2024 Year End Impact Report
Dear Community and Partners,
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.
~Maya Angelou, Still I Rise
As we close out 2024, we’re recalling Ms. Maya Angelou’s poem “ Still I Rise.” It’s been a year marked by growth and change at the Black Future Co-op Fund and capped by a perilous leap backwards for the country.
The proliferation of anti-Blackness spurred by the now president-elect, coupled with the dismantling of affirmative action and diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts has created a challenging climate. Like many Black-led and -serving organizations across the country, we have seen a precipitous decline in gifts this year.
Yet, still we rise.
At the Fund, we’ve had several staff transitions with Shona Carter and T’wina Nobles leaving to prioritize rest and invest their brilliance in other ways. We’re grateful for the pivotal roles they each played in steering the Fund through its infancy, forging new relationships across the state, and building a strong infrastructure for the work going forward.
And, still we rise.
A major milestone for the Fund has been traveling the state to listen to and learn from Black Washingtonians. As we’ve met with a diversity of folks, we’ve been inspired by their courage, creativity, and tenacity in the powerful work they’re leading. It’s been a joy experiencing the uniqueness of each community and place — from Bremerton, Vancouver, and Everett to Spokane, Yakima, and Renton. Our conversations about barriers to opportunity and people’s aspirations for a liberated future have helped shape the Fund’s plans for 2025 and beyond.
We rise.
For us, our vision of a Washington state, working cooperatively, where all Black people are liberated, prosperous, and self-determined remains steadfast. We thank investors and partners who have devoted resources and energy to fuel this vision. We thank staff for your deep love of Black people and the daily commitments you make to empowering communities. And, we thank grantees for your work every day toward our collective self-determination.
Together, we rise.
Andrea Caupain Sanderson
Angela Jones, J.D.
Michelle Merriweather
T’wina Nobles
We Are Ready For This Moment
Just like the Black Future Co-op Fund was created to meet the moment in 2020 as the antidote to philanthropic redlining, we are ready to rise to today’s challenges. We are Washington’s first philanthropy created by and for Black people, working to ignite Black generational wealth, health, and well-being.
In just four years, we’ve raised significant funds and invested close to $9M in communities. We’ve engaged Black folks across the state to produce a monumental report and audiobook, Black Well-being: Moving Toward Solutions Together, that presents community-identified approaches to support organizing, inform policy change, and direct resources into Black-led solutions. And, we’re now midway into implementing our strategic plan, with impact across our four areas: connecting Black communities for collective power, promoting truthful Black narratives, investing in Black generational prosperity, and shifting the philanthropic paradigm. Continue reading for highlights.
Connected Black Communities for Collective Power
Our whole is greater than the individual sum of our parts. To that end, we’re connecting across identities, geographies, issues, and sectors to work collaboratively for Black prosperity, well-being, and liberation.
Listening Tour
Traveling across Washington, we’ve been honored to meet with and hear directly from Black folks who are actively dismantling systems and serving communities in ways that center Blackness. What we’ve learned is shaping our work going forward. We’re also sharing the summary report to inform the sector.
Return to Africa
“Our Ghana trip was important as the beginning of the next, as the beginning of understanding our origin story. It’s a story that began before we were enslaved. So many of us in the diaspora were taught that our history began as slaves … this trip refuted that mentally, physically, and spiritually.” ~Andrea Caupain Sanderson, co-architect
Gems of Wisdom
As we’re working to remake philanthropy, our team has connected with and learned alongside peers at some of the field’s largest conferences, including ABFE (A Philanthropic Partnership for Black Communities), GEO (Grantmakers for Effective Organizations), and EPIP (Early Professionals in Philanthropy).
“Transformation is what is needed. Angela Davis once said, ‘Belonging means to be treasured,’ and that is what needs to happen. Our children need to feel that.”
Promoted Truthful Black Narratives
We’re lifting up the beauty, soulfulness, and strength of our people and amplifying the truth through conversations, stories, events, media, and more.
