As BIPOC nonprofit leaders, we intimately understand the enormous potential and needs that exist in our communities. Our top priority is working with philanthropy to redefine funder-nonprofit relationships to be trust-based and community-directed, increasing the flow of resources statewide for BIPOC-led nonprofits.
240+ BIPOC Strong
We, the undersigned BIPOC ED Coalition of Washington State, are writing to urge you to
- double the amount of funding you release to nonprofits;
- ensure the additional funds are going to organizations led by and serving Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color;
- foster long-term stability of these organizations by providing multi-year, general operating grants; and
- support systems-change work led by these communities.
Black, Indigenous, and communities of color have been disproportionately devastated by the intersecting crises of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and systemic racism. Our nonprofits are facing increased demands for services while our resources have dwindled. We need you to give more, to fund differently, and to partner with us to address the host of problems our communities are facing.
Over the past few months, we nonprofits have been pushed to our limits. With everything in crisis, demands for our services—food banks, mental health counseling, human services, housing, etc.—have exponentially increased. While everyone is suffering, pervasive racism means Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and other people of color have been dying from COVID-19 at a higher rate than the general population. We are experiencing disproportionately higher levels of unemployment, hunger, homelessness, and other issues. Voter suppression in BIPOC communities is putting our democracy in jeopardy. Racist and xenophobic attacks on our communities are relentless. The effects of these crises will get worse in the coming months and will be felt for decades to come.
Over the past few years, funders have talked about equity, diversity, and inclusion. Many of you have attended workshops on undoing racism and have made public statements in support of Black lives. However, we have seen little of this translating into actual changes in your practices that would allow us to effectively do our work during this critical moment. We still see the same tokenizing behaviors, the lack of trust, and the hoarding of resources at a time when we nonprofits and the communities we serve need you to step up.
It is unconscionable that so little funding has gone to communities of color [PDF] over the past decades. Many of you have released special funds, but they are not enough. Your solidarity statements are meaningless unless you back them up with substantive actions. Below are the actions we need you to take immediately:
1. Increase your annual payout rate to 10% or more
The 5% minimum legally mandated foundation payout rate was designed to allow foundations to save the other 95% for a rainy day. It is now that day. It is pouring outside! Even with an increased 10% payout rate, foundations would still be able to sustain a sizable corpus to continue investing. If you host Donor-Advised Funds, challenge these donors to increase their giving to at least 10% as well. If you are a government funder, find ways to release additional funds.
2. Provide significant multiyear general operating funds
Organizations and leaders cannot plan for the long-term if they do not have stability of resources and the autonomy to use them. Organizations and leaders need to be able to focus on their work and not spend half their time fundraising and piecemealing small grants together. Commit to giving unrestricted funding to organizations for a minimum of five years to ensure they have the stability to focus on their missions and the ability to weather potential future crises.
3. Designate the additional funds for organizations led by Black, Indigenous, and Communities of Color
It is not acceptable that so few dollars go to organizations led by Black, Indigenous, and communities of color. Our communities face extreme and disproportionate levels of injustice and must have the resources to lead the way in solving these problems.
4. Support BIPOC-led systems change work
We cannot expect structural racism to end without BIPOC-led systems change work. There is very limited funding available for advocacy work in general and even fewer dollars available for BIPOC-led systems change work. You must fund work focused on advocacy, voter registration, increasing the number of women of color in elected office, changing the tax codes, ending gerrymandering, removing the influence of money on politics, and other efforts that will protect democracy and lead to systems change.
The next few months are critical. Our communities are experiencing an unprecedented number of crises. Nonprofits will continue to provide services for as long as we can. But we need you to be partners in the work. If you are serious about equity, if you truly mean what you said in your solidarity statements, then release more funds immediately, ensure they are going to organizations led by the communities most affected by systemic injustice, provide multi-year support, and support community-led solutions.
