BFCF ListeningReport2024 r201 - Flipbook - Page 16
BLACK FUTURE CO-OP FUND
LISTENING TOUR REPORT 2023 - 2024
The Black Future Co-op Fund and other funders can invest
in Black well-being statewide. We consistently heard these
themes across the state.
•
Recognize that healing is essential. Healing was called for
by individuals, organizations, and regional communities.
It is not an extra, add-on, or after thought. People talked
about the role of healing as integral to the work of racial
and social justice. In particular, listening tour participants
prioritized mental health care and youth support. We
must plan for, support, and invest in healing models and
practices that proactively produce wellness.
•
Increase multiyear, unrestricted funding. Organizations
need 昀氀exible funding over 昀椀ve to 10 years to use as they
see 昀椀t to advance their missions. At the beginning
of the COVID pandemic and racial uprisings, we saw
how quickly foundations changed — suspending
burdensome application and reporting processes,
increasing annual payout, and moving money more quickly
out the door. This needs to be the norm. As funders, we
must reimagine our roles to work more collaboratively
and creatively with nonpro昀椀ts.
•
Support capacity building. This was a clear priority
among organizations across Washington. In addition to
grantmaking, foundations and other funders ought to
expand their roles to help organizations raise money. We
can offer assistance and tools to support grant writing,
昀椀nancial management, communications, policy advocacy,
human resources, and more. And, we can provide outside
counsel or loan staff for legal services, bookkeeping,
fundraising, grant writing, marketing, or communications.
An added form of capacity building can be sharing
o昀케ce and meeting space with nonpro昀椀ts, or donating
computers or services like transportation or childcare to
enable the work.
Participants listen to an
overview of 昀椀ndings from
the Black Well-being study.
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