Our Strategic Plan: Re-rooting in Community

A team strategy session at Byrd Barr Place.

In 2020, four Black women came together with a specific mission: to ignite Black generational wealth, health, and well-being across Washington state. In pursuit of this mission, we have dedicated ourselves to a community-first approach, where listening and learning takes center stage.

During the winter months of 2022, we intentionally slowed down to be thoughtful about the foundation we set as a new fund, re-rooting ourselves in our values of centering Blackness and building trust. How we work is just as important as what we work on — we want to work in ways that foster healing, connectedness, and cooperation.

Building on what we’ve learned, we developed a three-year strategic plan organized around four primary areas of impact: connecting Black communities for collective power, promoting truthful Black narratives, investing in Black generational prosperity, and shifting the philanthropic paradigm.

Much of the plan is focused on building a foundation to be a good partner. This means listening, but also making sure we have the systems and processes in place to respond to what we hear. In the next three years, we recommit ourselves to:

Connecting Black Communities for Collective Power

Through the Fund, we’re connecting across identities, sectors, and geographies to generate sustainable progress that propels Black prosperity, well-being, and liberation. We envision serving as a hub for Black Washingtonians; creating spaces that Black people love to be in; and facilitating healing, organizing and policy change.

Promoting Truthful Black Narratives

By centering Black voices and experiences, we’re uplifting the true narratives of Black people across Washington. We envision established storytelling platforms that amplify our truth and that funders use to direct resources into Black community-identified approaches.

Investing in Black Generational Prosperity

Across Washington, we’re supporting the pursuits of Black communities and Black-led organizations that strengthen health, education, and economic opportunity for Black people. We envision reaching our mid-fundraising goal, tracking the funding landscape that propels Black generational prosperity, and investing in as many Washington Black-led nonprofits as possible.

Shifting the Paradigm of Philanthropy

As a society we are called on to change – to rebalance power and rebuild Black generational wealth, health and well-being. To do this, requires trust in Black leaders and intentional, significant investment in Black communities. We envision having done the work internally to become a blueprint externally, and collectively increase multiyear, unrestricted funding flowing into Black-led organizations and communities.

As we look to the years ahead, we are excited about moving toward these outcomes and aligning our work and infrastructure to support the priorities of Black communities across the state.