The Townsend Model
What We Do
The Townsend Collaborative is a unique and strategic funder community designed to leverage the power of peer influence and structured learning to drive large-scale change.
Curated Donor Learning Experiences
We move beyond the surface with structured learning journeys and deep-dive content that explores systemic solutions for economic mobility.
Trusted Peer Communities
A private, peer-led environment where high-influence donors can share insights, questions, and strategies in a space of mutual trust.
Invitation-Only Convenings
From intimate dinners to curated small groups, our gatherings are designed to spark connection and catalyze new ideas among leaders.
Opportunities for Collaborative Giving
We identify and vet 'big bet' opportunities, such as our initiative to increase HBCU graduation rates, allowing donors to pool capital for transformational impact.
Private Philanthropy Advising
For individuals, families and family offices, we provide private, 1:1 strategic advising. We help you navigate the philanthropic landscape with cultural competence, ensuring your significant investments align with your personal values and long-term legacy goals.
Why We Exist
Lived Experience As A Strategic Asset
Black philanthropists are the most generous racial group in the U.S. by percentage of income, yet our voices have often been missing from the largest funder tables.
The Townsend Collaborative exists to bridge this gap. We believe that our proximity to the community is not just a personal connection: it is a strategic advantage. We provide the structure and peer community necessary to move from "proximate giving" to "problem-solving giving," ensuring Black donors are the primary architects of their community's future.
Strategic Pillars
Our Focus Areas
While our members bring diverse interests, we focus our collective energy on four interlocking pillars essential to increasing economic mobility.
Targeted Capital Formation
End-to-End Process
LP-Focused
Education
01
Strengthening pathways from early learning through higher education, with emphasis on historically under-resourced institutions.
02
Wealth and Work
Supporting initiatives that create sustainable economic opportunities and close the wealth gap.
Exclusive Deal Flow
Preferential Access
Efficient Structures
03
Civic Infrastructure
Investing in organizations and systems that amplify diverse voices and power in civic and democratic processes.
Regional Expertise
Strategic Sourcing
Growth Exposure
04
Narrative Change
Regional Expertise
Strategic Sourcing
Growth Exposure
Stewardship of our history and the authorship of our future stories.
Join Us
A Community of Purpose
Membership in The Townsend Collaborative is curated to ensure a peer-to-peer environment of trust, shared values, and aligned capacity.
Townsend convenes Black donors and families who give at significant levels and are ready to design philanthropic strategies that build long-term power. Members typically give $50,000 or more annually across their charitable giving.
Our Team
Leadership
Nicole Baker Fulgham
Founder & Principal
Nicole Baker Fulgham is a nationally recognized philanthropy strategist with more than 25 years of experience advising donors, foundations, and nonprofit leaders. She has a particular focus on Black-led and community-rooted institutions.
Nicole has led major fundraising initiatives, advised high-capacity donors and families, and worked at the intersection of strategy, governance, and field-building. She is known for her thoughtful, relationship-centered approach to philanthropy and her ability to bridge values with long-term impact.
Advisors
Townsend works with a small group of trusted advisors and collaborators with expertise in philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, and donor education. These individuals contribute to learning design, facilitation, and strategic insight across our work.
Diane Robinson
Donor Engagement and Advising
Sherman Whites
Donor Education and Strategy
Begin the Conversation
Whether you are interested in joining our donor community or seeking private advising for your family office, we welcome a one-on-one conversation.