Copeland is the founder of the WISE Fund. The WISE Fund provides seed funding and coaching to women of color who found organizations working to save the environment. She has also founded Black Philanthropy Month, which is commemorated every August and has been recognized by the United Nations. Copeland co-founded Pan-African Women’s Philanthropy Network (PAWPNet) with colleague Mojúbàolú Olufúnké Okome. PAWPNet is an online community for African American women that provides advice and information. Copeland wrote her first book in 2004, called "Creating Africa in America: Translocal Identity in an Emerging World City". Copeland has also co-authored various books, such as "Applying Anthropology in the Global Village" with Christina Wasson and Mary Butler, "Evaluation Anthropology" with Mary Butler, and "African Immigrant Innovations in 21st Century Giving" with Mojúbàolú Olufúnké Okome and Dr. Una Okonkwo Osili. 