Black feminist activists are changing the world. Yet, Black feminist movements are among the most under-funded. We are here to change that.
The purpose of the Black Feminist Fund is to significantly increase the resources available to Black feminist movements. When Black feminist groups have the resources they deserve, they are strengthened to transform societies. Moving resources over the long term to Black feminist movements unlocks the power and potential of this change. We make grants to Black feminist groups that have bold visions, are using innovative strategies and taking daring action towards self-determination, justice, solidarity and equity.
We support groups that are constituency-led. We aim to put resources in the hands of activists who are advancing their own rights and building their own movements for social change. We work with groups that are led by Black women, girls and gender expansive people.
Our grantmaking is based on a set of principles that are rooted in Black feminisms:
- Trust based
- Participatory
- Community-led
- Context responsive
- Movement accountable
- Cooperation not competition
- The last first
- Creating bold, welcoming and accessible spaces
- Making new rules and models to value Black women
The Black Feminist Fund provides funding and accompaniment to Black feminist groups in the Americas, the Middle East, Europe and Africa.
The Black Feminist Fund resources registered and non-registered groups that are at the forefront of Black feminist resistance, who are building Black feminist joy, creativity, alternatives and futures, and who strengthen the Black feminist movement architecture and infrastructure in their communities and transnationally.
Our Funds
We provide all of our grantmaking through two participatory grantmaking Funds: The Sustain Fund and the Solidarity Fund.
The Sustain Fund provides core, long-term, flexible grants to Black feminist groups, collectives, organisations and consortium who work to build collective power, claim justice and create alternatives. From the second year of partnership, we provide grantee partners with opportunities for exchange and learning. The 2022 application window was open from May 25 – August 1.
The Solidarity Fund supports timely, one-off initiatives that respond to or create an opportunity for change; enable solidarity across geographies, movements or people; seed a new project, new collective or new idea; or support wellness, safety and security. We received applications for the Solidarity Fund on a rolling basis.
Announcement
Since our applications launched in May, we have received an overwhelming number of Solidarity Fund applications, underscoring the abundance of leadership and organizing of Black feminists all around the world. It also continues to tell us about the great need for funding for Black women and gender expansive people’s activism.
As a result of this large volume of applications, we will need to make some changes to our application cycles going forward. We have made the decision to pause this fund for the year. We will resource as many efforts as our budget allows and will continue to challenge the philanthropic sector to increase funding to Black feminists everywhere.
Stay tuned for more opportunities and information about our grantmaking.