Delivering better funding for Black-led organisations and racial justice

More than 125 funders in the Open and Trusting Grant-making community have made concrete commitments to improving their practice by listening to charities and communities. However, while a more trusting and respectful funding approach does create a foundation for progress, it is not the same as a more equitable one. Although some Black-led and racial justice organisations can point to welcome changes in the funding environment, it is clear that this work has barely begun.

This discussion paper draws on – and directs readers to – research and campaign material from more than 20 Black-led and racial justice organisations, as well learning from funders and IVAR’s own work with organisations in this space. It begins with a brief summary of how Black-led and racial justice organisations experience the funding system, moving on to share some emerging ideas and practices to support better funding. We hope that this will both help to generate new thinking on the practical actions that funders can take to respond to the experience of Black-led and racial justice organisations, and support members of the Open and Trusting community and others who may – because of confidence or awareness or resources or history – find it difficult to initiate change.