Anick Silencieux
Anick Silencieux builds more than networks, she builds infrastructure for change. As the visionary force behind Support Black Charities (SBC), she has dedicated her career to one powerful purpose, equipping Black-led, Black-serving and Black-focused charitable organisations with the strategic tools, visibility and confidence they need to thrive.
Her leadership emerges from the intersection of systems thinking, innovation and compassion. With over 15 years in data recovery engineering, Anick is fluent in high-stakes problem-solving. She brings that same rigor to the social impact space, infusing non-profit growth with the precision of engineering and the agility of tech innovation.
Founded in 2018, SBC began as a curated directory of Black charities but quickly evolved under Anick’s guidance into a dynamic, global-facing platform for non-profit empowerment. Today, SBC provides tailored support, growth strategies and tech-enabled development pathways that help grassroots organisations operate with business acumen, becoming donor-ready, investor-ready and future-focused.
A fierce believer in collective power, Anick is also a vocal supporter of global movements like Global Black Philanthropy Initiative (GBPI), which share her passion for advancing economic equity, systemic innovation and leadership for Black communities worldwide. Her work reflects a similar ethos. Collaboration over competition, infrastructure over performative action and long-term sustainability over short-term fixes. I am a supporter of Black Philanthropy Month movement and to capitalise and leverage the narrative, SBC created the Global Black Philanthropy Initiative (GBPI)
As a business developer and AI consultant, Anick now helps social good enterprises harness the power of technology, not as a trend, but as a transformative tool. From operational efficiency to brand strategy, she champions AI solutions that reflect community values and elevate charitable missions.
Her signature strength? Connecting bold ideas with practical systems.
Whether she’s mentoring purpose-driven founders or amplifying Black-led philanthropy, Anick leads with clarity, generosity and a blueprint for sustainable change.In her world, charity is not an afterthought. It is the foundation for the future.
All information and links were correct at the date of original publication on
23 Feb 2026
Your work at Support Black Charities (SBC) sits at the powerful intersection of philanthropy, strategy and tech. How do you see non-profit organisations aligning more deeply with the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals and what’s missing from the current conversation?
The United Nations set up the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to guide us towards a better, more sustainable world by 2030. These goals cover a wide range of social issues like poverty, hunger, education and equality. The SDGs have become a global standard and many countries, including Canada, are working to meet these goals. As a non-profit, it is important to identify which of the SDGs your work aligns with. This helps you communicate your impact clearly, especially when working with businesses or other non-profits that are also focused on these goals.
In Canada, non-profits now need to identify which SDGs they are working towards when applying for charity status. This shows that even governments are pushing for alignment with the SDGs. For Black-led organisations, it is especially important to be aware of the SDGs because we've historically been left out of important conversations about social impact.
When non-profits identify which SDGs they align with, it opens up the opportunity for better collaborations with others who share the same goals, whether That is a corporation, non-profit or even another charity.
However, there are gaps in the current conversation. One area that is missing from the SDGs is the preservation and promotion of culture, especially for Black communities. Culture is a huge part of our identity and many non-profits are working to preserve it, but it is not represented in the SDGs. Also, the SDGs are often branded in ways that do not always connect with all communities.
For example, when the SDG for poverty is shown, it usually uses images of Black or brown people, which may not reflect the reality of poverty in places like Canada. In Canada, poverty and food insecurity affect many different groups of people, not just Black communities. If the branding for these SDGs was more localised to reflect the unique challenges in each country, it might make it easier for people to relate to and get involved in solving those issues.
At Support Black Charities, we have aligned our directory with the SDGs. Each organisation listed is categorized based on the primary SDG they work towards. This helps raise awareness and shows how our work fits into the bigger picture of global goals. However, we also recognise that culture preservation and artistic expression are critical to the work many Black-led organisations are doing and these should be better represented within the SDGs.
In short, non-profits should embrace the SDGs, identify which ones they align with and use this as a powerful tool to collaborate and grow. But we also need to make sure that the SDGs are fully inclusive, representing all aspects of culture, identity and localised challenges. The conversation must be broader and more inclusive to truly create the lasting impact we need.
