By Lauren Brathwaite
The power imbalance in philanthropy—often maintained by those without intimate knowledge of a community’s historical context, the needs on the ground, and the most urgent issues—spurs activists in marginalized communities, especially Black women and girls, to call for more input in determining what should be prioritized, how it should be funded, and who gets the money.
Nonprofit leaders say funding for women and girls often falls short due to its overreliance on patriarchal power and a “white savior” mindset. Yet, Black women are at the forefront of many social justice causes and movements today, though even the scarce funding often comes with conditions not faced by their white counterparts.
“As a Black woman, I’ve seen how a white woman can ask funders for a certain amount for their organizations. But when someone like me asks, they give you a percentage of that, or they feel like you need to tap and dance differently to get those...[like] you’re not qualified to handle that much money,” said Latanya Mapp Frett, president and CEO of the Global Fund for Women and author of The Everyday Feminist: The Key to Sustainable Social Impact — Driving Movements We Need Now More than Ever.