2025 was our year of introversion, introspection, and reflection. We dug deep into our own systems, processes, and presence in community as we embarked on the journey of developing a new strategic vision and plan for the evolution of the Fund.
The process of looking within has birthed our 2025 Strategic Planning Data Synthesis Report, created in partnership with Imago LLC as an assessment of the Fund’s internal strengths and challenges, as well as the external landscape and what these learnings mean for the Fund’s future.
You can find the full report here: 2026 Strategic Planning Data Synthesis Summary
How the report was conducted:
We wanted to move through this process with thoughtfulness and intention. To ensure we gathered comprehensive perspectives rooted in the communities we serve and collaborate with, we sought opinions from a wide range of key stakeholders including 23 grantees, 11 partners and community members, and 7 internal staff or operational partners. Additionally, we heard from 10 focus group respondents and 4 one-on-one interview respondents.
Across all conversations had with each community respondent, we learned there was strong alignment around what key external trends could affect the organization in the months and years to come. We also gained insights on how the Fund is recognized and understood, how it connects and contributes, and how it may grow in response to community voice.
We share here a high level glimpse into the findings of how we can listen, respond, and grow with community:
1. How we show up in community
“Black Future Co-op Fund has created not just a funding mechanism to redress past harms, but an important shift in how philanthropy engages with Black communities—built on trust and community knowledge.”
We asked our community respondents, “How would you describe Black Future Co-op Fund and its impact on the community?” In response, we learned that Black Future Co-op Fund is recognized by the community as:
- A philanthropic model that invests in Black-led organizations and research
- A partner in successful capacity building, leadership development, and strengthening Black-led non-profits
- Deeply rooted in supporting community well-being and collective healing
2. How we can step up
“Getting more specific and concrete around programs and services in four pillar areas will help with relevance and will create a virtuous cycle.”
We asked our community respondents, “What suggestions do you have for how Black Future Co-op Fund could increase its relevance?” In response, they shared that we can:
- Enhance transparency of organizational strategy and mission
- Strengthen collective power through connection and collaboration
- Expand visibility, narrative power and public presence
3. Facing a challenging landscape
“Lack of access [to social and financial capital] has affected long-term economic and family security and has a ripple effect on individuals, family, and community.”
Our community respondents identified the following persistent challenges facing Black Washingtonians:
- Economic mobility and lack of job security
- Housing stability and access to basic needs
- Financial literacy and access to wealth-building resources
- Political climate and hostile socio-political environments
- Heightened anti-blackness and DEI rollbacks
- Funding and philanthropy giving instability
- Growing economic pressures shaping community needs
4. Proactive and responsive measures
“We need to move between dukeing it out, hunkering down, lawyering up, and pivoting appropriately.”
As we look at the challenges that face us, we asked our community respondents, “How might Black Future Co-op Fund respond to these external challenges? They offered wise ideas for next steps, including:
- Generating collective power across Black-led organizations
- Strengthening narrative writing and public presence
- Amplifying legal safety and organizational risks
- Prioritizing the development of a robust fundraising strategy
In Summary:
This deeply reflective process revealed that the Fund has a committed staff, respected leadership, a robust board, engaged partners and supporters, and knowledgeable grantees who are passionate and excited about the organization’s work and are ready to support its growth in any way they can.
These above learnings give us more clarity and strong understanding of how the Fund shows up in community, which creates a solid foundation for our team as we engage in deeper conversations of forming our strategic vision for the next chapter in the Fund’s story.