28 Foundation Leaders Urge Their Fellows to Give More Funding to Black-Led Nonprofits

Following the police killing of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, a group of 28 Foundation leaders called on their allies on Monday to make a long-term commitment to support black-led racial justice organizations. I called.

About 1,200 people were killed by police last year, according to foundation leaders.

An open letter posted by the leaders was circulated by Marc Philpart, executive director of the California Black Freedom Fund, a joint fund set up in 2021 with the goal of raising $100 million over five years. The letter was signed by officers and executives of foundations that contributed to the fund, including the California Endowment, the Libra Foundation, and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

“Our letter is a call to action for all concerned with atrocities committed by Black people and the Black community,” the letter said. “Our letter is a call to action for those daring to dream of a world where police violence is only part of our past, a distant object in the rear-view mirror of our nation’s history. am.”

To date, the California Foundation for Black Freedom has distributed $26 million to Black-led organizations. These include the Anti-Police Terrorism Project, Organizing Black People Project, Black Power California Network, Love Not Blood Campaign, Live Free California, Los Angeles Community Action Network, and Students Deserve.

In many cases, the letters show support from donors who want to donate shortly after shocking events come to light, such as the release of a video showing police beating Nichols. .

These funding surges are often short-term or focused, the letter said.

“Then, when the urgency of the moment recedes, the renewed momentum for building lasting and organized power in black communities will be lost, and the resources for building multiracial coalitions will be lost.”