BFCF ListeningReport2024 r201 - Flipbook - Page 14
BLACK FUTURE CO-OP FUND
LISTENING TOUR REPORT 2023 - 2024
Black-led and -serving organizations want resources,
•
Investment in Black leadership. There need to be
capacity building, and networking support to further their
pathways, scholarships, education, and training for
work. We surveyed listening tour participants about what they
Black people to pursue various jobs and professions.
needed to support civic engagement, education, economic
And, Black people must be paid equitable wages.
mobility, public safety, and health, and heard common themes
Listening tour participants want more Black candidates
across these areas.
for local, regional, school, and state o昀케ces. They also
highlighted the importance of increasing Black leadership
•
Multiyear, 昀氀exible funding. Organizations called for more
in education, economic mobility, public safety, and health.
resources to be able to respond to community priorities.
Several suggested internships as a way to build ladders
In education, people mentioned capital and sustainable
of opportunity.
funding. In health, there needs to be investment in
culturally relevant care and Black-led health centers and
•
Black mentorship. In seeking support and guidance,
people also want Black professionals or other
hospitals. In other areas, participants discussed funding
professionals of color who see them! Black teachers,
for programs, hard costs, and operating expenses.
doctors, and attorneys can bring relevant lived experience
•
and offer more culturally speci昀椀c assistance.
Organizational capacity building and technical
assistance. Across issue areas, organizational leaders
called for support with capacity building. They expressed
•
Networking. Participants expressed interest in
partnership and collaboration across the region and
a desire for tools and assistance with grant writing,
state, but have seen few avenues to coordinate across
fundraising, donor cultivation, capital campaigns,
organizations because of limited resources. There was
昀椀nancial management, communications, policy advocacy,
mention of creating a community directory or database;
and human resources. Folks also asked for outside
hosting regional events to bring people together; and
counsel, such as legal, bookkeeping, fundraising, grant
providing community gathering spaces where people
writing, marketing, and communications.
feel safe to meet. Some also talked about creating a jobs
board or network for sharing board openings to promote
more Black people into these positions.
•
Mental health and healing.Racialized trauma was a
consistent theme, and wanting support for healing.
People mentioned mental health support from Black and
other professionals of color, along with funding for youth
enrichment programs.
•
Tangible support. Nonpro昀椀t leaders listed o昀케ce and
meeting space, as well as equipment like computers
as ways that funders, corporations, and businesses
can invest in nonpro昀椀t organizations. They also talked
about funding childcare, transportation, housing, and
other supports.
The folks in the room are the ones that we are funding. Our
At the Puget Sound listening session,
listening tour was largely attended by grantee organizations
participants explore community-identi昀椀ed
or by organizations looking to become grantees. To get a more
approaches to encourage civic engagement.
expansive view of community aspirations and needs, we need
to broaden our outreach and lean into our aspirations to serve
as a collective resource hub for Black Washingtonians.
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