Giving for Racial Justice

As part of our institutional commitment to Racial Justice, Brooklyn Community Foundation actively encourages our Donor Advised Fund holders to mobilize money and resources to dismantle systemic racism and repair centuries of devastation and injustice done to Black communities and other communities of color. 

We are here to work with you, our Donor Advisors, to dramatically increase your giving to Black-led and other people of color-led organizations working on the frontlines of the fight for social change. What guides all of the Foundation’s work is the belief that those who are closest to the challenges faced by our communities are closest to the solutions for our communities.

Across our Community Fund grantmaking portfolios, over 70% of grantees are led by people of color. This is in striking contrast to the philanthropic sector as a whole, which largely favors funding white-led organizations: 

• From 2005-2014, total foundation giving focused on reaching people of color never exceeded 8.5% for any year⁠—and only 1% of those grants were specifically for racial justice. 

• Revenues of Black-led organizations are 24% less than white-led counterparts, and unrestricted net assets of Black-led organizations are 76% lower than white-led organizations, according to a recent study

As part of our service to you, our team has curated a list of racial justice learning resources and a list of local racial justice organizations supported through our Racial Equity Fund.

CONTACT US

Please get in touch with us directly to discuss how your Donor Advised Fund can advance racial justice and equity in Brooklyn and beyond:

Melissa Pawlak, Donor Services Manager
T: 718.480.7500
E: donorservices@brooklyncommunityfoundation.org

Additional Resources for Racial Justice Learning:

• The Case for Funding Black-Led Social Change [ABFE]

• Local and National Racial Justice Organizations [Funders for Justice]

• Race to Lead Revisited: Obstacles and Opportunities in Addressing the Nonprofit Racial Leadership Gap [Building Movement Project]

• Leaders of Color Speak Out [The Chronicle of Philanthropy] 

• Decolonizing Wealth by Edgar Villenueva

• Winners Take All by Anand Giridharadas

• How to Be Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi

• Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad

• Code Switch [NPR]

• Come Through with Rebecca Carroll [WNYC]

• 1619 Project [NY Times]