The Imperative of Investing in Black Women’s Leadership

In extremely challenging times — which we are inarguably in for those of us in the social justice nonprofit and philanthropic spaces — it is often helpful to look back to draw lessons on how to move forward.

As a Black woman leading one of the longest-standing civic engagement tables in Georgia, my time machine would go back to 2020. This was the year that foundations investing in democracy, voting rights, and human rights gave without restriction. At ProGeorgia, that was to the tune of $20M. That year, philanthropy seemed to finally understand that every touch with the community — whether or not it was explicitly about voter education — mattered.

Unrestricted funds we received at ProGeorgia allowed us to provide food, supplies, and safety equipment. We were able to pay for mailing materials across the state for local volunteers to go out in their own community, along with increased outreach and education efforts. We provided grants to help subsidize childcare costs that would’ve been seen as wasteful prior to the pandemic. All of these are ideas and innovations that came out of a Black-woman-led organization that funders were willing to invest in without reservation.

We need more of that leadership, and the funding of it, in this moment to get through not just the next several years, but to chart a path to the future, and to make long-term progress in enshrining equity in systems across this country.

In the current political climate, the importance of supporting Black women-led organizations has never been more critical. However, to harness this potential fully, we must address the systemic underfunding — particularly in the form of highly-prized flexible, unrestricted funds — that has long plagued these vital organizations. Black-led organizations receive a staggering 76 percent fewer unrestricted funds compared to their white-led counterparts. This disparity not only hampers their ability to respond rapidly to disruptive and even hostile political environments — like the one we now find ourselves in — but also limits capacity for long-term planning and organizational stability.

Not only has unrestricted funding been shown to be vital to ensuring thriving organizations, leaders, and communities, but it is the lifeblood of effective community organizing and advocacy. It allows leaders to pivot quickly, addressing emerging challenges and seizing unexpected opportunities. In this moment, it is critical organizations can walk both the path of being well-resourced enough to move nimbly, as well as knowing they have the funding to have plans in place when the opportunity arises to better make national change in the next two to four years. Yet, data shows that only 20 percent of funding across nonprofits is unrestricted.

This flexibility in funding is especially needed to truly empower Black women-led organizations, and philanthropy must trust and invest in their decision-making abilities. These leaders possess unique insights and experiences that are invaluable in addressing community challenges. As Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) has said, “those closest to the pain should be closest to the power.”

Unrestricted funds unlock access to operational benefits that are typically reserved for white-led organizations with far greater resources that both help cultivate leaders and provide better services, such as funding a sabbatical or quickly moving money to partner organizations coming under attack for nonpartisan work.

I am immensely grateful to the ProGeorgia funders who have offered such resources to our organization, which have allowed us make crucial investments that would’ve otherwise required miles of red tape; such as providing pandemic-related grants for childcare expenses and reimbursing our on-the-ground partners for expenses they incurred providing relief efforts to Hurricane Helene victims.

Too often as nonprofit leaders, we see funders have an expectation for short-term investment to yield long-term results. There are several industries that this may work for, but it doesn’t work when you are working with people. In voter engagement and issue advocacy, for example, building up the infrastructure that protects everyone’s right to the ballot isn’t a one-year investment with perfect outcomes the next year.

That’s why multi-year, unrestricted grants are so essential for supporting the longevity, well-being, and sustainability of Black women leaders. These grants provide the stability needed for long-term planning and organizational growth, allowing leaders to focus on their mission rather than constantly chasing short-term funding. Unrestricted funding empowers Black women leaders to make strategic decisions based on their expertise and understanding of community needs, ultimately leading to more effective and sustainable social justice initiatives.

The importance of these investments is not only representation, but the fact that Black women leaders are rooted in community and relaying the needs of those who are most impacted by the issues philanthropy is looking to solve, such as economic precarity. As I reflect on the Georgia Voices Poll my organization recently undertook, I’m struck by the critical insights we’ve gathered about BIPOC Georgians’ experiences and priorities.

The findings from the Georgia Voices Poll reflect broader national trends in BIPOC communities’ policy priorities. The top concerns identified in Georgia — rising cost of living, healthcare costs, improving wages, housing affordability, and addressing racism and discrimination — mirror issues that have been highlighted in national surveys and studies.

With the chaos already created by the new administration in just a few short weeks as it looks to shrink the size of government, reduce social safety nets and roll-back decades of civil rights legislation, Black-women-led organizations are poised to mobilize, as this is the work we have always been doing. It’s not so much a question of “why now?” but rather of “why always?” in this country. By providing unrestricted, multi-year funding, funders enable leaders in the movement to build equity across our systems, creating resilient organizations that can withstand political pressures and continue advocating for their communities’ needs.

Investing in Black women-led organizations is not just the right thing to do; it’s the smart thing to do. These investments yield returns that extend far beyond any single election cycle or policy battle, building stronger communities, fostering more equitable societies, and paving the way for lasting change.

As funders and allies, we have the power and the responsibility to make this investment. The time to act is now, ensuring that Black women’s leadership remains at the forefront of our ongoing struggle for social justice and equity as it enters an especially crucial phase.

Tamieka Atkins is executive director of ProGeorgia.