For the Funder
You want your money to reach Black communities. So do we.
The organizations in this network are already there. They have the trust, the relationships, and the track record. What they need is sustained, unrestricted operating support.
The Gap
What the research says
NCRP research documented for years what practitioners knew firsthand. When funding for racial justice moves, it rarely moves to Black-led organizations. This network exists to change that, and to make it easier for funders who want to do better.
Pre-2020
Only 3 independent Black community foundations operated nationally. Dozens of Black-led funds existed within larger institutions but had limited autonomy over grantmaking decisions.
2020 pledges
Foundations and corporations pledged billions for racial justice after George Floyd’s murder. A fraction reached Black-led institutions with control over how funds were used.
Tens of Millions Moved into Black Communities
The organizations in this network moved tens of millions of dollars into Black communities through community-driven grantmaking between 2020 and 2025.
1 endowment
Of the 7 independent Black community foundations nationally, only one has an endowment. The rest rely on annual fundraising to sustain operations. This is the core infrastructure problem.
Why Fund the Network
What your investment does
It reaches communities larger foundations cannot
Black community foundations and funds are embedded in the neighborhoods they serve. They fund organizations that are not on major foundations’ radar. A dollar through this network travels farther than a dollar through a national intermediary.
It funds operations, not just programs
The most urgent need in this network is operating support. Staff. Communications. Infrastructure. Program-restricted grants cannot sustain the institutions that do the work. Operating grants can.
It builds Black philanthropic infrastructure for the long term
Many of these organizations were formed in response to a political moment. The goal of this network is to make sure they outlast it. Endowment-building, governance development, and peer support are all on the agenda. Funders can be part of that.
It is a single point of partnership for 55+ organizations
The National Network of Black Foundations and Funds provides one relationship through which a funder can support, learn from, and build trust with a national network of Black-led institutions. The reporting, the connections, and the coordination are handled collectively.