Despite their critical work and community impact, many Black-led charities still face systemic barriers to funding and visibility. From your perspective, what are the root causes of this disparity and how can funders, donors and the sector at large begin to correct it with intentional action?
The main reason for the lack of funding and visibility for Black-led organisations is systemic discrimination. While overt discrimination may not be as visible today, its effects still linger, particularly in areas like housing, food access and income inequality. Some people still do not believe Black people can succeed and that belief impacts the resources available to Black-led organisations.
Another reason is the focus of philanthropy, particularly in areas like museums, universities, schools and hospitals. These institutions, which I call "MUSH" (Museums, Universities, Schools, Hospitals), tend to receive the majority of large donations. Unfortunately, Black communities do not have the same level of institutions to support.
Other groups, like Jewish and Chinese communities, have their own schools, hospitals and museums, but Black communities are still lacking in this regard. As a result, many funders and philanthropists tend to donate to those familiar institutions, leaving Black-led organisations without the support they deserve.
Let us be clear, the philanthropic world is also sometimes used as a wealth management tool. Wealthy individuals often create non-profits to manage their money more effectively, funneling donations through these organisations. This practice, while legal, does not always focus on grassroots organisations that are truly making a difference.
At Support Black Charities (SBC), we aim to address this by increasing the visibility of Black-led organisations. One key area we focus on is increasing online visibility, so more people can see the great work these organisations are doing. Many people still do not understand the full range of work being done by Black-led organisations. Some assume they are only focused on issues like gun violence or poverty, but there are also organisations dedicated to the arts, sports, financial literacy and empowerment.
Moreover, there is a lack of infrastructure to support Black-led organisations in terms of tax receipts and non-profit status. In Canada, for example, many grassroots organisations do incredible work but cannot offer tax receipts because they are not registered charities. This prevents them from receiving much-needed donations from high-net-worth individuals who rely on those tax incentives.
Another issue is how donations are made.
Many high-net-worth individuals do not have cash lying around. They move their money through things like life insurance, real estate or even cryptocurrency. Black-led organisations need to be able to accept these types of donations to keep up with how money is moving today.
Funders, donors and organisations can be more creative in how they collaborate. Cause marketing, for example, allows businesses to give a percentage of their sales to a charity. It is a win-win. Businesses make money while supporting a cause. We are encouraging organisations to explore these creative ways of giving, which do not always require giving cash from personal savings.
To overcome these systemic barriers, it is crucial for Black-led organisations to adapt to these new ways of giving and to put themselves in spaces where the money is already being moved. Funders and donors can also get creative in how they support organisations, whether through cause marketing, donating assets like art or stocks or exploring other innovative funding models.
By addressing these issues, we can help reduce the disparity in funding and visibility for Black-led organisations and ensure they receive the support they deserve.
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Black Giving Day is more than just a date, it is a legacy. Falling on the same day Martin Luther King Jr. shared his "I Have a Dream" speech and Barack Obama announced his presidential run, what does this day personally represent for you and how do you activate its meaning through your work with SBC?
When I first discovered Black Philanthropy Month and Black Giving Day, I was amazed. It felt like the very reason SBC was created. To make it easier for individuals and businesses to find Black-serving organisations to support. Black Philanthropy is something SBC has always been promoting, even before I knew it was a movement.
Black Giving Day, which falls on August 28th, is powerful because it combines two important concepts. Collective Focused Action and Collective Focused Giving.
Collective Focused Action is when people come together to make a change and Collective Focused Giving is when people come together to support causes financially. Black Giving Day brings these two concepts to life by encouraging us to support Black-led organisations, just like Giving Tuesday encourages people to donate to various causes around the world.
At SBC, we see Black Giving Day as our “Christmas.” It is when we put everything into raising awareness and getting people to donate to Black-serving organisations. But we also use the entire month of August to amplify this message and talk about the importance of Black Philanthropy. It is about showing the impact and results of these organisations and the critical role they play in the Black community.
The problem is, Black-serving organisations have historically been underfunded. A report from the Foundation for Black Communities (FFBC) in 2020 revealed that for every $100 donated by the top 50 philanthropic organisations in Canada, only 7 cents went to Black-led organisations. This is why Black Giving Day is so important. It is our chance to change this by raising awareness and inspiring people to support these organisations financially.