BIPOC Executive Directors Signing in Solidarity
- Aaron Counts & Nikkita Oliver, Creative Justice
- ABIGAIL SCHOLAR, Central Washington Justice For Our Neighbors
- Adie Simmons, Washington Family Engagement
- Afua Kouyate, ADEFUA Cultural Education Workshop
- Agnes Navarro-Garcia, Filipino Community of Seattle
- Ahmed Ali, PharmD, Somali Health Board (SHB)
- Alice Fong, Center for Ethical Leadership
- Aline Prata, Whatcom Peace & Justice Center
- Allison Wherry, Youth Development Executives of King County
- Amy Hirotaka, Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Analia Bertoni, Villa Comunitaria
- Ananda Valenzuela, RVC
- Andrea Caupain Sanderson, Byrd Barr Place
- Aneelah Afzali, MAPS-AMEN (American Muslim Empowerment Network)
- Angela Griffin, Launch
- Anne Lee, TeamChild
- Anne Lee, TeamChild
- Anthony Austin, Southeast Youth and Family Services
- Apollo Rimando, The Be Good Project Foundation
- Ariel Bradler, Theatre Puget Sound
- Ashleigh Shoecraft, Braided Seeds
- Aviance Tate, Celebrate You Foundation
- Aviva McClure, Our Turn / Signal Fire
- Bennyroyce Royon, Evergreen City Ballet
- Beth Takekawa, Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience
- Bettie Williams-Watson, Multi-Communities
- Blake A. Pang, United Way of Linn, Benton & Lincoln Counties
- Bridgette Hempstead, Cierra Sisters
- César E. Torres, Northwest Justice Project
- Carla Arnold, Youthnet
- Carla P. Brown, Agape Mothers United International
- Carlos Jimenez/Angie Hinojos Yusuf, Centro Cultural Mexicano
- Carmen Pacheco Jones, Peer Navigator Training Program
- Carmen Smith, White Center Food Bank
- Charlett Shoecraft, Empowering Youth and Families Outreach
- Chi May Praseuth, The Good Foot Arts Collective
- Chimaera, Powerful Voices
- Chitra Hanstad, World Relief Seattle
- ChrisTiana ObeySumner, Epiphanies of Equity LLC
- Christine Tang, Families of Color Seattle (FOCS)
- Cinthia Illan Vazquez, The Washington Bus
- Claire Catt, United Way of Columbia County
- Cleora Hill-Scott, Potlatch Fund
- Colleen Echohawk, Chief Seattle Club
- Courtney Chappell, Legal Voice
- Cynthia Yongvang, Hmong Association of WA
- Cyntia C Wilson, Christian Help Cener
- D’Artagnan Caliman, Building Changes
- David Song, Kandelia
- David Strong, AHAT Homecare
- Debbie Lacy, Eastside For All
- Dennis McCain, Safehaven Development Association
- Dian Ferguson, Central Area Senior Center (The Central, CASC)
- Diana Avalos Leos, Clark County Latino Youth Leadership
- Digna Saad, Entre Hermanos
- Dila K Perera, Open Arms Perinatal Services
- Dr. Ana McPhail, The LEEP Initiative
- Dr. Jocelyn Enabulele, Roni LifeWorks
- Dr. Lasana D. Kazembe, Third World Press Foundation
- Dr. Stephan Blanford, Children's Alliance
- Edward A. Ewing, Bike Works
- Elaine Ishihara, Asian Pacific Islander Coalition Advocating Together (APICAT) for Health
- Elisa Lopez, Team Naturaleza
- Elizabeth Baxter, North Sound ACH
- Elizabeth Hodges, Communities in Schools of Seattle
- Erin Okuno, Southeast Seattle Education Coalition
- Estela Ortega, El Centro de la Raza
- Executive Director, YMCA of Greater Seattle - Bellevue
- Faisa Farole, Global Perinatal Services
- Farhiya Y Mohamed, Somali Family Safety Task Force
- Floribert Mubalama, Congolese Integration Network
- Francoise Milinganyo, Congolese Integration Network
- Gabriela Ewing, Hispanic Disability Support SWWA (Pasitos Gigantes)
- Ginger Kwan, Open Doors for Multicultural Families
- Gloria Hatcher-Mays, Rainier Valley Food Bank
- Gregory Davis, Rainier Beach Action Coalition
- Guadalupe Torres, College Possible Washington
- Gustavo Gutierrez Gomez, Downtown Pasco Development Authority
- Hamdi Abdulle, African Community Housing and Development
- Hana Kawai, All Girl Everything Ultimate Program (AGE UP)
- Hazel Cameron, Clergy,Community for Children & Youth Coalition (4C)
- HODAN F MOHAMED, Washington Multicultural Services Link
- Hong Ta, Take on College
- Jéhan Òsanyìn, Earthseed
- Jackie Jones-Hook, 9th and 10th Horse Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers Museum
- Jackie Vaughn, Surge Reproductive Justice
- Jacque Julien, Communities of Color Coalition
- Jaelynn Scott, Lavender Rights Project
- Jaimée Marsh, FEEST
- James Miles, Arts Corps
- James Miles, Mentor Washington
- Jamila Coleman, You Grow Girl!
