Photo credit: LA Johnson/NPR
As a philanthropic network whose mission is to advance economic equity and opportunity, we stand in solidarity with those calling for justice for George Floyd and for the systemic reforms necessary to end structural racism. As a society, we cannot achieve equity and opportunity without racial equity and justice.
See below how philanthropy is speaking out.
Philanthropic Statements
A joint statement on COVID and Police Shootings from the Association for Black Foundation Executives and more than 60 Black philanthropic CEOs urges our entire sector take seriously the demands of the present moment and devote their attention and resources to fighting against anti-Black racism in all its forms. The statement includes 10 imperative actions for philanthropy.
- Annie E. Casey Foundation — George Floyd’s death, nationwide protests and the work ahead
- Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy along with Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders (AAPI) CEOs and Trustees joint statement — Purging Anti-Black Racism Toward a Democracy For All
- Arizona Grantmakers — Ways to Support the Black Community and Combat Racism
- Asset Funders Network — A Message from AFN Co-Chairs and Executive Director
- Communications Network — You do not need to be Black to know that Black Lives Matter
- Consumer Health Foundation — The People’s Will Be Felt
- Colorado Health Foundation — Racism is a Public Health Issue: What George Floyd’s Death Can Teach Funders
- Early Childhood Funders Collaborative — Standing with Black Children and Families
- Environmental Grantmakers Association — Solidarity, A Call for Justice and a Commitment to Change: Black Lives Matter
- Funders’ Committee for Civic Participation — Black Lives Matter
- Gary Stewart in Forbes, Knee On The Neck: What Investors Can Learn From ‘Black Lives Matter’.
- Grantmakers in the Arts — The Killing of George Floyd and the Ongoing Terror of Structural Racism
- Grantmakers In Health — Working Toward a Just and Equitable Future
- Grantmakers of Oregon and Southwest Washington — Listen, Learn & Act
- Jennifer Oldham, The Healing Trust — An open letter to my white colleagues, peers, friends, and family
- Kresge Foundation — There are many fronts to this fight for racial equity and justice
- Minnesota Council on Foundations — Statements on the Death of George Floyd from MCF, Members and Allies
- National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy — Black Lives Deserve Justice
- Philanthropy Massachusetts — Racial Inequity and a Call to Action for Philanthropic Sector in Massachusetts
- Philanthropy Ohio — From grief to hope, our commitment to racial equity
- The Rockefeller Foundation — Reflecting on Violence Against African Americans
- San Francisco Foundation — America’s other virus
- Southern California Grantmakers — A Message from the Heart + Immediate Actions to Dismantle Racism
- Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders — No More Excuses: SAFSF Commitment to Racial Justice
- Tech Equity Collaborative —Tech Workers, Let’s Get to Work: Anti-Blackness is everywhere. Time to step up and get to work
- United Philanthropy Forum — My Fellow White Folks, We Have a Problem and resource page compiling the responses and resources from Forum members in response to the latest calls for racial justice and police reform. The page also included recommended racial equity resources.
- Washington Area Women’s Foundation — Enough is Still Enough
- Will Cordery, NonProfit Quarterly — Dear Philanthropy: These Are the Fires of Anti-Black Racism
- W.K. Kellogg Foundation —Standing together for racial equity and community
Philanthropic Initiatives
- Andrew W. Mellon Foundation announces shift to focus on social justice grantmaking.
- Meyer Memorial Trust is launching “Justice Oregon,” a 5-year, $25-million initiative to advance racial justice in the trust’s home state.
- Open Society Foundations announces a $220 million racial justice initiative to build power in Black communities, promote bold new anti-racist policies in U.S. cities, and help first-time activists stay engaged.
- Robin Hood’s launches new “Power Fund” aimed at funding nonprofits led only by people of color.
Recommended Reading
- The Atlantic’s 163 Years of Writing on Race
- America’s Overdue Reckoning with Racial Disparity
- America’s Long Overdue Awakening to Systemic Racism
- Anti-Racism Resources to Protect Black Lives
- Bryan Stevenson on the frustrations behind the George Floyd protest
- The Case for Funding Black-Led Social Change
- Centering Blackness, the Pathway to Economic Liberation for All
- “The Crisis of White Supremacy in America -What is Philanthropy’s Role?” (webinar recording)
- Dear Philanthropy: These are the Fires of Anti-Black Racism
- From Uprising to Reconstruction
- Have Nonprofits and Philanthropy Become the White Moderate that Dr. King Warned Us About?
- Healing Justice Guidance to Philanthropy During COVID-19, the Uprisings, and Beyond
- Insights from a Decade of Addressing Race and Reconciliation
- Latino Families Have Personal Connections to the Pain of the Black Community Due to Similar Experiences With Police Brutality
- Making Amends: How Funders Can Address Slavery’s Legacy
- Meyer Foundation Staff Opinion: If Black lives matter, what about ‘Black-on-Black crime?’
- NCRP’s Responsive Philanthropy June 2020 looks at philanthropy’s response to the intersectional health and racial justice crisis
- Nonprofits Led by People of Color Get Less Money with More Strings
- Opportunity Agenda’s Eight Lessons for Talking about Race, Racism, and Racial Justice
- Overcoming Racial Bias in Philanthropic Funding
- Philanthropy Must “Future-Proof” Nonprofits With Better Shock-Absorbers
- Policy Link’s COVID-19 and Race Commentary
- The Rise and Fall of Racial Capitalism
- Racial Equity Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Opportunities for Philanthropic Response
- Strike Watch: Voices from the Strike for Black Lives
- “We Must be in It for the Long Haul” – Black Foundation Executives Request Action by Philanthropy on Anti-Black Racism
- Why Philanthropy Has to Talk About Race
Funding Opportunities
- Divest/Invest: From Criminalization to Thriving Communities
- Borealis Funds: Black-Led Movement Fund at Borealis Philanthropy, Communities Transforming Policing Fund
- The Jacob and Valeria Langeloth Foundation will be deploying $10 million to support civic participation in response to the significant election challenges facing the United States in the midst of ongoing civil uprisings and the COVID-19 pandemic.