For SBC, Black Philanthropy is more than just giving, it is about well-being, community elevation and cultural preservation.
Many Black-led organisations focus on preserving culture, which is key to our identity. So, SBC’s work during Black Giving Day and all year round, is to raise awareness, make it easy for people to donate and encourage a spirit of giving. We showcase the organisations in our directory, especially during August and continue to foster that giving spirit throughout the year.
That is how SBC activates the meaning of Black Giving Day. We raise awareness, promote giving and make it easy for people to donate to Black-serving organisations, helping to build a stronger Black ecosystem.
You have spoken about the need for non-profits to operate with the strategic mindset of businesses. What role do wealth-building strategies and impact investing play in helping Black-led charities move from surviving to scaling?
Why is it important for non-profits to operate with the strategic mindset of businesses and what does that look like in practice?
For non-profits to thrive and not just survive, they need to think like businesses. This means adopting a strategic mindset focused on long-term sustainability and adaptability. Just like a business, a non-profit should always be thinking about how to generate revenue and diversify its income sources.
Non-profits cannot rely solely on grants or donations, they need to explore other ways of earning money to keep the organisation running. This could include offering services for a fee, which is a model businesses use to generate income.
In business, one of the key goals is continuity, making sure that the business can keep running even if something happens to the leader or a key person. Non-profits need to adopt this same approach.
Many non-profits are small, with just a few people running everything. If something happens to the founder or executive director, the organisation might fall apart. That is why it is so important to have a plan in place for leadership transitions, known as business continuity planning.
This includes creating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), written guides that explain how the organisation works and what needs to be done in different situations. These help ensure that the non-profit can continue even if the leader is unavailable.
Additionally, non-profits need to think about their governance and operational processes. Just like businesses need to keep track of their sales and revenue, non-profits must track their income, expenses and overall performance. This means putting systems in place to monitor everything from financials to programme outcomes.
Finally, non-profits should also focus on the strategic aspect of fundraising. This includes not only asking for donations but also building relationships with potential funders and understanding how they can contribute to the organisation’s mission. This can help create a more sustainable flow of funds and ensure the non-profit is not always scrambling for financial support.
In short, non-profits need to operate like businesses by focusing on revenue generation, business continuity and strong governance. By doing this, they can build a sustainable foundation and continue growing in the long term.
What role do wealth-building strategies and impact investing play in helping Black-led charities move from surviving to scaling?
For non-profits to succeed long-term, they need to think like businesses. The goal is not just survival, it is sustainability. To sustain an organisation, you need to diversify your sources of income. Many non-profits rely heavily on grants and donations, but to truly thrive, they must also focus on earning revenue.
In business, the focus is always on sales because that is how you pay yourself and keep the business running. Non-profits need to adopt this mindset too, they should be constantly looking for ways to generate income.
Another business strategy that non-profits should adopt is business continuity planning.
This is about having a plan in place for when someone important, like the founder or executive director, is no longer available. Without a succession plan or clear processes in place, many non-profits fold because they haven’t planned for leadership transitions.
Documenting everything in Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) is a crucial practice from the business world that non-profits should adopt to ensure the organisation keeps running smoothly even in the founder’s absence.
Non-profits also need to think about generating income in creative ways, like offering services for a fee. This model, known as "fee for service" allows non-profits to bring in their own money without relying solely on donations.
As for wealth-building strategies, it is important for both individuals and businesses to understand how donating to non-profits can benefit them financially. High-net-worth individuals often donate to charities to receive tax deductions, which can be a powerful tool for both the donor and the non-profit.
For example, companies like Walmart and McDonald's have foundations that allow them to funnel money and receive tax breaks while supporting causes like children’s camps. Business owners can also benefit by calculating how much they can donate based on their projected revenue, which helps them understand how much they can comfortably give.
Impact investing is another way that non-profits can move from surviving to scaling.
Impact investing involves investing money into organisations with the expectation that they will generate positive social or environmental impacts. These investments often come with conditions> For example, if an organisation meets a specific goal, like serving a certain number of people, the terms of the investment may be more favorable. This creates an incentive for non-profits to reach specific goals and ensures that the investment is used effectively. However, non-profits must be able to offer tax receipts and show that they are properly managing these funds to attract impact investors.