- Janet Gboluma-kalonji, First Five Years & Beyond
- Janice Deguchi, Neighborhood House
- Jaqueline Garcia Castillo, Mujer Al Volante)Women Driving
- Jay Banks, Pizza Klatch
- JC Ephraim, Sister In Common
- Jeff Thungc, Mien International Enrichment Network
- Jeri Moomaw, Innovations Human Trafficking Collaborative
- JERI MOOMAW, Innovations Human Trafficking Collaborative
- Jill Mangaliman, Got Green
- Jim Wigfall, Sound Generations
- Jodi Nishioka, Communities Rise
- Jonathan Joseph, Tukwila Childrens' Foundation
- Joomi Kim, Korean Community Service Center
- Jorge L. Baron, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
- Joseph Seia, Pacific Islander Community Association of Washington
- Joseph Staton, Central Area Youth Association
- Josephine Tamayo Murray, Communities of Concern Commission
- Judy Chen, Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence
- Karen T. Lee, Pioneer Human Services
- Kayla Somvilay, Lao Community Service Center
- Kia C. Franklin, Stand for Children WA
- Kia Guarino, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington
- Kim Anh Tran, Hey Mentor
- Kimberly Powe, 3E Integrity
- LaJuana Johnson, Win Win Action & Win Win Network
- Lalita Uppala, India Association Western Washington
- LaRae Wiley, Salish School of Spokane
- Laura DiZazzo, Northwest Education Access
- Laura Wright, WA-BLOC
- Lauren Thomas, Hopelink
- Leann P. Weaver, Weaver Foundation - Georgia Mattson Memorial Shelter
- Lika Smith, Pacific Islander Health Board
- Lilliane Ballesteros, Latino Community Fund of Washington State
- Lizzie Evans Martinez-Alvarez, FSC-PS Charitable Foundation
- Lucy Smartlowit, Peacekeeper Society
- Luis Rosales, Trilogy Recovery Community
- Lupe Mares, Communities In Schools of Benton-Franklin
- Lyn Idahosa, FW Black Collective
- Marcia Wright-Soika, FamilyWorks
- Marcos Martinez, Casa Latina
- Maria D Rodriguez, Rural Community Development Resources
- MARIO BANUELOS, Empower Next Generations
- Mario Orallo-Molinaro, Jet City Improv
- Marissa Green, Abundance of Hope Center
- Marsha Mutisi, Washington State Coalition of African Community Leaders
- Marshaun Barber, Reclaiming Our Greatness
- Marvena Kemp, Marvin Thomas Memorial
- Mary Diggs-Hobson, African Americans Reach and Teach Health Ministry
- Mary Williams, Northwest Black Women's Consortium
- Michael Byun, Asian Counseling and Referral Service
- Michael Crentsil, Global Leadership Center For Health and Economic Sustainability
- Michael Itti, Chinese Information and Service Center
- Michael Tulee, United Indians of All Tribes Foundation
- Michelle Merriweather, Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle
- Mohamed Bakr, MCNA - Muslim Community & Neighborhood Association
- Mona T Han, Coalition for Refugees from Burma
- Monique Brown, FOB Hope
- Muguette Guenneguez, NAMI Seattle
- Munira Mohamed, East African Community Service
- Mx. Pucks A’Plenty, Puckduction
- Najja E. Brown, Yield To The King Ministry
- Nancy Salguero Mckay, Highline Heritage Museum
- Napal Tesfai, ADWAS
- Ndudi Chuku, Mission Africa
- Nubia Lopez, Pathwaves Washington
- Olympia Edwards, Project Girl Mentoring Program
- Ophelia Noble, The Noble Foundation
