There are tons of organizations that are doing the continuous work of dismantling racist agendas and amplifying the plight of Black people. Additionally, organizations that help other groups of marginalized people through community service, outreach and education are actively participating in the goal of establishing a society that is safe and just for Black people across the globe. The following is a growing list of organizations that I either have a direct connection with and support or found to be helpful in the search for ways to become involved in uplifting community efforts. All organizations operate year-round and depend on donations of funds and time to continue operating. I urge you to learn about these organizations and keep them in mind when looking for ways to “give back” on a more consistent basis.
Beauty 2 The Streets https://www.beauty2thestreetz.org/ Black woman led organization that aims to serve the homeless by providing necessities alongside the things that make us feel inherently human: a hot shower, a hearty meal, the hope-inducing feeling of looking in the mirror and loving what you see.
Donate: https://www.beauty2thestreetz.org/donate
Assata’s Daughters https://www.assatasdaughters.org/ Black woman-led, young person-directed organization rooted in the Black Radical Tradition.
Donate: https://www.assatasdaughters.org/donate-1
NY Cares (NYC Volunteer organization) https://www.newyorkcares.org/
I’ve been a volunteer member of NY Cares for almost 10 years now. They have hundreds of volunteer opportunities throughout NYC.
The American Civil Liberties Union b/k/a ACLU https://www.aclu.org/
The ACLU hails itself as “the nation’s premier defender of the rights enshrined in the US Constitution” (ACLU, n.d.) and they have the history to back it. Their Take Action page is filled with ways to help with their efforts including volunteer opportunities that you can take advantage of right from home such as making phone calls and sending text messages.
Black and Pink https://www.blackandpink.org/ A national prison abolitionist organization dedicated to dismantling the criminal punishment system and the harms caused to LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV/AIDS who are affected by the system through advocacy, support, and organizing.
Donate: https://www.blackandpink.org/DONATE/
BEAM https://www.beam.community/ Training, movement building and grant making organization dedicated to the healing, wellness and liberation of Black and marginalized communities.
Donate: https://www.beam.community/donate
The Human Utility https://detroitwaterproject.org/ A non-profit organization providing help to families and makes sure they always have running water at home.
Pay the water bill of someone in danger of having their water shut off: https://detroitwaterproject.org/thetap
The Okra Project https://www.theokraproject.com/ A collective that seeks to address the global crisis faced by Black Trans people by bringing home cooked, healthy, and culturally specific meals and resources to Black Trans People wherever we can reach them.
Donate: https://www.artsbusinesscollaborative.org/asp-products/the-okra-project-sponsored-project/
Black Youth Project http://blackyouthproject.com/ is creating space for Black millennials to write, engage and share stories.
Donate: https://www.patreon.com/blackyouthproject?fan_landing=true
Reclaim The Block https://www.reclaimtheblock.org/ Organizes Minneapolis community and city council members to move money from the police department into other areas of the city’s budget that truly promote community health and safety.
Donate https://www.reclaimtheblock.org/donate
The Audre Lorde Project https://alp.org/ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Two Spirit, Trans and Gender Non-Conforming People of Color community organizing center, focusing on the New York City area.
Donate: https://alp.org/index.php?q=civicrm/contribute/transact&reset=1&id=5
East Oakland Collective https://www.eastoaklandcollective.com/ A membership cohort of millennials+ invested in making impact in Deep East Oakland.
Donate: https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/NjYzNDM=
Communities United for Police Reform https://www.changethenypd.org/ An unprecedented campaign to end discriminatory policing practices in New York, bringing together a movement of community members, lawyers, researchers and activists to work for change.
Donate: https://northstarfund.org/give/donate/donate-to-communities-united-for-police-reform/
House of GG https://houseofgg.org/ The Griffin-Gracy Educational Retreat & Historical Center’s (a.k.a. “House of GG”) mission is to create programs, services, and resources that positively impact the lives, history, and visibility of Transgender, gender-questioning, and gender-nonconforming people.
Donate: https://houseofgg.org/donate/
Solutions Not Punishment Collaborative https://www.snap4freedom.org/home A Black, trans-led, broad based collaborative to restore an Atlanta where every person has the opportunity to grow and thrive without facing unfair barriers, especially from the criminal legal system.
Donate: https://www.snap4freedom.org/donate
Kween Culture Initiative https://kweenculture.com/ A social empowerment project for and by Black Transgender women. Kween Culture aims to empower and celebrate the richness of Black transgender women through creating moments, spaces, and events for collective possibility and to create a framework that highlights their joy, resilience and sisterhood in spite of disparities faced.
Donate: https://kweenculture.com/donate/
The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture https://www.nypl.org/locations/schomburg/research in Harlem, one of The New York Public Library’s renowned research libraries, is a world-leading cultural institution devoted to the research, preservation, and exhibition of materials focused on African American, African Diaspora, and African experiences.
Click here to donate.