Wealth-building strategies and impact investing give non-profits more financial flexibility and help them grow. By thinking like a business and diversifying their income sources, non-profits can become more sustainable and better equipped to scale.
Social Return On Investment (SROI) is a growing metric in purpose-led work. How do you help charitable organisations quantify their impact and why is storytelling still crucial in that process?
To help organisations quantify their impact, I always start by asking, "What is the outcome of your work?" For example, when someone participates in one of your programmes, what changes do you see in them? How has their life improved or changed because of the services you have provided? Understanding and identifying these outcomes is the first step in showing the impact of an organisation.
Once we have defined the outcomes, the next step is to track and measure them. This means finding numbers and metrics that can demonstrate these outcomes over time. It is important to track these numbers consistently to show a clear picture of the organisation's impact. While measuring impact can be complex, it is essential to get creative and find ways to measure and track the progress of participants, even if the process is not always straightforward.
But numbers alone do not tell the whole story. This is where storytelling comes in.
Storytelling is a powerful way to showcase the change that has occurred because of a program. By telling the story of an individual participant, we can illustrate how their life has changed due to the services provided by the organisation. Stories make the outcomes more personal and relatable, which is why they are so important.
Storytelling is not just about sharing facts, it is about connecting emotionally with the audience. When we tell a story, we engage people’s emotions, which is crucial for getting the support of donors and stakeholders. While charts and graphs can show numbers, stories are what truly bring the impact to life. They help people understand the real-world difference a programme is making.
To effectively tell these stories, it is important to gather information from the beginning. A simple survey at the start of the programme can help set a baseline. Then, as the programme progresses, you can compare how participants have changed and use their stories to illustrate that change. This process makes the impact visible and relatable, helping others understand and connect with the organisation's work.
In short, quantifying impact is about tracking outcomes over time, but storytelling is the key to making those outcomes feel real and meaningful to others.
What is one myth about Black philanthropy or charitable giving that you believe needs to be challenged and what truth are you committed to replacing it with?
One common myth about philanthropy is that only rich people can be philanthropists. People often think that being a philanthropist means giving large sums of money to those who are less fortunate. But the truth is, philanthropy is simply the act of giving and it does not have to come from the wealthy.
Anybody can be a philanthropist.
Philanthropy should be viewed as a transaction for the well-being of a cause or community, not just as something done by the rich. Everyone can give and what they give does not always have to be money.
It could be time, skills, expertise or even your attention. For example, when you engage with a non-profit is social media by liking, commenting or sharing their posts, You are giving your attention and that is valuable. Companies spend millions just to get our attention, which shows how much value it holds.
So, instead of thinking that you need to be wealthy to be a philanthropist, we should recognise that everyone has something to give. Whether it is volunteering your skills, sharing a post on social media or donating money, your contribution counts. I even call myself a philanthropist because I give to my community in different ways.
In short, charitable giving does not have to be large or financial. Everybody has something to offer and that is the truth I am committed to sharing. Anyone can be a philanthropist.
You are a supporter of global movements like Black Philanthropy Month and a builder of your own. What does radical collaboration look like in your world, especially when it comes to building wealth, visibility and equity across the diaspora?
In my world, radical collaboration is about creating deep partnerships that go beyond just working together. It is about uniting to challenge old systems and create new, sustainable solutions for Black communities worldwide. It is about bringing people together, whether it is grassroots organisations, businesses or individuals, the goal is to amplify the voices of those who are often left out of the conversation.
It is a powerful way of moving away from competition and instead focusing on collective action and shared resources to lift each other up.
For me, radical collaboration means that we are not just working to increase visibility or wealth for one group, but we are building something that benefits the entire Black ecosystem.
It is about supporting Black-led organisations and businesses through collaboration, helping them become sustainable and increase their reach in ways that have not been possible before. Whether it is through shared resources, mutual support or co-investing, the objective is to create lasting impact.
Building equity across the diaspora requires us to collaborate in a way that acknowledges our shared struggles and collective power. This means connecting people and organisations that span different cultures, regions and industries and finding ways to work together to create wealth, provide opportunities and elevate the Black community on a global scale. The power of radical collaboration lies in its ability to foster innovation and transform traditional systems to create real change.
