Black feminists worldwide are doing powerful, transformative, intersectional work. Yet, according to a 2018 Human Rights Funders Network study, less than half of one percent of the nearly $70 billion in foundation giving globally goes to Black feminist groups and initiatives. Of all human rights groups that receive philanthropic funding, only five percent focus on issues that primarily affect Black women, girls, and trans and gender-diverse people.
But not for long. Founded in 2021, the Black Feminist Fund aims to significantly increase the resources available to Black feminist movements globally and radically change the way Black feminist movements are funded. BFF is dedicated to supporting grassroots movements around the world that are fighting oppressive systems and building a world that offers Black women and gender-expansive people space, security, and autonomy.
‘As abundantly as possible’
In a 2021 survey of 450 Black women’s organisations, BFF confirmed the overall lack of funding, as well as severe limits on existing funding. Of the few Black feminist organisations that received funding, 60% received less than $50,000 a year. ‘We also hear a lot of stories about the high level of control and restrictions imposed on self-led Black women’s and gender-expansive people’s organisations,’ says Tynesha McHarris, one of BFF’s co-founders. It’s what Hakima Abbas, another co-founder, refers to as ‘a gendered and racialised trust gap’.
The Black Feminist Fund aims to be a catalyst for change – to set an example for the wider philanthropic sector. ‘We want to fund Black feminists as abundantly as possible,’ says Hakima. BFF’s Sustain Fund will award eight-year grants ranging from $50,000 to $200,000 per year. Like Mama Cash, BFF is a participatory fund. A diverse committee of Black activists decides who receives funding.
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In 2022, the BFF received a grant from Mama Cash’s Solidarity Fund, which supports women’s funds to develop their organisational power. BFF invested that money in learning about language and disability justice. ‘We want to be as open as possible to Black feminists in all their diversity,’ explains Hakima. ‘We want to bring to the forefront of our work those most affected by oppression and exclusion on multiple fronts. We are investigating how we can put this principle into practice as effectively as possible. For example, we are committed to communicating in four languages: English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. Moreover, we want to be as accessible and inclusive as possible in other areas…. We want everyone to be able to join us wherever we meet, by thinking and arranging in advance what is needed for this, from sign language to childcare.’
Tynesha describes Mama Cash’s support for the Black Feminist Fund as heart-warming: ‘A lot of funds struggle with who they are, politically speaking, and their stance on racial justice. Mama Cash doesn’t. Mama Cash is a funder that we admire.’
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