Frequently Asked Questions

+ What have you learned so far from the listening tour?

As a new statewide fund by and for Black Washingtonians, we have been eager to learn about the diversity of Black people and communities throughout the state. To get an initial snapshot, we worked with a consultant based in Eastern Washington to curate information about all the Black-led nonprofits, Black-owned businesses, Black faith-based organizations, as well as predominantly white organizations led by Black individuals in all 39 of Washington’s counties.

Since then, we have been talking with and listening to Black Washingtonians — learning about Black people’s visions for a liberated future, challenges and opportunities, and how the Fund can play a role in building Black generational wealth, health, and well-being.

These conversations and messages have been affirming and inspiring. People’s aspirations are of Black liberation in all forms: in our education system, employment opportunities and entrepreneurship, home ownership, access to healthcare, and much more. And, people see having an organization like the Black Future Co-op Fund playing a pivotal role by intentionally connecting Black communities and uplifting and investing in Black-led solutions that foster Black generational prosperity and well-being.

A core value is community trust. We know it takes time, patience, and faith to build that trust, particularly when society and those in power have intentionally designed systems and structures to harm Black people and sow division among our communities. We are here for the long haul, committed to building the legacy of Black Washingtonians for at least the next 300 years.

When Covid-19 restrictions loosen, we hope to travel throughout Washington state to meet in-person and build and deepen relationships. We look forward to connecting with communities across the state and continuing listening in the coming months and years ahead.

+ How did the Fund decide on recipients of the ‘We See You’ grants?

We identified prospective grant recipients through conversations with Black Washingtonians throughout the state. There was no application process. With these “We See You” grants, we aim to invest in organizations or fiscally sponsored projects that:

• Embody why we launched the Fund in the first place: Black liberation;
• Are founded by, led by, and serving Black people;
• Are centering and uplifting Blackness and Black perspectives, experiences, and culture;
• Are providing culturally supportive services, nourishing a pro-Black agenda, building engagement and Black collective power, promoting a truthful narrative of Black people, and/or recreating social systems;
• Serve Black people and communities in different parts of the state (with a priority outside of King County); and
• May have had less proximity and access to philanthropic or major donor funding in the past.

Black-led organizations are an integral part of Washington state. The ‘We See You’ grants are acknowledging the critical work these organizations do every day on behalf of Black Washingtonians to forge the path to self-determination.

+ What kinds of activities are supported by these grants?

Grants are unrestricted funds, meaning organizations or fiscally sponsored projects can direct and use the grant funds as they see fit to further their mission.

“We See You” grant recipients are working in a number of areas, including providing culturally relevant education and youth mentoring, powering economic mobility through workforce development and training, advancing civil rights, and facilitating healing from racial trauma through creative arts and culture programs.

+ What types of organizations or projects is the Black Future Co-op Fund looking to support in the future?

The Black Future Co-op Fund was created by and for Black Washingtonians to ignite Black generational wealth, health, and well-being. We envision a Washington state, working cooperatively, where all Black people are liberated, prosperous, and self-determined to fully live our lives.

Powerful work is being led by Black people across the state. As we are a new organization and in the early stages of developing our grantmaking strategy and programming, we are intent on listening and learning from people and communities across the state, and designing approaches informed and directed by Black Washingtonians. Part of our intention is to be flexible over time in order to be able to shift our granting areas of focus as is needed to appropriately support our communities.

+ Is there a geographic focus for the Fund?

The Black Future Co-op Fund is focused on Washington state. We prioritize Black communities throughout the state, including rural, suburban, and unincorporated places that have historically been overlooked by philanthropy and other major funders.

+ How can organizations or communities apply for grants?

Our funding process is generative. We identify prospective organizations through conversations with community. To stay abreast of Fund updates, please sign up for our e-newsletter.

+ I’m a Black-owned business. Can I apply for a grant?

Thank you for powering through as a Black-owned business! We understand Black-owned businesses in Washington have been hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic and resulting economic recession. At this time, we can only make grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. We cannot grant directly to businesses, LLCs, or individuals. Through our listening tour, we’ve heard that Black-owned businesses are facing challenges with accessing financial resources, such as small business grants, loans, or lines of credit. They are also not connected to other Black businesses and lacking technical assistance support. Hearing and understanding these challenges led us to explore a partnership with the University of Washington Foster School of Business and Bank of America to specifically support Black-owned businesses. Read about our partnership, and contact the Consulting and Business Development Center for information on current opportunities.

+ Who determines how grants are distributed?

The four architects and co-founders of the Black Future Co-op Fund determined the list of grant recipients, informed by what we’ve heard from Black Washingtonians across the state. We are four Black women who each lead major social change organizations in Washington state that empower Black leadership. Our decisions are guided by the Fund’s vision of a Washington state, working cooperatively, where all Black people are liberated, prosperous, and self-determined to fully live our lives.

+ I want to donate. Can I designate my funding for a specific project or organization?

You can donate to the Black Future Co-op Fund through the Seattle Foundation, which is where we are currently housed as we are building our organization. Please indicate your specific funding interests in the comments box.

Thank you for your investment in realizing the promise of a Washington state where all Black people are liberated, prosperous, and self-determined. With your support, we can create change together and ignite Black generational wealth, health, and well-being. Your contribution makes the mission and work of the Black Future Co-op Fund possible.