Black Philanthropy Month
Our fourth Washington Black Philanthropy Month celebration featured a panel on “Afrofuturism in Philanthropy,” exploring Black identity, agency, and freedom through art, activism, and philanthropy. Throughout the month, we also amplified the rich legacy of Black giving and called for increased investment in Black communities.
Community-led Black Well-being
Community-identified approaches in our Black Well-being: Moving Toward Solutions Together report were uplifted to support collective organizing, inform policy change, and direct resources into Black-led solutions for civic engagement, education, economic mobility, public safety, and health.
#KnowBlackStories
Through a steady stream of content, we elevated the diversity, beauty, and brilliance of Black leaders and organizations. Our new artist series spotlighted the creative works of BlackKrip’s poetry and queer pianist Joe Williams’ music, reinforcing the vital role of art in helping make sense of the world and expressing our common humanity.
Social Media Metrics
Audience Growth
Total
3.5%
2.9%
23%
40%
Reach
182,951
Total
11,942
56,733
113,920
“Your generous support is an investment in a future for our people where possibilities can become limitless. The Black Future Co-op Fund has transformed dreams into reality that will echo through generations”
Invested in Black Generational Prosperity
Across Washington, we’re supporting Black-led solutions that strengthen civic engagement, education, economic mobility, public safety, and health. And, we’re doing it in ways that people feel seen, heard, and valued.
Our Grant Money Goes Where Black Washingtonians Live
We See You
In resourcing communities, we’re acknowledging historical and present-day inequities in our approaches and normalizing rest and healing as part of the work. Aligned with this vision and what we’ve heard, we invested $2.6M in the liberation of 20 Black leaders statewide, which has positive ripple effects across our communities and state.
Investing in Family
We wrapped up our year with a family gathering, reflecting on where we’ve been and dreaming about where we’re going, together. We also continued to support our We See You family, giving grants annually until each receives $100,000 total. Check out the 2023, 2022, and 2021 grant recipients for places to direct your own giving.
Sponsorships
Being in community and celebrating our culture are meaningful ways to remember who we are. This past year, our sponsorships totaled $65,000 and included groups like Songs of Black Folk for a concert, Wa Na Wari for Walk the Block, and Foundation for Tacoma Students for their Charting the Futures Conference.
“The support from the Black Future Co-op Fund has allowed us to continue and expand vital mentoring services to Seattle’s Black youth, nurturing their growth, education, and liberation.”
Shifted the Paradigm of Philanthropy
We’re fashioning a new model of philanthropy that centers Black genius and substantially increases resources flowing into Black communities.
Resourcing Black Communities
Our gratitude to everyone who has invested in the Black Future Co-op Fund’s mission. To date, we have raised nearly $30M. Our ultimate goal is $246M, that is $1M for every year of institutionalized slavery in the U.S. With the rise of anti-Blackness fueled by a reckless president-elect, our work is more necessary and urgent than ever.
Amplify Partnerships
Seattle’s professional sports teams came through. Seattle Storm raised $100,000 for the Fund through its Kicks for Equality campaign; Seattle Seahawks uplifted grantee partners and the Fund during Black Philanthropy Month; and Seattle Reign FC sponsored racial equity by featuring the Fund on the front of its team’s jerseys.
Black Funds in Solidarity
To fortify our work nationally, we’ve built relationships and are collaborating with other Black funds, including the California Black Freedom Fund, Minnesota Black Collective Foundation, and South Florida Racial Justice Table through which we’re sharing ideas and supporting each other.
“It’s crucial to empower and invest in organizations as part of broader efforts to promote racial justice. Through strategic support and collaboration, we can help strengthen Black communities and contribute to a more inclusive, prosperous society for all.”
Support the Fund
As a society we’ve been called on to change — to rebalance power and restore Black generational wealth, health, and well-being. Be the change and invest in the Black Future Co-op Fund.