06:00, 13 February 2026
Words by Cheyanne Bryan, Editorial and Campaign Marketing Executive, London
Yvette Griffith OBE is one of the UK most significant philanthropists, and has spent many years uplifting and supporting Black-led philanthropy.
Smiley News caught up with Yvette to hear more about why she cares so much about giving back, and using donations to amplify diverse voices across the UK.
“We live in a diverse world, so it makes sense that those who support others should reflect that diversity.” Yvette tells Smiley News. “Anyone who has the ability and passion to give back should feel encouraged to do so.”
Yvette is a founding member of both GiveBLACK and the Black Funding Network, organisations that centre Black philanthropists and donation recipients, though in slightly different ways.
“I began speaking with philanthropists of colour to understand their motivators,” explains Yvette. “This is how GiveBLACK was born. Through that work, I met Patricia Hamzahee, who proposed the idea of the Black Funding Network. I immediately supported it; while GiveBLACK was a long-term research project, the Black Funding Network offered a practical, immediate solution.”
Smiley News Spoke to Patricia Hamzahee last year and you can read her interview here.
The Black Funding Network assists small, Black-led nonprofits that are serving Britain’s Black communities in accessing funding from people of any financial background.
On the other hand, GiveBLACK aims to shatter harmful mythology around Black communities and philanthropy, as well as encourage people to see themselves as philanthropists and give back.
“The best way to support and inspire new philanthropists is to lead by example—show the impact of giving, show what is possible, and make the path visible,” adds Yvette.
When one thinks of the word ‘philanthropist’, it’s easy to imagine a white man, on the older side, wearing an expensive suit. While this isn’t necessarily bad - or even wrong – it can be limiting. Everyone should feel like they can be a philanthropist, within their financial capabilities, and that they are able to give back to their communities.
“It’s brilliant to see more people of colour publicly engaging in philanthropy,” says Yvette. “These actions create opportunities for those who have historically been excluded, allowing them to develop, thrive, and stand confidently beside peers who have had easier access.”
The other problem is that the elderly white man in the expensive suit that you’re envisioning right now, cares about a lot of things, not all of them representative of the passions held by today’s generations. Translation: older-white-male philanthropists will likely donate to older-white-man related causes. This leaves a lot of causes, and a lot of people, out in the cold.
“Cultural bias—often subtle or unconscious—exists across society, including in philanthropy,” says Yvette. “Too often, organisations are willing to support cultural non-profits only if they fit a certain narrow mould, which excludes those who don’t conform to that expectation.”
“There are genuine barriers to access, visibility, and growth, and our GiveBLACK research confirmed this. The Black Funding Network is one response to those challenges, and it shows why cultural philanthropy matters.”
Yvette was previously the CEO and Executive Director of Jazz re:freshed, a non-profit uplifting underserved jazz performers in the UK. She is now the Chief Executive at the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO), a charity helping young musicians to access opportunities within the world of jazz.
Yvette clearly has more than one passion; for young people, for music and the arts, for the UK’s Black communities, and she has found ways to combine and serve those passions through philanthropy.
Not everyone can be an elderly white man in an expensive suit - but everyone can be a philanthropist. You just have to find what you care about, what makes you excited, and angry, and happy, all at once, and start there.
“What matters most is intention—and, if possible, consistency. Start by reflecting on what genuinely moves you,” encourages Yvettte. “Once you know your values, it becomes easier to find charities or nonprofits that align with them.”
Yvette received an OBE in the Kings 2024 New Years honours for services to music and cultural philanthropy because passion is the true root of philanthropy. Not wealth, but drive; love for something great, and a desire to see its obstacles removed.
Yvette is changing the landscape of philanthropy for Black communities one step at a time, and is making our world a better place for it. Not only is she giving back herself, she is making it easier for Black communities to create philanthropists who can bring their own lens and perspective to the world of philanthropy, meaning more people will reap the benefits.
Yvette says: “Beyond racial identity, we all share a responsibility to help others as part of our broader human community.”
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
Black Funding Network. This community interest company hosts a collective of philanthropists and funders dedicated to directing more substantial resources to Black-led organisations and causes. Find out more.
Give Black. This platform encourages individual donations and volunteer support for Black-led causes, helping to raise grassroots funding. Learn more here.
Black Business Fund. This funding body awards £250,000 to 25 Black-owned restaurants in the UK. Support them here.
This positive news article aligns with the UN SDG Partnerships for the Goals.
