Liberating Nonprofits: A Black, Woman Fundraiser's Perspective

By Beth Leigh

7/1/2024

Photo courtesy of Village of Wisdom

In the labyrinth of nonprofit fundraising, Black-led organizations navigate a landscape often obscured by systemic inequities and disparities. It’s by design, though. The history of fundraising in the United States began through a lens of patriarchy, hierarchy, oppression, suppression, and classism.

As a Black-presenting, Black, and Indigenous woman fundraiser championing the cause of a Black nonprofit dedicated to the liberation of the Black Community, I've seen the glaring disparities in funding allocation and the uphill battle for unrestricted support. I have raised more than $100M in funding for communities of color locally, nationally, and globally. However, these wins come with a significant emotional toll. I know that my presence is often viewed as a threat before I have even asked for funding. I must jump through intellectual, mental, and emotional hurdles to get a seat at the table. And once I get there, I often have to bring my own chair, explain where I got it from, prove that I didn’t take it from someone else, and then smile to put everyone at ease.

Despite these gymnastics, Black-led nonprofits face a disproportionate challenge in securing adequate funding. In a landscape where flexibility and autonomy are paramount for sustainable impact, Black-led organizations receive a disproportionately small share of unrestricted support.

Echoing Green and Bridgespan released a report in 2020 that revealed that unrestricted net assets for white-led organizations are 76% larger than those of Black-led organizations. And, even though unrestricted funding reportedly increased after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a 2022 study from the Center for Effective Philanthropy revealed lags in multi-year unrestricted funding. In fact, “only 27% of foundations CEP studied are now providing more multi-year unrestricted support compared to pre-pandemic giving levels, despite pledges in the pandemic to create a new normal” (Ponce, 2023). This disparity not only undermines Black-led organizations’ ability to address the multifaceted, ever-changing needs of their communities but also perpetuates a cycle of dependency on restrictive funding streams. 

Excuse my cynicism as I chuckle at the irony here: In a system designed to maintain oppressive positions, Black-led organizations are asking for a piece of the pie from foundations, corporations, and family trusts (many of whom amassed their wealth from historical enslavement and other extractive behaviors). Like I said… hurdles. Anyway, let’s get back to why you are here.

Access to unrestricted funding is not just a matter of financial flexibility; it's a question of equity and justice. Unrestricted funding recognizes the expertise and lived experiences of those within the community, affirming that solutions to complex issues cannot be imposed from outside. It fosters trust and collaboration between funders, nonprofits, and the community, paving the way for innovative approaches. Unrestricted funding also is an investment in the long-term resilience and efficacy of organizations, offering them the chance to adapt, grow, and thrive in the face of adversity. This is especially important for Black-led organizations, which experience a disproportionate amount of scrutiny and distrust when seeking funding for our work.

Despite the compelling case for unrestricted funding, Black fundraisers like me often contend with a myriad of challenges, from navigating racist and dehumanizing interactions with funders to grappling with burnout and isolation. This relentless uphill battle takes a toll on Black leaders and organizations, perpetuating a cycle of stress and burnout. There is an urgent need for systemic change within the philanthropic sector wherein funding practices and behaviors mirror the values cited in foundations’ mission statements.

Change starts with funders acknowledging the systemic inequities that plague the nonprofit funding landscape and committing to meaningful action. Funders must trust that the most impactful and effective nonprofits are the ones that are most accountable to our communities. They must also keep their word when investing in the Black Community, especially given the systemic inequities that have gotten us to where we are. Multi-generational acts of oppression are eliminated by multi-generational acts of liberation. 

In addition, grantmaking practices must be reimagined in a trust-based way. Asking the same question, multiple times throughout a grant application or requesting the equivalent of a graduate-level dissertation for a mere $5,000 grant takes an immeasurable toll on organizations with little payoff.  We must also reimagine funder-grantee relationships to support a nonprofit’s self-determined vision for impact. It is not a nonprofit’s job to take a funder’s money and make it stretch, but for funders to have honest and real conversations about the cost of putting the nonprofit out of business, even if that is through the liberation of one life. That is the goal of many Black-led nonprofits. We are requesting the funding necessary to end cycles of oppression so that we no longer need to do this work. Our end goal is to remove the labels that have been placed on our people for generations -- despite our understanding that you cannot label people walking as living dreams.

Doing community-accountable nonprofit work – and fundraising for it – is no small feat. As a Black fundraiser seeking rest while also seeking support for my organization, I urge funders to acknowledge the extra labor that Black nonprofit professionals undergo to keep our work afloat. Don’t just read my blog post; challenge yourself and create action steps. Start by listening to the people doing the work, reexamining power imbalances in your grantmaking structures, and of course, unleashing the transformative power of unrestricted funding. Too often, Black women are asked to become acquainted and comfortable with endurance. Help me, help my organization, help my community so we can all rest. 

Beth Leigh is the Director of Development and Stewardship at Village of Wisdom