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Much ink has been spilled about how philanthropy has failed to provide sufficient funds by way of grants for black-led Non-Profits. A 2020 report analyzing racial inequity in philanthropy and fundraising, revealed Non-Profits led by people of color are awarded less grant money than white-lead groups.
Governments and funding associations are waking up to address this disparity in philanthropy. It is only fair that organizations that work for and are owned by communities of color be given a fair share of the available grant endowments to sustain their efforts for social change.
February being Black History Month, we thought it would be a good time to provide a consolidated list of some of the grant programs announced to support black-led Non-Profit organizations in Canada and the USA.
Grants for black-led Non-Profits in Canada
1. Black-Led Philanthropic Endowment Fund
As per the Canada Budget of 2021, the federal government had planned to commit $200 million, marking it Canada's first Black-led philanthropic endowment fund dedicated to supporting Black serving, Black-led Non-Profits. A recent announcement by the Government of Canada (January 2022) further highlights its commitment to supporting Black-led Philanthropy. Share your thoughts with the Government of Canada on how the Endowment Fund can be designed. Open for registration from January 24 – February 28, 2022, more information can be found at Call for concepts: Black-Led Philanthropic Endowment Fund.
2. Black Opportunity Fund
Funded by Facebook Canada, the Black Opportunity Fund provides its philanthropic support to Black Non-Profits by way of grants. In February 2022, Richardson Wealth Limited announced a $50,000 donation to the Black Opportunity Fund to empower black communities in Canada.
3. Manitoba Arts Council - Arts Leaders Program
Manitoba Arts Council has rolled out the Arts Leaders program that is more niche in its cause. It supports building the capacity for leadership by individuals who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color (BIPOC) in Manitoba's arts and cultural sector. Click below to find details about this $35,000 grant for arts practitioners who identify as Black, Indigenous and/or People of Colour (BIPOC) in Manitoba's arts and cultural sector.
4. Community Sport for All Initiative (CSAI)
The Community Sport for All Initiative (CSAI) — Sport Support Program is designed to support community sport initiatives for equity-deserving groups, in particular, Black, Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQQIA+, low income, and newcomers to increase participation and retention in sports. The application deadline is April 4, 2022. Find more details on the Sport Support Program here.
5. Investment Readiness Program (IRP) - Stream 2
Investment Readiness Program (IRP) — Stream 2: Ecosystem builder (Round 2) calls for organizations who are serving and/or being led by women, Indigenous peoples, Black people, and other racialized communities, official language minority communities, people with disabilities, and other equity-deserving groups are motivated to submit a proposal or express an interest in submitting a proposal for Round 2. With grants that total nearly $46 million, the program foresees to support 20-30 organizations to deliver the IRP.
6. Toronto Foundation - Black and Indigenous Futures Fund
The Toronto Foundation had rolled out the Black and Indigenous Futures Fund. Though applications are now closed, you must keep a lookout for this in the future. This fund was created based on a shared acknowledgment of inequality and in particular, racism that permeates all aspects of society – including philanthropy.
Grants for black-led Non-Profits in the USA
1. The Central New York Community Foundation - Black Equity & Excellence Fund
The almost century-old The Central New York Community Foundation launched in 2020 the Black Equity & Excellence Fund. It supports Black-led community-based projects of Central New York that promote self-sufficiency and address physical and economic conditions that affect the quality of life. In September 2021, they announced 14 grants of the sum of $248,000 to Black-led Non-Profit organizations and projects in the region that counteract systemic racism.
2. The San Francisco Foundation
The San Francisco Foundation announced in October 2021, a two-year $3.4 million initiative to extend support to Black-led Non-Profit organizations in the Bay Area. The general operating grants will be used to fund 18 Black-led organizations in the Bay Area with a focus on capacity building, organizing, policy, and advocacy work.
3. California Black Freedom Fund (CBFF)
The California Black Freedom Fund (CBFF) was established to strengthen the capacity and effectiveness of Black-led organizations. In its last round of grantmaking, it announced $9 million in general operating grants to 74 Black-led groups across California. Connect with them so you too can apply for your organization.
4. Philadelphia Foundation
Philadelphia Foundation, one of the 20 community foundations in the USA received a grant from Facebook as part of its "Supporting Black Communities" National Initiative. Grants range from $5,000 and $100,000, depending on the organization's operating needs. Get more information about eligibility criteria to apply for Black Community Leaders here.
5. Black Future Co-op Fund
Black Future Co-op Fund launched the "We See You" grants to black-led organizations. In May 2021, they distributed $1 million in grants to 40 Black-led organizations across Washington State. They identify prospective organizations through conversations with the community. Their funding process involves signing up for their e-newsletter where they share updates about grants.
Companies that support black charities
Several tech companies extended their support to the Black Lives Matter movement when in 2020, African-American, George Floyd's died at the hands of a white police officer.
Google has announced to contribute $12 million; Facebook and Amazon commit to donating $10 million to express their support to groups fighting against racial injustice. Apple has pledged an astounding $100 million towards the Racial Equity and Justice Initiative. Besides these tech giants, many companies have extended their financial support to organizations for racial equity. These include Walmart, Target, Microsoft, Uber, Home Depot, and many more. Microsoft has gone a step further by pledging to contribute $150 million in diversity and inclusion efforts to double the number of Black people managers, senior individual contributors, and senior leaders within Microsoft's US workforce by 2025. You may also find it useful to check out this blog on Non-Profits' Guide On How To Write a Grant Proposal.
The Bottom Line
The landscape of funding opportunities for Black-led Non-Profits continues to evolve as more organizations and governments recognize the critical importance of addressing racial inequities in philanthropy. While significant progress has been made with initiatives like Canada's $200 million Black-Led Philanthropic Endowment Fund and various corporate commitments totaling hundreds of millions, there's still work to be done.
For Black-led organizations seeking funding, staying informed about these opportunities and maintaining active communication with funding bodies through newsletters and community networks remains essential. The momentum created by recent social justice movements has opened doors that were previously closed, creating unprecedented opportunities for meaningful change and sustainable support for Black communities across North America.