The 2026 theme for Black Philanthropy Month was “Many Voices. One Movement.” It honored the many people, communities, and forms of generosity that carry Black philanthropy forward.
The Gamechangers 2026 cohort reflect that range. Their work reaches across education, law, cultural preservation, youth development, recovery services, mental health, and spiritual life. Each has chosen a different path of service, but all are helping build a stronger and more connected Middle Tennessee. Over eight weeks, we will share an in-depth profile of each of our eight Gamechangers 2026 cohort, carrying the celebration from Black Philanthropy Month in August into National Philanthropy Month in November.
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Christina M. Griffin – Owner and Chief Executive Coach, The Griffin Coaching and Consulting Group
Christina M. Griffin is an award-winning entrepreneur and civic leader who helps organizations and the people who lead them. Through The Griffin Coaching and Consulting Group, she works with businesses, nonprofits, educators, and professionals. She also founded The Nash Philanthropist, a platform that connects organizations with people who want to support their work. Griffin devotes more than 100 hours each year to volunteer service because her personal view of philanthropy is simple:
- You begin by showing up and earning trust.
- You leave the community stronger than you found it.
Griffin’s dual nominations come from different areas of her service, but both return to the point that she shows up for her community. One describes her work with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Nashville Top 30 Under 30, which raises funds for research and advocacy. After completing the program herself, Griffin returned as a mentorship partner for the incoming class. Her nominator writes that she did not treat the program as “a one-time achievement.” She came back to help new participants with fundraising and donor outreach while offering the encouragement they needed to be successful.
The second nomination comes from Griffin’s board service with Pawster Nashville. She leads the board’s governance committee and helps guide the organization’s work to end pet homelessness. When Pawster’s CEO needed support running a booth at a community event, Griffin volunteered to spend the day representing the organization. “She doesn’t just attend board meetings,” her nominator writes. The nomination concludes, “Christina brings both consistency and heart to her role, and Pawster Nashville is stronger because of her involvement.”
It would be easy to look at Griffin’s service and measure it by the titles she holds. Instead, look at what she does after saying yes. In her Q+A, she shares what her grandmother taught her about giving and why the help she has received shapes the way she serves others.
The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Where does your sense of giving come from?
A lot of my journey is rooted in growing up in a community and seeing people take care of people. It’s rooted in the church community and biblical faith. We’re called to serve the widow, the orphan, and the unhoused, people who are different from us and people who are similar to us.
Who has shaped the way you give?
Number one, my grandma. She has been my biggest philanthropic influence. I remember being a little kid, and my grandma would be like, “Come on, we’re going to the nursing home. We’re going to go sit with them and love on them when they don’t have anyone else, when they don’t have family.” Having that experience early on was formative for me.
What does mentorship mean to you?
The biggest community value, I think, is mentorship. I wouldn’t be where I am at my age if I hadn’t had amazing people who poured into me every step of the way. I give my time, hopefully generously and selflessly, because I want to pour into that next generation.
What does Black philanthropy look like in your life?
A big part of my story hasn’t always been having money or being a CEO. It’s been a lot of giving, even when it hurt to give, even when it was sacrificial. You can give at any level. I started giving habitually when I was making about $50,000 a year. You can give your time. You can give your talent. It doesn’t always have to be your treasure.
Was there a moment when someone in the community showed up for you?
In 2022, I experienced homelessness. I had a friend in the Black community who stepped up and let me be in her home. This was before I started my company, before things got big. I wouldn’t be where I am without her. I get to serve people and help people because she helped pave the path for me.
What would you say to your 10-year-old self or a child wondering if they can make it?
You can. And I’m here to be proof of that. There’s a lot of pain in my story, and for a lot of people there is, too. You can turn every tragedy into triumph, every trauma into triumph. Just make sure you’re helping people along the way.
What does this year’s theme, “Many Voices, One Movement,” mean to you?
“Many Voices, One Movement,” to me, signifies collective impact. None of us gets where we are alone. We all have a responsibility to work hard, but also to speak out against injustice and lift while we lead so that more people can come alongside and do the great work.
Finish this thought: “A Gamechanger is…”
Being a Gamechanger, to me, is breaking away from the mold. Don’t listen to what society tells you. Do what is right for you and your heart, and focus on helping people.
That can be small. It can be giving one dollar. It can be serving five hours at a food bank. It can be giving a homeless person on the side of the road your extra cheeseburger. Being a Gamechanger is being different than the world that we live in and trying to do better each and every day.
Finish this thought: “I give because…”
I give because it’s the right thing to do. And I know that there are people who need everything that I have more than I need it.
Join us each week as we celebrate each of our 2026 Gamechangers. Keep an eye out for their stories and the many ways these leaders show up every day to help build a thriving Middle Tennessee.
About Black Philanthropy Month
Celebrated each August, Black Philanthropy Month is a global observance of giving to and by people of African descent. It recognizes Black generosity in all its forms while inviting individuals, families, organizations, and communities to invest in Black-led change.
The 2026 theme, Many Voices, One Movement, reflects the idea that the strength of Black philanthropy comes from the people who carry it forward. Giving may take many forms, but it is united by collective care, community-led investment, and a shared commitment to justice and opportunity for Black people everywhere.
The theme also reminds us that this work does not belong to one person or organization. It grows when people come together to give, build, serve, and share their voices in support of a common purpose.
Since 2019, Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee has celebrated Black Philanthropy Month by highlighting Black leadership, connecting donors with Black-led organizations, and creating space for conversations about the future of giving in our region.
This year, CFMT will bring community members together for conversation, connection, and recognition of Black leaders shaping Middle Tennessee. Guided by Many Voices, One Movement, we will consider how donors, nonprofit leaders, businesses, families, and neighbors can each contribute to a stronger and more connected future for Black philanthropy.
