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Introduction
Black women have shaped every part of American life, yet their innovations are too often under-told or unseen. The Museum of Black Women Innovators (MOBWI) exists to change that.
MOBWI is creating a permanent home that honors Black women’s brilliance as foundational history. Through the FY26 Legacy of Innovation campaign, we are mobilizing support toward a $2.5 million goal to fund exhibits, education, archives, staffing, and the infrastructure needed to open and endure.
This is a founding moment. Joining a Giving Circle now accelerates this momentum—and places you in MOBWI’s founding story.
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WHAT ARE GIVING CIRCLES?
Giving Circles are collective stewardship.
They are philanthropic communities aligned by shared values and shared passion, designed for individuals or groups who want to build legacy together, rather than alone.
Each Giving Circle is named after a legendary Black woman innovator and anchored in one sphere of influence — a field where Black women have shaped culture, challenged systems, and expanded what was possible. Together, these circles support the museum’s exhibitions, programs, and long-term sustainability.
Giving Circles are not transactions.
They are a shared commitment to preservation, visibility, and belonging.
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HOW GIVING CIRCLES FIT INTO THE CAMPAIGN
The Legacy of Innovation campaign includes multiple pathways for participation, designed to meet donors where they are and invite deeper engagement over time.
Campaign Giving Pathways include:
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Giving Circles — collective stewardship through shared leadership and participation
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Storyteller — primary exhibit naming that preserves a specific story permanently
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Visionary — significant investment supporting museum growth and long-term public impact
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Heritage — transformational support that builds enduring institutional infrastructure
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Founding Partner — the highest level of recognition, honoring catalytic leadership that helps power the museum’s future
Giving Circles are an intentional entry point into this broader campaign ecosystem. Opportunities at the Storyteller, Visionary, Heritage, and Founding Partner levels are available by conversation for donors interested in deeper or permanent exhibit support.
How Giving Circles Work
How Giving Circles Work
Each Giving Circle is composed of Circle Leaders and Circle Members, who together form the foundation of the circle.
Option 1: Lead a Giving Circle
Circle Leader — $3,500
Circle Leaders serve as founding champions of a Giving Circle. They help launch the circle, invite participation, and act as visible advocates for the museum’s mission. Leaders play a key role in building momentum and community around their circle’s field of influence.
Option 2: Join a Giving Circle
Savings Circle Member — $2,500
Circle Members join a Giving Circle as committed contributors, supporting the circle’s collective goal and the museum’s broader work. Members are part of a shared effort to preserve legacy through participation and stewardship.
THE 12 GIVING CIRCLES
Each circle has its own one-page brief that explores the innovator’s legacy, the field’s impact, and how your participation helps preserve those stories for generations to come.
Each Giving Circle honors a legendary Black woman innovator and a field she helped shape:
Shirley Chisholm — Politics & Government
Fannie Lou Hamer — Civil Rights & Social Activism
Ida B. Wells — Journalism & Media
Mary McLeod Bethune — Education & Academia
Maggie Lena Walker — Business & Entrepreneurship
Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler — Science, Technology & Medicine
Augusta Savage — Arts & Visual Culture
Gwendolyn Brooks — Literature & Poetry
Nina Simone — Music & Performing Arts
Sojourner Truth — Religion & Spirituality
Madam C. J. Walker — Fashion & Haircare
Major General Marcelite Harris — Military Intelligence
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RECOGNITION & BENEFITS
Giving Circle participation includes recognition and engagement aligned with MOBWI’s Donor Recognition Framework.
Depending on role and participation, benefits may include:
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Recognition within the museum and in select publications and digital platforms
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Invitations to exhibition previews, openings, and special programs
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Opportunities for curated tours, briefings, and donor gatherings
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Participation in the Annual Donor Event
Recognition is designed to be meaningful and lasting — centered on visibility, stewardship, and belonging rather than perks.
Gifts may be made in honor of or in memory of someone whose legacy you wish to celebrate.
Availability within Giving Circles is limited for this campaign phase. Once capacity is reached, additional gifts will support MOBWI’s Annual Fund and future opportunities.
WHY NOW
MOBWI is not a concept — it is actively being built.
The Legacy of Innovation campaign represents a rare opportunity to shape a cultural institution at its foundation. Support today helps ensure that Black women’s brilliance is preserved with care, accuracy, and permanence — and that future generations have a place to see themselves reflected in history.
Join a Giving Circle.
Become part of the founding legacy.