Rethinking Philanthropy: The Dynamics of African Diasporic Philanthropy in Canada

Abstract

Philanthropy in Canada remains deeply unequal, with organisations led by racialised communities receiving disproportionately little support. While mainstream scholarship often frames philanthropy through Eurocentric, institutional models centred on elite financial giving, this perspective neglects alternative practices rooted in marginalised communities. This article rethinks philanthropy by examining the African diaspora in Canada, largely invisible in existing research despite significant contributions. Diasporic philanthropy encompasses diverse forms of giving (financial, material and voluntary), motivated by cultural heritage, solidarity and responses to systemic exclusion. It challenges dominant definitions by showing how grassroots initiatives sustain community bonds and create spaces of engagement with wider society. Through case studies, the article demonstrates how African diasporic philanthropy in Canada constitutes a vital practice of solidarity and resistance, expanding theoretical understandings of philanthropy beyond institutionalised and Eurocentric paradigms.