Embracing Reparations as a Fundraising Strategy for Black-led/Black-serving Organizations

In recent years, the philanthropic sector has seen a significant shift towards adopting reparations as a fundraising strategy, especially for Black-led/Black-serving organizations. This transformative approach not only addresses historical injustices but also empowers these organizations to build a sustainable future. With major funders like Wellspring and Borealis Philanthropy replacing their senior leadership with seasoned racial justice organizers, the conversation around reparations is gaining momentum, changing the dynamics of giving and receiving within philanthropy.

The Role of Philanthropic Leadership in Shifting Strategies

The cultural and structural shift that grantmaking institutions have made in recent years - shifting from “career” philanthropic leaders to the appointment of racial justice organizers - has been a game changer. These leaders bring a new perspective, emphasizing the need for reparative justice and shifting the traditional power dynamics between funders and nonprofits. When leaders vocalize the necessity of reparations, it sets a precedent, encouraging other organizations to follow suit.

As a result, philanthropists are increasingly seeing the value of reparations as a giving model. This shift requires nonprofits to be proactive in initiating these conversations, inviting funders to participate in a collective mission of reparative justice. While nonprofits may not have the power to demand reparations-based funding, they can certainly influence the discourse by presenting compelling cases for support.

For instance, the Bush Foundation, a private regional foundation founded in 1953 by Edyth and Archibald Bush, openly discusses the harms done to Native American and Black communities through broken treaties, slavery, the Homestead Act, redlining, and Indian boarding schools. They recognize the direct connection between these historical injustices and current disparities in employment, incarceration, and homeownership rates. This acknowledgment and intentional reparative action is a critical step towards meaningful reparations.

A Reparations Roadmap for Philanthropy

Reparations as a Fundraising Strategy

Reparations can be an effective and essential strategy for organizations serving the Black community  because this strategy addresses both historical and contemporary injustices. By framing fundraising efforts as reparations, organizations highlight the need for restitution rather than charity, underscoring the moral obligation of funders to contribute to the economic upliftment of Black communities.

Effective Messaging and Communication

The success of reparations-based fundraising depends heavily on clear and compelling messaging. Organizations need to craft narratives that connect historical context with present-day needs, emphasizing the importance of reparations in addressing systemic issues. 

Clear messaging doesn’t have to be combative but it should be factual, educational, and shared with a strategy for reparative resolution.

Collaborative efforts between Black organizations and other groups can amplify reparations-based fundraising efforts. Partnerships with educational institutions, advocacy groups, and even corporations can provide additional platforms for raising awareness and garnering support. Such collaborations can lead to more sustainable and impactful outcomes.

Overcoming Fear Tactics

Fear tactics like those used  in the Fearless Fund and Evanston lawsuits aim to prevent progress by intimidating organizations - moving them away from their vision for a more just future. Funders have the ability to shift power by holding  firm in their values and use their resources to impact change, to stand against systemic racism, and to support reparative justice efforts. By embracing a more radical stance in their funding strategy, funders are showing their unwavering commitment to systemic change, despite the consequences. 

The reparations model offers a powerful framework for both funders and nonprofits to address historical injustices and build a more equitable future. By shifting the narrative and embracing this approach, the philanthropic sector can support meaningful change and foster stronger, more resilient communities.

Reparations are an acknowledgment of past harm and a call to action for funders to move beyond traditional models of giving. For nonprofits, it is an opportunity to align their missions with a broader movement towards equity and justice. Embracing reparations in fundraising is not just a strategy—it is a commitment to righting the wrongs of the past and building a better future for all.