This month we’re celebrating Black culture and history in the United States. As Washington Women’s Foundation, Black History Month is a time to highlight the history of Black giving – a legacy that is rooted in tradition, the value of the collective, and the importance of community.
As we honor this history, we also recognize the impacts of white supremacy and racism on Black philanthropy: the systemic underinvestment in communities, leadership, and ideas. It’s impossible for us at WaWF not to see how we’ve perpetuated this disparity and racial inequity in our giving history.
In celebration of Black History Month, we encourage you to invest in Black communities by supporting Black-led organizations that serve Black communities here in Washington State. Below, we’ve compiled a non-exhaustive list of nonprofits for you to support.
Join us in marking Black History Month by investing in Black communities.
Grantees
Cierra Sisters breaks the cycle of fear and empowers African American women and women from underserved communities with the knowledge to detect, treat, and overcome breast cancer.
Kingmakers supports the cultural, historical, social, and emotional needs of young Black boys and teens as it relates to their identity.
Look, Listen, and Learn inspires and advances learning in young children of color by offering locally produced television shows and other programming anchored in research about what works best to promote school readiness and success.
Mother Africa advances racial equity through supporting African refugee and immigrant women and their families to reach their highest potential.
Muslimah’s Against Abuse Center
Muslimah’s Against Abuse Center empowers and educates women and young girls of color to overcome their past traumas and live successful lives.
Nurturing Roots builds community through farming and heals community through relationships. The heart of their work is a 1/4-acre urban farm in South Beacon Hill, a richly diverse BIPOC community with limited access to healthy food choices.
Palmer Scholars helps underrepresented youth of color achieve their dreams and end generational cycles of poverty by helping them overcome financial, cultural, and social barriers in their pursuit of higher education.
WA Therapy Fund Foundation grants free therapeutic services to those within the Black community who are in need, and suffering from racial trauma, anxiety, depression, and other ailments due to systemic oppression, economic sufferings, and intergenerational trauma that has not been addressed in the past.
You Grow Girl empowers female youth in Seattle and King County through mentorship, counseling, and sisterhood.
Philanthropy
Black Future Coop Fund is building a new model of philanthropy that uplifts Black people and Black communities throughout Washington State by empowering Black-led solutions that foster Black wealth, health, and well-being for generations.
Giving Gap exists to advance racial equity in giving and mobilize positive action for Black lives by connecting people to causes they care about.