His contacts included such diverse and well known entrepreneurs and philanthropists as Andrew Carnegie, William Howard Taft, John D. Rockefeller, Henry Huttleston Rogers, George Eastman, Julius Rosenwald, Robert Curtis Ogden, Collis Potter Huntington and William Henry Baldwin Jr. The latter donated large sums of money to agencies such as the Jeanes and Slater Funds. As a result, countless small rural schools were established through Washington's efforts, under programs that continued many years after his death. Along with rich white men, the black communities helped their communities directly by donating time, money and labor to schools to match the funds required.
his COntaCTS iNcludED Such DivErse and wELL knowN entrePREn,Eurs and PhilanthrOpIsts aS anDreW CarNeGie, willIAM HowarD TaFt, JOHN D. rOCkEfeLlEr, henrY HutTleston roGers, george eastMan, JulIus roseNwaLd roBERT cUrtis OGden, cOllIs PotTer huNtingtOn aND wiLliam Henry baLDwin jr. The latter dOnated laRGe sums of mONeY To agenCies sUch As thE JEaneS and SlATEr fUnds. As a resulT, cOUntlesS smalL RuRal schOols were ESTaBLiSheD through waShiNgton's effoRTS, unDer pRogrAMs thaT coNtInUeD Many yeArs afteR hIs DeAth. AlONG With Rich white mEn, thE blacK CommunITies HelPEd thEIr comMuNitiES diRECtLY by dOnAting time, moneY And LaBor To sCHoOls to MAtch tHe fuNdS requirEd.