University of Michigan

Connecting African American Alumni

The Fairfax Initiative for Strategic Giving

The Fairfax Initiative for Strategic Giving is an effort to increase philanthropic gifts from University of Michigan African American alumni and friends, focused on bringing about meaningful and progressive change. Please contact us to learn more about the Fairfax Initiative or find us on Facebook.

Jean Fairfax – Founder of The Fairfax Initiative

Jean Fairfax was born in 1920 in Cleveland, Ohio and grew up in a family that highly valued education. Both parents were college graduates who encouraged their daughters to pursue higher education. Miss Fairfax graduated with a BA from the University of Michigan in 1941 and received her master’s degree from Union Theological Seminary. She went on to a career in public service, philanthropy and advocacy with careers at historically Black colleges, the American Friends Service Committee and the NAACP Legal defense and Educational Fund. A professional civil rights worker for almost 30 years, Jean developed programs in the following areas:

• Advancement of civil rights
• Education of low income and minority communities about their rights
• Implementation of civil rights laws and court orders at national and grass roots levels

Since 1970, Jean has built a national reputation for increasing the participation of women and minorities in grant making institutions as donors, policymakers and recipients. She was a founder of Women & Philanthropy and the Association of Black Foundation Executives, and co-chairs the Betty H. Fairfax Fund for Educational Equity. 

Through her recent, $100,000 gift, matched by the Ford Foundation's Fulfilling the Dream Fund, Miss Fairfax has launched The Fairfax Initiative for Strategic Giving, which urges Black alumni and friends to give generously and strategically to the University of Michigan.

 

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