California Black Freedom Fund
OVERVIEW: The California Black Freedom Fund supports racial equity through grants for Black-led organizations throughout the state of California.
IP TAKE: CBFF is very transparent with where its money goes, but not so much with how new grantseekers can secure funding. Based on previous grantmaking, this funder appears to prioritize support for organizations with a statewide reach rather than groups with a strictly local influence.
In keeping with it’s focus on “visionary” grantees, this funder likes to take some grantmaking risks, but call this funder to learn more about how this grant risk taking has evolved more recently.
PROFILE: The California Black Freedom Fund (CBFF) was launched as a five-year, $100 million initiative focused on increasing the capacity and effectiveness of Black-led organizations throughout the state of California. It is the first state-based organization of its kind and funds grassroots advocates and community leaders through targeted investments, and it seeks to “effect the culture, policy and systems changes necessary to realize equity and justice in California.” CBFF often awards grants to advance racial equity at the local and regional level in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles County.
With an initial investment of $34.2 million, CBFF seeks to raise a total of $100 million by 2026 through a combination of foundation, corporate and individual donor support. Approximately 20 funders helped raise the initial investment. These include: Akonadi, the Annenberg Foundation, the California Endowment, the Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, JPMorgan Chase, Blue Shield of California Foundation and the Liberty Hill Foundation.
Grants for Racial Equity and California
The fund’s grantmaking seeks to “strategically increase the resources available to Black-led organizations throughout California.” It prioritizes “courageous and visionary grassroots advocates and organizers” whose goal is to lead the state toward systemic transformation. Past grantees include Black Equity Collective, Black Census and Redistricting Hub, Priority Africa Network, National Black Women’s Justice Institute, and California Black Health Network. See a complete list of previous grantees here.
Important Grant Details:
The fund awarded $6 million in grants during its first year and $9 million in its second. Funded organizations must be Black-led and must view combatting systematic racism and advancing Black communities as part of their mission. CBFF’s application process is by invitation only. It does not accept unsolicited proposals or requests for funding.
PEOPLE:
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