|
In a world rife with societal challenges, nonprofit organizations emerge as beacons of hope, bridging the gaps and providing much-needed support to communities in need. Among them, Black nonprofits stand as a formidable force, armed with strategies that also champion racial equality and justice.
However, it is disheartening to see that only a small fraction of the $450 billion donated by Americans every year finds its way into the hands of Black organizations. This disparity is evident across various sources of funding, from individual donors to corporate giants and institutional grant makers.
To address this issue and shatter the barriers that impede the growth and prosperity of Black nonprofits, Giving Gap (formerly Give Blck) was formed in 2020. Leveraging their expertise in philanthropy and technology, Giving Gap's founders created a digital platform that centralizes the nation's Black nonprofits. Today, Giving Gap stands as the largest searchable database of Black-founded nonprofits in the United States, aiming to connect donors and funders to causes they care about.
In our first-ever State of Black Nonprofits report, Giving Gap drew data collected from over 1200 organizations. The report serves two important goals - to affirm Black nonprofit leaders as impactful change agents and to engage donors and funders to make substantial investments in Black nonprofits.
The report reveals an unrelenting commitment among Black nonprofit leaders. Despite facing discrimination and philanthropic disinvestment, these leaders show up for their communities time and time again. What's even more inspiring is that new organizations keep emerging, with 40% of them being founded in the last five years.
Furthermore, a staggering 92% of leaders have personal experiences with the issues their organizations address. This lived experience lends itself to a more holistic and empathic approach to problem-solving, one that is people-centered.
Lastly, Black-founded nonprofits are more likely than other nonprofits to be Black-led and Black-serving (73%) in their missions, inherently promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
While these findings affirm the efficacy and impact of Black nonprofits, they also raise important questions. What drives Black leaders to sustain themselves in this work despite the obstacles and challenges they face? Where do they find the will to keep going?
As a society, we have the opportunity to maximize our investments by contributing to Black organizations, particularly at substantial levels that allow them to plan and dream. Supporting Black nonprofits is not only a best bet for investment but also an opportunity to collectively address the most pressing issues in our community.
Will you join us in closing the giving gap? To read the full report, please visit the Giving Gap website at https://givinggap.org/state-black-nonprofits-report/. Together, we can make a difference.
| 
