Black Paper Abstract: Why We Exist…
Historical Perspective
Preface by Haile Selassie
“On the question of racial discrimination, the Addis Ababa Conference taught, to those who will learn, this further lesson:that until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned;that until there are no longer first class and second class citizens of any nation;that until the color of a man’s skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes;that until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race;that until that day, the dream of lasting peace and world citizenship and the rule of international morality will remain but a fleeting illusion, to be pursued but never attained.”
South Florida Racial Justice Table Historical Overview
On May 25, 2020, George Floyd was murdered. The information below from Candid Research firm shows funding earmarked for racial equity from 2020-2023, which increased dramatically after Floyd’s death. By Candid's estimate, commitments for racial equity soared to $16.5 billion in 2020, up from $5.8 billion in 2019 and $6.1 billion in 2018. Those commitments slipped to $7.9 billion in 2021 but remained above pre-2020 levels, according to Candid.
Candid launched this site in 2017 in an effort to better understand and share information on philanthropic support for racial equity. The site was enhanced in 2020 to track changes in racial equity funding following the murder of George Floyd, tracking all the funding announcements and pledges that began emerging in the summer of 2020, Candid launched a special section on Funding for Racial Equity to provide “continuously updated data” as well as news and analysis.
Notably, only 1.3 percent of racial equity funding and 9.1 percent of racial justice funding supported grassroots organizing.
In September of 2020 The Miami Foundation launched the Racial Equity Fund.
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Miami Foundation takes on racial equity
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The nine original organizations ( awarded decided to utilize this funding opportunity to work collectively to help build support and resources in the space of philanthropy for Black led organizations in South Florida, whose work is rooted in racial justice.
Accomplishments:
Assisted Miami Foundation with dissemination of $1million Facebook grant
Develop Partnerships with Health Foundation of South Florida with over $3 million in racial equity/justice investments
Advocated for Policy Changes implemented for Give Miami Day Racial Equity Lens
Hosted first Educational Institute with Florida Memorial University
Received Funding support from the Miami Foundation to staff and build out infrastructure.
Current Context
There has been more than a fivefold increase in the number of funders investing in racial equity and racial justice in the US over the past decade as shown below.
The percentage awarded for grassroots organizing in 2015 - 2018 never exceeded 2 percent. A steady decline in commitments and grants that began in 2021 appeared to accelerate in 2022.
Florida has been the national center point for legislation being used to set Supreme Court precedent with campaigns related to HB7 and HB999. Read More
Last June, The Supreme Court barred the use of race in college admissions.In August 2023, a lawsuit filed in Georgia alleged that grants to Black female entrepreneurs made by the Fearless Fund, an Atlanta-based venture capital firm, were discriminatory. According to an article published by philanthropy.com , evidence is mounting that under the guise of so-called risk management, philanthropy is rationalizing retreat. Many racial-justice leaders and program officers report being pressured to censor their language, obfuscate or narrow their strategies, and drop their principled stances on multiple issues. Read More
These actions all have enormous consequences and may represent consequential reactions by philanthropic organizations to Supreme Court decisions on race and equity . Funding Black led nonprofits and building power for communities of color through protest and civic action remains legal and is more important than ever. More than a third of the top 20 racial equity grant recipients from 2015 through 2018 are organizations that were launched and driven by white business leaders advancing their theories of change for Black and Brown communities.The top 10 funders of racial justice work from 2015 through 2018 accounted for 60 percent of all racial justice funding. Overreliance on a small number of funders makes groups vulnerable to having their work derailed by changing foundation interests.
Our work is necessary. Our work is vital. Our goals are possible.