11 Grants for Black-led and Black-serving Organizations

Inside Philanthropy published an article addressing concerns about grantmakers' commitment to racial equity and justice. The article notes that George Floyd's death spurred many philanthropic funders to pledge increased efforts. But where do things stand now?

Interestingly, the article cites a recent report from the Center for Effective Philanthropy, which found that a quarter of nonprofit respondents reported new commitments from their funders to advance racial equity over the past year, while another 39% said their funders would maintain their existing commitments. Despite this promising outlook, the article also underscores that many Black-led and Black-serving organizations still face challenges in accessing funds.

In response, we have compiled a list of funding opportunities specifically for Black-led and Black-serving organizations. We hope this list supports your organization in furthering its efforts toward racial equity.

1. Black Ambition Prize: This prize supports Black and Hispanic founders in the U.S. with access to capital, coaching, and mentorship. It targets early-stage ventures in various sectors, requiring diverse team members. Awards range from $15,000 to $1,000,000, including initiatives for HBCU-affiliated entrepreneurs.

2. Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective: BEAM aims to remove barriers to emotional healthcare for Black individuals through education, training, advocacy, and the arts. It offers grants like the Black Wellness Innovation Fund and the Parent Support Fund, supporting mental health and wellness initiatives nationwide.

3. Black Feminist Fund: This fund supports Black feminist movements worldwide by providing core, long-term grants and solidarity initiatives. It focuses on groups led by Black women, girls, trans, and intersex people, promoting human rights and collective power.

4. Borealis Philanthropy: The Black-Led Movement Fund backs the Movement for Black Lives (M4BL) and other aligned organizations. It offers two-year general operating grants of $200,000 to support grassroots, Black-led power-building efforts.

5. The EFOD Fund: This fund supports community-based organizations addressing systemic barriers in communities of color across the U.S., particularly in food-based community and economic development projects.

6. Emergent Fund: The Emergent Fund provides rapid-response grants for frontline Black, Indigenous, and people of color-led organizations. It focuses on grassroots organizing, direct action, and power-building to combat discrimination and promote social and economic justice.

7. Groundswell Fund: Strengthening the movement for reproductive justice, Groundswell Fund channels resources to grassroots efforts led by low-income women, women of color, and transgender people. It includes funds like the Rapid Response Fund, Catalyst Fund, Birth Justice Fund, and Black Trans Fund.

8. The Grove Foundation: The Grove Foundation supports diverse U.S. organizations across civic engagement, Black-led advocacy, immigrant rights, reproductive health, and safety net programs. It emphasizes innovative strategies and collaborative approaches.

9. Kataly Foundation: This foundation empowers Black, Indigenous, and communities of color through initiatives like the Restorative Economies Fund and Environmental Justice Resourcing Collective. It focuses on economic, political, and cultural power-building.

10. Pearl Milling Company: Providing $1 million in annual grants, this program supports initiatives in food, housing, employment, financial support, education, and entrepreneurship for Black women and girls.

11. Catalyst Grant Program: A collaboration between the Urban Institute and Microsoft Justice Reform Initiative, this program supports nonprofits using data and technology to advance racial equity in the criminal legal system. It prioritizes Black communities and offers financial support, technical assistance, and peer learning opportunities.