Our Mission
About the EEMF
The Economic Emancipation Monetary Fund (EEMF), also known as The Black Endowment, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to helping Black and African American families build generational wealth—both economic and cultural—through financial education, cooperative economics, and family history and legacy preservation.
Founded in Dayton, Ohio, the EEMF is the realization of a decades-long dream of our founder, Joyce Barnes. The fund will be professionally managed by The Dayton Foundation, a trusted steward of endowment funds for over 100 years. Foundational memberships are tax deductible and are being used to build the EEMF’s infrastructure for its projected launch in 2027.
Founder and Executive Director
Joyce “Damilola” Barnes
Our Mission
Our mission is to empower Black and African American families to achieve generational wealth through financial education, cooperative economics, and legacy preservation. Inspired by the Kwanzaa principle of Ujamaa (cooperative economics) and the Christian doctrine of koinonia (a shared life of fellowship and mutual care), we equip families with the knowledge, resources, and community support needed to build financial independence, preserve their heritage, and create a lasting legacy for future generations.
Our Vision
Our vision is to establish a permanent, professionally managed endowment that creates lasting opportunities for Black and African American families. Through sustained investments in financial education, cooperative economics, family history preservation, and an online Legacy Museum, we strive to preserve our heritage, strengthen our communities, and build a future where every generation has the knowledge, resources, and support to achieve lasting economic prosperity and cultural empowerment.