PepsiCo Foundation and Doritos Solid Black sign up to elevate Black Changemakers

Black nonprofit leaders are historically underrepresented, while Black-led organisations typically generating 24% less in revenue than white-led counterparts. This is the mould the PepsiCo Foundation and Doritos want to break, by elevating those leaders who are driving change within their communities.

“Many Black community and non-profit leaders face roadblocks in gaining access to capital to start, sustain or scale up their work,” said CD Glin,​ president of the Foundation​​ and global head of Philanthropy for PepsiCo.

“In partnership with Doritos Solid Black, the Black Nonprofit Changemakers programme seeks to narrow that gap and provide participants with the assets they need to not only survive but to adapt and thrive.”

The class of 2023​

Sixteen Black nonprofit leaders have been selected for the 2023 programme, which not only provides philanthropic capital, but also personal and professional leadership development, fundraising capabilities, impact measurement and network building.

Additionally, it provides a unique opportunity to amplify the nonprofits' mission to catalyse others to support their cause.

“We believe lasting impact is led by those with lived experiences in local communities,” added Glin.

“These Black nonprofit leaders are proximate to the issues their organisations are striving to address and closest to the Black communities we're working to support more broadly.”

The 2023 cohort will each receive a $50,000 grant, along with leadership development training with Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. The Mays Family Institute on Diverse Philanthropy and The Fund Raising School – which fall under the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy – were involved in the selection process.

“We are honoured to have been selected to assist these 16 Black Changemakers in partnership with the PepsiCo Foundation and Doritos Solid Black, as they and their nonprofits create positive change in their communities,” said LaKoya Gardner, director of Programs for the Mays Family Institute.

“We look forward to sharing our expertise and proven practices to help these community leaders build upon and expand the leadership abilities they have already demonstrated.”

The 16 participants will also receive regular one-on-one fundraising coaching, software and technical assistance from Network for Good, a B Corp company that offers software and coaching to nonprofits.

“We’re proud to continue our partnership with the PepsiCo Foundation to grow the Solid Black initiative and take our support of Black Changemakers to another level," said Stacy Taffet, senior VP of marketing, Frito-Lay North America.

“Doritos has long been a brand that champions bold self-expression and we're honoured to continue providing a platform and resources to the bold individuals who are inspiring change and having an impact on their communities.”

Leading by example

Adrinda Kelly, BE NOLA:​ Kelly is executive director of the New Orleans nonprofit, which aims to build the capacity to uplift the spirit of Black educators to ensure excellent, culturally-affirming, holistic and joy-filled education for Black children in New Orleans.

Alvin Irby, Barbershop Books:​ Irby founded the New York-based organisation with a mission to inspire Black boys and other vulnerable children to read for fun through child-centred, culturally responsive and community-based programming and content.

Antoinette Caroll, Creative Reaction Lab:​ Carroll founded the St. Louis-based mission to educate and mobilise Black and Latinx youth to challenge racial and health inequities impacting communities.

Candice Brackeen, Lightship Foundation:​ Based in Cincinnati, Brackeen founded Lightship Foundation with a mission to provide entrepreneurship education programmes for founders of diverse backgrounds and enable growth within the minority innovation economy.

Gabrielle Madison, Bonton Farms:​ Madison is president of the Dallas-based nonprofit, which aims to transform lives by disrupting systems of inequity, laying a foundation where change yields health, wholeness and opportunity as the norm.

Glen Providence, Hebni Nutrition Consultants:​ Providence is executive director of the Orlando-based consultancy, which provides nutrition programmes and services that empower and educate underserved and minority communities.

Jamila Trimuel, Ladies of Virtue:​ Trimeul founded the Chicago-based nonprofit to empower Black girls and provide them with opportunities through one-on-one and group mentoring, leadership development and mental health support.

Jessica Johnson, The Scholarship Academy:​ Johnson founded the Atlanta-based Academy with a mission to equip school districts and nonprofits with the training, financial aid immersion experiences and tech needed to help low-income and first-generation students close critical financial aid gaps that often prevent matriculation.

Marvin Pierre, Eight Million Stories:​ Pierre is the co-founder and executive director of Houston-based Eight Million Stories, whose mission is to give at-promise youths (aged 9-21) a transformative opportunity to break generational poverty through education, skills training and authentic relationships.

Matt Stephenson, Code2College:​ Stephensone is the co-founder and CEO of the Pflugerville-based college, which works to build generational wealth and joy for Black and brown students through free workforce development programmes.

Nikole Collins-Puri, TechBridge Girls:​ Collins-Puri is CEO of the Oakland-based mission, working to equip out-of-school time providers with equitable STEM curriculum and training to support Black, Indigenous, and Latina girls who experience economic insecurity.

Phil Olaleye, Next Generation Men & Women:​ Olaleye serves as the executive director of the Atlanta-based nonprofit, which aims close the opportunity gap for under-resourced high school students and prepare them for college and career pathways.

Quadrean Lewis-Allen, Youth Design Center:​ Lewis-Allen founded the Brooklyn-based Center with a mission to lower the barriers disconnected youths face to enter the STEAM professions and increase their experience in the innovation economy.

Dr Tony Alleyne, Delaware College Scholars:​ Dr Alleyne founded the Wilmington-based College which works to prepare first-generation, low-income high school students for college through its residential college access programme.

Van Brooks, Safe Alternative Foundation for Education (SAFE):​ Brooks founded the Baltimore-based mission provide underserved students and young adults in Southwest Baltimore with career and technical education programming, access to quality education, and the resources and opportunities needed to achieve their academic and life goals.

William Jackson, Ph.D., Village of Wisdom:​ Jackson founded the Durham-based nonprofit to create a community of liberatory-minded Black parent leaders and create the learning environments that Black students deserve.