August 18, 2025
Inside Philanthropy: Inside the Black Freedom Fund’s Journey to Independence and Permanence
Five years ago, George Floyd’s murder ignited a nationwide movement aiming to bring about an end to systemic racism with numerous foundations and donors making financial pledges. In California, a group of funders came together to launch the California Black Freedom Fund, a first-of-its-kind, state-based pooled fund dedicated to funding Black-led power-building organizations. Since its launch in 2020, the fund has awarded more than $45 million to 206 Black-serving nonprofits working across 17 issue areas, including the economy, health, education, youth development, criminal justice and food sovereignty.
[…] While the movement for racial justice may have stalled on several fronts over the past couple of years, especially given right-wing pushback and the current administration’s attacks on DEI, the fund’s focus, mission and goals remain the same as when it first launched.
[…] There have […] been a number of funders and foundation leaders who have remained unwavering in their support, [including the] San Francisco Foundation.