At Support Black Charities, this is at the core of what we do, amplifying Black-led initiatives and fostering collaboration that helps build wealth and visibility while advancing equity. It is not just about raising awareness or sharing resources, it is about creating a movement where we all rise together, fuelled by collaboration, compassion and shared goals.
With your background in engineering, your consulting in AI and your deep community focus, how do you envision the future of non-profit leadership and what must changemakers do today to future-proof their missions?
To future-proof a non-profitorganisation, embracing technology is crucial.
In my opinion, technology, especially AI, is the future. It can help non-profits do more with fewer resources, which is a big challenge for many organisations today. Non-profits often struggle with time and staffing and AI can help solve this problem by saving time and automating tasks.
Non-profit leaders need to spend time learning about new technologies and how they can help their organisations. Five years ago, most people did not know what a CRM (Customer Relationship Management system) was. Today, every business uses one. The same goes for non-profits, technology is becoming essential for decision-making. With so much data available, it is important to know how to gather, analyse and use it to make better decisions and share insights with your supporters.
Non-profits need to capture the right data at the right time. With technology, this data can tell the story of your programmes and the impact they are having. Using AI and data analytics tools, you can gather information that will help you make informed decisions and communicate more effectively with your stakeholders.
AI can also handle repetitive tasks, like social media posting or managing emails, so your team has more time to focus on the crucial work that makes a difference in your community. By adopting AI and other technologies, non-profits can increase their efficiency, reduce costs and be more effective in their mission.
In short, to future-proof your non-profit, it is important to embrace technology. AI can save time, help you make data-driven decisions and free up resources to focus on the core mission of the organisation.
Your work bridges innovation, equity and deep community care. When all is said and done, what do you hope to be most remembered for and what legacy do you want to leave for future generations of changemakers and charitable leaders?
What I hope to be remembered for in the charitable sector is the belief that everyone has something to give.
It is not just about money, you can give your time, your skills, your attention or resources. I also hope to be remembered for showing compassion and understanding. Non-profits do a lot to help others, but sometimes they need help too. I believe in paying it forward, sometimes all someone needs is a chance and That is what we can give.
I want people to remember that giving does not always mean giving money. You can make a big difference just by being involved. Your support can have a ripple effect on the organisation and the people it helps.
I would also love for people to start their own giving legacy, where families make giving a part of their tradition. Imagine if every family, especially those who have the means, supported a non-profit in their community. It could make a huge difference in the world, one neighbourhood at a time.
For future changemakers, I want them to understand the importance of running a non-profit like a business. It is not about waiting for donations, it is about being creative and resourceful in how you raise funds. Donations will come and go, but by diversifying your revenue and thinking like a business, you will be able to adapt to different situations and ensure your non-profit is success.
My legacy would be to inspire a culture of giving, where families and communities support non-profits and where future leaders understand how to creatively and sustainably fund their missions.
Infrastructure Is the New Activism
Anick Silencieux does not simply advocate for change. She engineers it.
Her work reminds us that visibility without systems fades, intention without structure falters and generosity without strategy limits impact. Through Support Black Charities (SBC), she is building something far more powerful than a directory. She is building infrastructure.
Infrastructure for Black-led organisations to scale. Infrastructure for philanthropy to modernise. Infrastructure for wealth to circulate with purpose.
In a sector often driven by urgency, Anick brings precision. In conversations that can become performative, she insists on governance, data, sustainability and business continuity. She reframes charity not as benevolence, but as ecosystem design. Not as temporary relief, but as intergenerational positioning.
What makes her leadership distinctive is the integration. Engineering discipline. AI innovation. Cultural preservation. Radical collaboration. She does not treat these as separate lanes. She connects them into a coherent strategy for future-proofing Black philanthropy globally.
If the future of non-profit leadership requires systems thinking, digital fluency and unapologetic equity, then Anick Silencieux is already operating in that future.
The invitation now is simple. Move from admiration to alignment. From conversation to collaboration. From intention to implementation.
To connect with Anick Silencieux:
Email: anick@supportblackcharities.org
Website: SupportBlackCharities.org
Instagram: @supportblackcharities