Midé Akerewusi, M.Sc.

Why is Black History Month still important?

Black History Month is our opportunity to celebrate the remarkable achievements and contributions made by Black people all over the word.  Maya Angelou put it best when she said “No man can know where he is going unless he knows exactly where he has been and exactly how he arrived at his present place.” Black people learn so much about Western history in schools, on the radio, newspapers, the internet and TV. Sadly, few cultures (even our own) are correctly informed about Black people and Black history. BHM continues to be important as it allows all cultures to soak up the richness of African history and learn more about our heroes, culture, traditions, food, and music.

How has philanthropy and volunteering inspired the black community? 

I am very excited about the Black community’s involvement in volunteering and philanthropy.  I am also frustrated that far too many charities stereotype us as passive beneficiaries of aid rather than dynamic philanthropists.  It’s great to see Black celebrities are leading the way in transforming impressions of Black people as philanthropists. At the same time, many Black people in business now volunteer on charity Boards and influence the work of those organizations. My biggest inspiration is seeing an increasing number of Black people joining the charity sector and taking up roles as Fundraisers. 

What role do you think family plays in philanthropy?

Parents have the honour of passing the tradition of philanthropy to our children. African cultures emphasize the importance of sharing with those who are less fortunate than we are. South Africans call this “Ubuntu”. My mother taught me so much about philanthropy, without ever giving me a lecture. She simply allowed me to observe how she gave her time, talent and treasure to people who needed help. I now teach my children. My first step was to encourage them to donate some of their pocket money to good causes.

Who is your favorite and most inspirational figure in the black community – past or present?

I have more Black Heroes than I can shake a stick at!  I am in awe of all Black people who are making a positive change in their own lives and in their communities.  Having said that, the most inspirational Black person I learned about was the Black revolutionary Toussaint L’Ouverture in the book “The Black Jacobins”. I was 20 years old when I learned about Toussaint’s endeavors to free Haiti from the bondage of slavery. His bravery and passion led to the formation of Haiti as the first Black republic. Thanks to people like Toussaint L’Ouverture, black people can proudly claim to be pioneers of modern day freedom fighters, human rights campaigners, social justice advocates and equality campaigners.

How do you cultivate diversity in fundraising?

At the YMCA of Greater Toronto, our Board has made Diversity and Social Inclusion a strategic objective for the entire organization. I have the responsibility to recruit a diverse team of skilled and experienced fundraisers, and to develop a fundraising strategy that ensures people from diverse backgrounds can get involved in the YMCA as donors and volunteers. We openly invite the participation of people from all backgrounds and the YMCA is active in delivering services to diverse communities throughout the GTA.  

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Midé Akerewusi is Chief Development Officer at the YMCA of Greater Toronto and co-founder and former Chair of the Black Fundraisers' Network. He has over 14 years' experience of fundraising and volunteering for charities and philanthropic institutions.

Born and raised in London, England to parents from Nigeria, he now lives and works in Toronto. Prior to joining the YMCA in 2008, Midé worked in the United Kingdom as Head of High Value Relationships at Scope, a charity delivering support services and advocacy for disabled people. Midé has also worked as Head of Major Giving at the British Red Cross and occupied management roles at The Children's Society.

Midé has a B.Sc. (Hons) in Business Studies and Sociology from the University of Surrey and a M.Sc. (Econ) in The Political Economy of Asia and Africa from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.