The Ford Foundation has announced that it has committed $15 million to launch the Black Feminist Fund, which will help to address key issues facing Black women worldwide.
This initial investment will help jumpstart the new philanthropic fund’s work, developed and led by a core group of global Black women leaders, to create a network of support around key issues that impact Black women around the globe. It’s the first global fund focused on significantly increasing grants for Black feminist organisations across Africa, Europe and the Americas.
The $15 million seed investment is from the proceeds of the Ford Foundation’s social bond launched in 2020 in response to the pandemic. This funding is in addition to Ford’s ongoing support for organisations working to advance racial and gender equality around the world. The foundation’s increased commitment recognises that Black women have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.
SUPPORTING BLACK WOMEN WORLDWIDE
“All around the world we’re seeing that women – specifically women of colour – are bearing the brunt of the pandemic and its domino effect of consequences. We also recognise that the very same women who are the most impacted are the ones leading transformative movements that create positive change in our communities,” stated Ford Foundation’s President Darren Walker. “We are proud to support the incredible leaders behind the Black Feminist Fund as they launch this one of a kind venture; and urge others to join us.”
“We must remember recognition alone is not power,” added Ford Foundation International Program Director for Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Justice, Nicolette Naylor. “The Ford Foundation is proud to support the Black Feminist Fund as a major step toward putting the power in the hands of the trailblazing advocates leading movements across the globe; and giving them the resources and support they need to continue to do this work expertly.”
ENGAGING BLACK WOMEN & GIRLS WORLDWIDE
The Black Feminist Fund emerged from decades-long conversations with Black feminists around the world “wanting to remove one of our steepest barriers – funding”, pointed out Hakima Abbas, Black Feminist Fund’s Co-founder. “Black feminists are changing the world and we deserve resourcing that matches the boldness of our visions. The fund will help make that a reality and we’re grateful to Ford for supporting this work.”
The Black Feminist Fund will provide grants to organisations in Africa, North America, Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe; and whose work benefits and engages Black women, girls, trans, intersex and gender non-conforming people. It will also serve as the first global resource hub for Black feminist organising and philanthropy. As a networking vehicle, it will connect Black women donors and their allies to organisations rooted in Black feminist principles; and centre on Black women and their intersecting communities.
FOCUS ON INTERSECTING ISSUES
The Fund will focus on grant-making to grassroots Black feminist efforts, research and knowledge production, growing a base of Black women donors and resource mobilisers; and building a conduit for learning and exchange for partners across all of its work. The Fund is looking to raise $100 million in total in its first year. The Black Feminist Fund is led by an international group of feminists with extensive experience working with a wide range of intersecting issues. The three Co-founders are Hakima Abbas, Tynesha McHarris and Amina Doherty.
The Fund’s inaugural board members and co-designers include:
- Yannia Sofía Garzón Valencia, (in Colombia)
- Sharlen Sezestre, (in Martinique)
- Sibongile Ndashe, (in South Africa)
- Gay McDougall (in the USA)
For more information on the fund, click here.
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