REAL INSIGHTS
REAL IMPACT

Recent grant applications to the Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium’s Black Girls Dream Fund reveal how Black-led nonprofits navigate underfunding, burnout, and pressure to “perform” for funders. AI-generated language and vague, “do-everything” missions are common, but the strongest proposals show clear focus, cultural specificity, and deep, community-rooted expertise.

Community-centric fundraising challenges us to reflect on the ethics of our fundraising methods and prioritize the communities we serve.

Community-centric fundraising is a fundraising model that emphasizes equity, collective support, and mutual benefit.