MISSION
To pool resources and leverage capital to break down systems that result in socioeconomic disparities in the Black community.
What is BIG?
The Black Investments in Greensboro (BIG) Equity Fund is an endowment with a bold vision to become an economic, philanthropic powerhouse to transform the educational, health, and well-being of the Black community.
As a Black initiated, Black led, and initially Black funded endowment, it is timely, relevant and an important initiative. BIG’s bold vision serves a dual purpose of addressing the disparities that exist in the Black community, while acknowledging the concerns of today’s social justice movement.
With a $3M target for the initial endowment, BIG is a sustainable vehicle for the Black community to create a multi-generational legacy that addresses issues of social justice and inequity.
BIG pays dividends for the future of the Black community.
Since the inception of BIG in 2020, the idea quickly became reality thanks to the outpouring of financial support from the community. In the first year, BIG far exceeded its initial fundraising goal to secure close to one-third of the overall endowment in just six months. This type support reinforces the fact that the demand for a fund like this one is long overdue.
Initially, the fund will focus its investments in the areas of health, small business ownership, and addressing the digital divide. These factors do not exist in a vacuum, but instead are interdependent. Strategic and multi-level investments like these change outcomes.
Steering Committee
Ms. Mae Douglas – Chair
Dr. Henry Smith III
Mr. Mac Sims
Dr. Karen Schooler
Mr. Mike Diamond
Mr. Danny Brown
Ms. Ida Bracken
Ms. Michelle Gethers
Investment Areas
Health
Health has a strong association with poverty, and the ramifications play out in the lives of Black people from infants to adults. The infant mortality rate for Black Guilford County residents is 8.8 deaths per 1000 births, more than double that of White residents.
Black Business
Small businesses are often the backbone of the black community. The average Black business in the Greensboro-High Point area is $53,363, or one-tenth of the revenue generated by white businesses.
The Digital Divide
Investment in the Digital Divide is crucial for preparing students for a future with technology at its core. In Guilford County, it is estimated that 65.7% of households may not have access to technology, and 14.2% of households lack internet connectivity.
Mustard Seed Community Health Grant
Featured on Fox 8
A $100,000 grant from the BIG Equity Fund is helping Mustard Seed Community Health expand access to affordable health care for underserved families in Guilford County. This investment plants a seed for greater health equity, helping more members of Greensboro’s Black community receive the care they need to thrive.
The D.R.E.A.M.S Collective
2026 BIG Equity Fund Grant Recipient
The BIG Equity Fund is proud to support D.R.E.A.M.S. Collective with a $50,000, two-year grant to launch its Entrepreneurial STEM Design Challenge at James B. Dudley High School during the 2026–27 school year. Through the program, 20 Dudley students will spend the year identifying a community problem, developing a working prototype, and preparing their ideas for public launch across four tracks: Robotics & Transportation, Cosmetic Science, Applied AI, and Healthcare. With support from near-peer mentors at North Carolina A&T and access to labs and placements across Greensboro, students will gain hands-on experience that connects learning to real-world opportunity. The program will culminate in a public expo showcasing their work and innovation. This investment reflects BIG’s commitment to expanding pathways for Black students to build skills, confidence, and futures rooted in possibility.
The D.R.E.A.M.S Collective
2026 BIG Equity Fund Grant Recipient
The BIG Equity Fund is proud to support D.R.E.A.M.S. Collective with a $50,000, two-year grant to launch its Entrepreneurial STEM Design Challenge at James B. Dudley High School during the 2026–27 school year. Through the program, 20 Dudley students will spend the year identifying a community problem, developing a working prototype, and preparing their ideas for public launch across four tracks: Robotics & Transportation, Cosmetic Science, Applied AI, and Healthcare. With support from near-peer mentors at North Carolina A&T and access to labs and placements across Greensboro, students will gain hands-on experience that connects learning to real-world opportunity. The program will culminate in a public expo showcasing their work and innovation. This investment reflects BIG’s commitment to expanding pathways for Black students to build skills, confidence, and futures rooted in possibility.