Here is the truth: Black led organizations STILL need more funding and longer commitments

Equity has been a buzz word for a bit now. Honestly, I believe it has lost its potency. The organization I co-founded and lead everyday experienced an influx of funding and financial support as a direct result of what is known as the "George Floyd" effect. As a response to the egregious murder of George Floyd in 2020, corporations, foundations, and philanthropists were intentional about seeking out Black led organizations to fund. As time moves on and the world is focus on many other things, that same commitment to providing equitable solutions to Black led organizations has dried up considerably over the last year. But the work has not.

Let's address the systemic barriers that have long hindered the progress of marginalized communities. The call to action is the need for increased philanthropic and foundation funding for Black-led organizations that serve communities grappling with poverty, truancy, and justice involvement, with a particular focus on empowering Black youth. And this funding must be multi-year commitments. Larger organizations have the bandwidth to focus on fundraising year round. In fact there are job descriptions written for Development departments that focus on this alone. For small grass led, boots on the ground organizations, to stay in constant fundraising mode for operational and staffing purposes dilutes the work and the impact to be made in communities. Organizations like Helping Empower Youth (HEY!) are often on the frontlines, offering innovative solutions to address deeply ingrained issues. Elevating their work can create lasting change and uplift those who need it most. That work gets halted when we are not funded properly or in a sustainable matter.

Here is what we need to remember:

1. Black communities have faced centuries of systemic racism, leading to significant disparities in education, employment, housing, and more. These inequities persist and affect the lives of Black youth, pushing many into the truancy and juvenile justice systems.

2. Investing in Black-led organizations that serve truant and justice-impacted Black youth is an investment in the future. Too many times we have been told that funders are skeptical of providing support to youth that appear to be "in and out of jail or kicked out of school." Well, if organizations were properly funded we could reduce the recidivism in these areas. These organizations provide essential services and support, mentorship, and educational opportunities that can break the cycle of poverty and incarceration.

3. Black-led organizations often have a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by their communities. We are "boots on the ground". We usually live in the communities we serve. We are better equipped to develop culturally competent, effective programs that address the root causes of truancy and juvenile justice involvement.

Doing Good Costs:

1. With greater financial resources and multi-year commitments, we can expand our reach and provide more comprehensive services. This includes after-school programs, mentorship, mental health support, and job and skills training – all of which are critical for at-risk Black youth. And for organizations like HEY!, entrepreneurship training and support as youth work to become employable.

2. Adequate funding ensures the long-term sustainability of these organizations. Instead of constantly struggling to make ends meet, we can focus on program development, outreach, and continuous improvement. We can scale and this in turns aid city and school leadership. Funding smaller organizations at a greater level is a win-win for all involved.

3. Many Black-led organizations are pioneers in developing innovative solutions to complex problems. We have to be innovative. We perfect the sentiment of "making a dollar out of 15 cents", the idea of "making something out of nothing". And it is this same innovation that makes the masses believe we have enough. The truth is we have enough passion to get creative as to not let our community down. But it weighs heavily on us to continue in this capacity. Increased funding allows us to experiment with new ideas, adapt to changing needs, and serve as models for effective community intervention. Just like bigger, well staffed and main stream organizations are afforded the opportunity to do so.

4. Supporting Black-led organizations not only empowers Black youth but also fosters leadership within the community. When young people see individuals who look like them leading these initiatives, it sends a powerful message of possibility and potential. They can only be what they can see.

We do the work daily. The change we seek comes when change in how small, grass roots, and boots on the ground organizations are funded.

To learn more about Helping Empower Youth (HEY!) visit www.helpingempoweryouth.org.