- Pa Ousman Joof, Gambian Talents Promotion
- Paul Lwali, Friends of Youth
- Paul Patu, Urban Family
- Paula Sardinas, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound
- Paulina Lopez, Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition
- Peter Bloch Garcia, PBG Partners
- Pj Bergstrom, Seattle Works
- Quinton Morris, Key to Change
- Quynh Pham, Friends of Little Saigon
- Regina Elmi, Somali Parents Education Board
- Renato Foz, The Austin Foundation
- Rev. Dr. Martin L. Lawson, Unloop
- Rhonda K. Tilford, Pacific Northwest Black Business Coalition
- Rich Stolz, OneAmerica
- Risho Sapano, Mother Africa
- Rita Meher, Tasveer
- Ronita Boullt, Caring with Compassion Community
- Roshni Sampath, RVC Seattle
- Roxana Norouzi, OneAmerica
- Royal Alley-Barnes, MAT, Center on Contemporary Art (CoCA)
- Ryan Quigtar, Renton Innovation Zone Partnership
- Sabino Cabildo & Marvo Reguindin, Multi-Ethnic Business Association - AHANA
- Saleem Robinson, Renegades For Life Inc.
- Salenna Green, Abundance of Hope Center
- Samuel Sim, Puget Sound Labor Agency AFL-CIO
- Sandy Restrepo, Colectiva Legal del Pueblo
- Sarah Salazar-Tipton, Olympic Nature Experience
- Sean Goode, CHOOSE 180
- Shalimar Gonzalez, Solid Ground
- Shanequa Levin, Women's Diversity Network
- Sharon Chambers-Gordon, Raising Girls
- Sharon Lee, Low Income Housing Institute
- Sharone Navas, Equity in Education Coalition
- Shelley Cooper-Ashford, Center for MultiCultural Health
- Shirline Wilson, Education Reform Now
- Sili Savusa, White Center Community Development Association
- Simon Javan Okelo, One Vibe Africa
- Srijan Chakraborty, N/A
- Srijan Chakraborty, Hunger Intervention Program
- Srilata Remala, The Maternal Coalition
- Stephanie Johnson-Toliver, President, Black Heritage Society of Washington State
- Stephanie Lin Hsu, Yakima Music en Acción (YAMA)
- Steve Bury, Urban Impact
- Steven Sawyer, POCAAN
- Steven Sawyer, People of Color Against AIDs Network
- Steven Sawyer, POCAAN
- Storme Webber, Voices Rising: LGBTQ of Color Arts & Culture
- Susan Brown, Kids Co.
- Susan Yang, Denise Louie Education Center
- Sylvia Hadnot, E3 Washington
- T’wina Nobles, Tacoma Urban League
- Taffy Johnson, U.T.O.P.I.A. Seattle
- Tanikka Watford WIlliams, The Moore Wright Group
- Tarra Simmons, Civil Survival Project
- Tera Beach, Spectrum Dance Theater
- Teresita Batayola, International Community Health Services
- Thomasina Schmitt, Seattle Neighborhood Group
- Tobi Hill-Meyer, Gender Justice League
- Toyia T. Taylor, WeAPP
- Tracy L. Stewart, MA and Omitosin King, Gathering Roots Retreat & Wellness Center
- Tyler TerMeer, PHD, Cascade AIDS Project
- Val Thomas-Matson, Look, Listen and Learn TV
- Veronica Very, Wonder of Women International
- Victoria Santos, Young Women Empowered
- Virginia Herrera-Páramo, Para Los Niños de Highline
- Wendy Nakatsukasa-Ono, Cardea
- Willetta (Kiti) Ward, The Agape House
- Yordanos Teferi, Multicultural Community Coalition
- Zahid Chaudhry, People of Color Community Coalition
- Zamzam Mohamed, Voices of Tomorrow
* Note: These are original signatories. While some executive directors may have changed roles, the organizations continue to be considered signatories and coalition members.