(BPRW) Madam Walker Legacy Center Announces $8 Million Endowment During MLK Celebration
(Tech Zone Daily) INDIANAPOLIS — The Madam Walker Legacy Center announced the establishment of an $8 million endowment during its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Monday evening, marking one of the most significant financial milestones in the organization’s history.
The announcement was made before a sold-out audience at the historic venue during a program featuring nationally recognized speaker Bakari Sellers, underscoring the alignment between Dr. King’s legacy of economic justice and Madam C.J. Walker’s pioneering work in Black entrepreneurship and self-determination.
The endowment fulfills a long-term strategy initiated in October 2023, when the Madam Walker Legacy Center sold its property at 719 Indiana Avenue with the explicit intention of building a permanent financial foundation to support the organization’s future. With the formal establishment of the endowment, that strategy has now been fully realized.
“This endowment represents a defining moment for the Walker,” said Dr. Nichole Wilson, board chair of the Madam Walker Legacy Center. “It reflects disciplined governance, intentional planning, and a deep commitment to safeguarding this institution for generations. The Walker is now positioned not only to preserve its legacy, but to lead boldly into the future.”
Endowment earnings will provide long-term support for core operations, historic preservation, cultural programming, and strategic initiatives, helping stabilize the organization amid a challenging national funding landscape for arts and cultural institutions.
Kristian Little Stricklen, president and CEO of the Madam Walker Legacy Center, said the endowment affirms the institution’s responsibility to think beyond the present moment.
“Madam C.J. Walker believed in building something that would outlive her,” Stricklen said. “This $8 million endowment ensures that the Walker will remain a cultural anchor, an economic engine, and a space for civic dialogue for decades to come. Announcing it during our MLK Celebration reminds us that legacy is not accidental—it is built with intention.”
The announcement comes as the Madam Walker Legacy Center prepares for its Centennial Anniversary in 2027, a milestone that will include expanded programming, capital improvements, and national partnerships.
Founded in 1927, the Madam Walker Legacy Center has served for more than nearly a century as a hub for arts, culture, entrepreneurship, and community leadership. The new endowment secures its long-term sustainability while reinforcing its role as one of the nation’s most significant historic Black cultural institutions.
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