Our Commitment to Racial Justice

Racial justice is an ongoing practice that we center in our work—whether by standing in solidarity with Brooklyn communities at the margins of power and access, marshaling resources to maximize the economic potential of racial justice across the borough, or continuously strengthening our community-led grantmaking approach.

Giving for Racial Justice

People of color represent nearly 70% of all Brooklyn’s residents, more than 1 in 5 of whom live in poverty.

Over the past twenty years, only 10% of philanthropic dollars nationally have been invested in nonprofits led by people of color.

The racial wealth gap between white and BIPOC residents in Brooklyn is between $40 and $50 billion.

Over the past twenty years, only 10% of philanthropic dollars nationally have been invested in nonprofits led by people of color, even as overall giving has increased nearly 400%. We take racial inequities like these as calls to action to continue to do philanthropy differently and invest in ways that address historic and systemic injustices.

Across Brooklyn, there are significant and persistent racial disparities in the distribution of power, wealth, resources, and opportunities in our communities. We believe that achieving racial justice is inextricably linked with economic justice. The racial wealth gap between white and BIPOC residents is between $40 and $50 billion, representing the effects of four centuries of institutional and systemic racism, and is responsible for persistent disparities in income, health, education, and opportunity.

We intend to shift this paradigm and contribute to a future where everyone, from every background, is free to pursue their passions, earn what they need to live comfortably, and provide for the next generation.

We advance our commitment to racial justice through:

• Grantmaking to Brooklyn nonprofits that are addressing racial justice issues in their communities. Priority is given to organizations led by members of their communities and who center the voices of those directly impacted by structural racism in decision-making.
• Advocacy and thought leadership to engage our partners, communities, and the greater philanthropic sector in promoting and advancing racial equity.
• Centering Racial Justice in our partnerships with nonprofits and donors to deepen their understanding of how racism is institutionalized in our systems and practices, and to create a foundation for new approaches.