The Sweetness of Giving: A Conversation with Jewel Burks Solomon

At CFGA, we believe that collective giving has the power to transform communities and create lasting impact. Through our Sweetness of Giving circle, we bring together leaders across Atlanta who are committed to investing intentionally in Black-led organizations and Black entrepreneurship.

We recently asked Jewel Burks Solomon, Managing Partner at Collab Capital, about her philanthropic journey, what drives her giving, and what it means to be part of this collective. Jewel leads Collab Capital, a $125M+ early-stage venture capital fund investing in the building blocks of shared prosperity—economic mobility, healthcare access, and community infrastructure. Prior to this, she served as Head of Google for Startups US, where she led initiatives deploying over $50M in non-dilutive capital to more than 500 underserved businesses. She also serves on several boards, including the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta.

What inspired you to join the Sweetness of Giving circle?

I was inspired to join the Sweetness of Giving circle because of the opportunity to partner with leaders I deeply respect across Atlanta to co-create something meaningful. There’s something powerful about not just giving individually, but being in community with others who are equally committed to impact, thoughtfully aligning our resources, networks, and intentions toward initiatives that can truly move the needle.

When you think about your personal giving journey, where did it begin?

My parents and grandparents instilled in me the importance of giving back from an early age. Community service was woven into the fabric of my upbringing. Whether it was the Christmas toy drives my mom organized for the Nashville community or the Thanksgiving dinners my dad led for unhoused communities in Mobile, AL, giving was never presented as optional. It was simply what you did with your blessings.

What does philanthropy mean to you, and why is it important to invest specifically in Black-led organizations and Black entrepreneurship?

Philanthropy, to me, is about proximity and trust. Black-led organizations are built by people closest to the communities they serve and that proximity produces better, more culturally resonant solutions. Beyond that, investing in Black entrepreneurship builds ownership and generational wealth in communities long excluded from both. I’ve personally been shaped by Black-led institutions, and I know firsthand the difference it makes when your community has the resources to truly invest in itself.

Black communities have a long history of collective giving. Who or what has most shaped your understanding of that tradition?

Growing up in church had the biggest impact on my understanding of and affinity for collective giving. As a young person, I was a direct beneficiary of that generosity, and I can personally attest to how transformative it is when a community pools its resources around a shared purpose.

What does it mean to you to be part of a collective of Black donors giving together in Atlanta?

It feels both historic and urgent. Atlanta occupies a unique position as a hub of Black achievement and influence; however, it is also a city of great inequity. This brings a real responsibility to steward resources intentionally. Being part of a collective means our individual dollars become something much larger. We’re reclaiming a tradition of mutual investment that has always been central to how Black communities survive and thrive. I don’t take doing that here, in this city, with this group of people, lightly.

Complete this sentence: “Giving is sweet because…”

…it reminds you that your blessings were never meant to stop with you.