The Ujima Legacy Fund
In 2013, three leaders in the nonprofit sector, Reggie Gordon, Damon Jiggetts, and Robert Dortch created the Ujima Legacy Fund and brought 17 other men into the inaugural year of the giving circle. The name is based on the Swahili word Ujima (pronounced: oo-JEE-mah) which means collective work and responsibility.
Since then, the circle has grown and Ujima’s impact has deepened, but the concept remains the same. Ujima seeks to increase the philanthropic impact of Black men in the Richmond region and has awarded nearly $465,000 to over 20 deserving nonprofits that empower youth through education-related programming.
When Black men unite around a shared mission, the impact extends far beyond financial grantmaking. Their visible leadership creates a powerful standard of mentorship and community ownership, demonstrating firsthand the transformative difference active, positive male role models make in a young person’s life.
“There are several events throughout the year that Ujima members participate in, one is Tied to Greatness. They spend the morning solely with young men, talking about issues and topics that are personal to them. We typically pair them with a man from their community, and the culmination is them actually learning how to tie a tie,” shared Dionne Henderson, President & CEO of Partnership for the Future, and recent grant recipient.
In 2023, the giving circle began an endowment with the ambitious goal of raising $600,000. They soared past their goal and grew the fund to over $866,000 in just two and a half years, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the mission to empower youth through education.
"Our priority is ensuring that Ujima’s impact is not temporary, but enduring. By strengthening the endowment, we position ourselves to return to the community in a powerful and sustainable way. 
Nonprofits are facing real financial pressures, and we want to be a steady, reliable partner for years to come.”
- LeQuan Hylton, Chair of Ujima Legacy Fund