Funding Racial Equity

Progress in the philanthropic sector towards racially equitable grantmaking has historically been slow to take hold. A recent study by the Philanthropic Initiative for Racial Equity (PRE), however, shows that the industry is now beginning to move – albeit slowly – in the right direction.

A growing number of funders note racial equity as a central tenet of their grantmaking strategy and make efforts to fund work both benefitting and led by people of color. However, the industry as a whole has a long way to go. According to PRE’s study, which examined grants from the nation’s 1,000 largest foundations, just 10% of grantmaking dollars are explicitly earmarked for people of color. When you consider that communities of color make up 40% of the US population, this statistic demonstrates a massive funding gap.

Time and time again, it has been made clear that those closest to the issues they face, are the leaders best equipped to solve them. Consider the work of immigrants on policies that affect undocumented individuals, and the massive efforts of indigenous organizations to defend sacred lands. Unfortunately, many nonprofit leaders of color report spending significantly more time than their white counterparts seeking funding from grantmakers. This ties up organizational capacity and pulls leaders away from enacting their nonprofit’s mission.  

At Stonewall, our approach to grantmaking centers those on the margins – most often communities and leaders of color. Recognizing the hardships that nonprofits by and for people of color face, we take specific steps to allow these leaders to spend more time impacting their communities, and less time tracking down funding. Additionally, our overarching strategy includes:

  • Simplifying the grant application process to lessen the burden on grantseekers

  • Centering and including marginalized populations in grantmaking

  • Providing and funding leadership development to those on the forefront of community issues – most often people of color

  • Facilitating ongoing anti-racism training to Stonewall board and staff members

You can find a longer report on the study’s findings at the Chronicle of Philanthropy, and more about PRE’s study here.

Gattlin Miller