21 Useful Resources for Black Fundraisers and Black-Led Nonprofits

To celebrate our commitment to DEI, we’ve assembled this list of resources for Black-Led nonprofits and African American fundraising professionals.

Resources for Black Fundraisers and Black-Led Nonprofits

According to Candid’s The state of diversity in the U.S. nonprofit sector report, which compiles data from 59,550 public charities that shared demographic data between July 2019 and January 2024, 24% of the staff in the nonprofit sector identify as Black/African American. Unfortunately, that number shrinks to only 15% when looking at executive-level positions (CEO/ED) only.

“Not only are leaders of color underrepresented in the nonprofit sector, but they are also disproportionately confined to the smallest organizations,” said Cathleen Clerkin, Candid’s associate vice president of research. “This suggests that the racial leadership gap is especially large for larger organizations.”

Why does this matter? Among many reasons, Black and Brown Americans give a greater percentage of their income to charitable causes than other demographic groups. According to a Lilly Family School of Philanthropy study, they are more likely to give to organizations that represent them. We hope this list of resources will prove useful and help unlock funding sources that bring about more equity in our sector. Note — We recognize that the terms “BIPOC” and “person of color” blend distinct cultures and backgrounds together in a way that can undermine those experiences. Any cited reference to those and similar terms in this post is done so in the hope that those in the Black community may find the resources therein helpful.)

Affinity Groups

Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Affinity Group Meetings: AFP members can log in to AFP Connect to find an African American/Black Affinity Group at their local AFP chapter. People’s Nonprofit Accelerator: A program dedicated to empowering grassroots organizations by providing mentorship, resources, and networking opportunities to amplify their impact. They hold a BIPOC Fundraisers Affinity Group on the first Wednesday of every month at 4:00 – 5:00 pm Pacific Time on Zoom with occasional gatherings in-person.

Membership Groups

African American Development Officers (AADO): A professional network supporting African American fundraising professionals through education, mentorship, and community-building. Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy (WOC): An organization dedicated to advancing women of color in the fundraising and philanthropy sectors through professional development and advocacy. The Rooted Collaborative: A supportive community for women of color in fundraising, providing resources, networking, and professional growth opportunities. Men of Color in Development (MOCID): A group focused on the professional advancement and support of men of color in the development sector. Emerging Practitioners of Philanthropy: A network for new and emerging professionals in philanthropy, offering mentorship, resources, and career development opportunities. Color Vision: An initiative aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion within the fundraising and nonprofit sectors through advocacy and support. Blacks In Nonprofits (Facebook): A Facebook group where Black nonprofit professionals connect, share resources, and support each other’s professional growth. Executive Directors of Color Support Group (Facebook): A Facebook group offering a supportive community for Executive Directors of color to share experiences, advice, and resources.

Support Networks & Agencies

Community-Centric Fundraising: A movement focused on building a fundraising model that prioritizes community needs and equity over traditional donor-centric approaches. Black Freedom Collective (BFC): An organization dedicated to advancing social justice and equity for Black communities through collective action and advocacy. Fundraising in Black: A network aimed at empowering Black fundraising professionals through education, networking, and professional development. ABFE – A Philanthropic Partnership for Black Communities: A membership-based organization that advocates for responsive and transformative investments in Black communities. Giving Gap: An initiative to promote equitable philanthropy by increasing donations to Black-led and Black-benefiting nonprofits. Support Black Charities: A platform connecting donors with Black-led and Black-serving nonprofits to promote equitable giving. Decolonizing Wealth Project: An organization dedicated to addressing systemic racial and economic inequities in philanthropy through education, advocacy, and resource mobilization. Donors of Color Network: A community of donors of color committed to transforming philanthropy by advancing racial equity and increasing philanthropic resources for communities of color.

Other Helpful Resources

Black-founded nonprofits: This crowd-sourced list of Black-founded charities is curated by Charity Navigator and Giving Gap in order to raise awareness and funds for Black-founded organizations. The 2024 State of Black Nonprofits Report: Published by Giving Gap, this report underscores the pivotal role of Black-founded nonprofits as service providers, agents of positive change, and champions of racial equity and justice. Outstanding Black Voices in the Nonprofit Sector: Published by Neon One, this list highlights outstanding Black voices and consultants that are supporting nonprofit organizations across a wide variety of disciplines. Collecting Courage: Collecting Courage is a powerful anthology featuring stories from Black charity and fundraising leaders across Canada and the United States. The book highlights their experiences of racism, resilience, and hope within the nonprofit sector. Through personal narratives, poetry, and prose, it aims to dismantle systemic barriers and promote a culture of belonging and equity. The book serves as both a source of comfort and a call to action for allies and leaders to foster meaningful change in the charitable industry.

Funding Resources for Black-Led Nonprofits

Givebutter has compiled a list of Black philanthropists, funders, and grants for Black-led nonprofits. See it here »

Black-Led Nonprofit Capital Campaign Stories

Here are a few capital campaign stories and campaign pages from Black-Led nonprofits. You can use these as inspiration for your own campaign!

• African American Museum of Iowa
• Center for Black Excellence and Culture
• Tubman African American Museum
• Doleman Black Heritage Museum
• African American Museum of Bucks County
• Woodson African American Museum of Florida
• African Education Program
• Lee County Black History Society

Did we miss any resources that you think we should add? Or does your organization have a campaign story that we should highlight here? If so, let us know in the comments below!