grandmothers everywhere, because they make sure that not just their own grandchildren, but kids in general, have what they need. They do it without being noticed and sometimes on a very limited income. Through faith and will, they make things happen, and I am in awe of that kind of generosity.