National Museum of African American History and Culture: Black Philanthropists Donate

National Museum of African American History and Culture: Black Philanthropists Donate: The National Museum of African American History and Culture, created by an act of Congress in 2003 and slated to open in 2015, is still under construction. But the 19th division of the Smithsonian Institution is already making an impact on the future that transcends its history-focused primary goal: The NMAAHC 's $250 million public capital campaign is attracting, inspiring and cultivating leadership among black professionals who the museum hopes could represent the next generation of major African-American philanthropists.

At the museum's February groundbreaking, President Barack Obama delivered remarks, Phylicia Rashad was master of ceremonies and national media flocked to Washington, D.C.'s National Mall to cover the historic beginning of its construction. But Tasha Coleman, now the museum's senior manager for donor and board relations, recalls that seven years ago, there was much less fanfare and just two employees: she and famed historian, and founding director, Lonnie G. Bunch III.

"I still remember when first we walked into the office ... we didn't even have furniture; we were just looking at each other," Coleman, who was the museum's council liaison in 2005, told The Root.