In the wake of the murder of Tyre Nichols, the San Francisco Foundation joined other philanthropic organizations calling on the sector to provide much greater levels of support to Black-led movement organizations.
The letter is excerpted below:
“….Our letter is a call to action for everyone concerned with the brutalization of Black people and Black communities. Our letter is a call to action for those who might dare to dream of a world where police violence is a mere figment of our past – a distant object in the rearview mirror of our nation’s history. Our letter is a call to action for those who desire to transform moments of despair at injustice into a sustained movement to dismantle systemic racism and racial inequities.
Historically, philanthropy has responded to flashpoints of police violence and mass mobilizations with an uptick in temporary funding directed toward Black communities, and more broadly, communities of color. These surges in funding often are short-term, tactical or narrowly focused. Then, when the urgency of the moment recedes, new momentum to build lasting, organized power in Black communities is lost, and resources to build multiracial coalitions disappear.
This time, we must keep the momentum. We call on private, corporate and community foundations to invest in Black-led movement organizations pushing back against systemic barriers and expanding access to opportunity. In addition, we need a groundswell of investments from everyday people, high-net worth donors, and companies.
As supporters of the California Black Freedom Fund, we are committed to organizing philanthropy on behalf of Black communities – now and for the long haul. As funders from foundations of all kinds, we know our capital makes a difference in the arc of social movements. Investing in the community organizations that work to advance racial justice is the best bet we can make to bring about the more just future we seek.”
Read the full letter.
Learn more:
- SFF’s Equity Agenda
- SFF’s support for the Bese Sake Initiative
