Simone Gordon didn’t set out to become a national figure. She set out to survive and in doing so, built a movement. Known to many as The Black Fairy Godmother, Gordon has become a lifeline for marginalized women and families in crisis. Through her foundation of the same name, she has turned personal struggle into public service, offering emergency relief, advocacy, and empowerment to people who are often overlooked and under-resourced.
What started as a call for help on social media has grown into a powerful nonprofit network supporting families across the country. The Black Fairy Godmother Foundation provides food, housing support, medical assistance, and scholarships for women of color rebuilding their lives. At its core is a belief in second chances — and in the strength of community.
“I created this because I needed it,” Gordon says. “I was a single mom with a child who needed care, and the system didn’t have space for me. The kindness of strangers saved my life, and I promised I’d pay it forward.”
Gordon’s journey began with the realities of raising a son with severe autism while navigating unemployment, isolation, and housing insecurity. She began using social media to share her story, not to seek charity, but to create connections. People responded not just with empathy, but with action.
That action laid the groundwork for The Black Fairy Godmother Foundation, an organization that now mobilizes grassroots support to respond quickly to families in urgent need. Whether it’s a mother escaping domestic violence, a student needing tuition support, or a grandmother raising her grandchildren without utilities, Gordon and her team work to restore dignity and stability.
But behind the social media success and foundation milestones is a woman who still wakes up each day thinking about how to do more — and do it better.
“There’s no blueprint for what I’m doing,” Gordon says. “But I know how it feels to be forgotten. So I make sure no one I meet ever feels that way.”
Volunteers serve as the foundation’s engine, organizing donation drives, managing emergency requests, and spreading the word online. Their dedication reflects Gordon’s own hands-on approach and magnetic energy.
In a space where burnout is common, Gordon is honest about the need to protect her peace while continuing her purpose. “Self-care isn’t selfish,” she says. “To serve others well, you have to show up for yourself, too.”
As the foundation grows, so does its vision. Gordon hopes to expand services to include transitional housing, mental health support, and a dedicated scholarship fund for young women of color entering college or vocational programs.
Her advice to future nonprofit leaders? “Lead with love, not ego. Show up with your full heart and don’t be afraid to start small. Small steps save lives.”
Simone Gordon’s story is more than inspiring, it’s a reminder that radical kindness, fueled by lived experience, can become a powerful force for change. In every family she helps, in every volunteer she empowers, and in every barrier she breaks, Gordon is proving what a modern fairy godmother looks like: fierce, fearless, and full of heart.
Follow and support The Black Fairy Godmother Foundation:
https://www.theblackfairygodmother.org/
@theblackfairygodmotherofficial
