Words matter: Black-led nonprofits and race in today’s funding environment 

How are Black-led nonprofits—organizations with majority Black leadership and serving predominately Black communities—navigating race-explicit language in the current funding climate? What role does race play in their conversations with funders and the language they use to describe their work? These are some of the questions Candid and ABFE explore in a new joint report: Holding the Line: Black-led Nonprofits and Race-Explicit Work Amid Backlash. 

The report is part of our multiyear initiative to learn more about Black-led nonprofits’ experiences; we’ve also published a report on philanthropic support for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and key facts about Black-led nonprofits. Findings suggest that Black-led nonprofits tend to be smaller and receive less funding than other nonprofits.  

In our latest study, we analyzed responses from 1,113 nonprofits (including 246 Black-led nonprofits) to a survey fielded in late 2024 and interviews with leaders of 24 Black-led nonprofits held between November 2024 and January 2025. We wanted to understand how central race was to Black-led nonprofits’ identity and their conversations with funders, as well as the impact of being asked to adjust race-related language when describing their work.  

Here are four things we learned about how Black-led nonprofits are navigating a pivotal moment for race-explicit work in philanthropy. 

1. Race is central to Black-led nonprofits’ identities

More than 76% of Black-led nonprofits surveyed mentioned race in at least one form of external-facing messaging, such as program descriptions or mission statements. This rate is similar to nonprofits led by and serving other people of color and higher than white-led nonprofits.  

Interviews with Black-led nonprofit leaders echoed the importance of race to their organizations’ identity. All interviewees indicated that race was either foundational to their missions (17 leaders; 71%) or critical because Black communities are disproportionately impacted in their focus areas (7 leaders; 29%). As one leader explained, “it’s absolutely central. The bullseye is so big, there’s nothing else on the dartboard but the bullseye of Blackness.” Race is so critical to Black-led nonprofits’ work that, when asked whether they would accept a grant if they couldn’t mention race in their application, half said they would not.  

2. Black-led nonprofits are most likely to be told not to talk about race 

Despite mentioning race as often as nonprofits led by other people of color, Black-led nonprofits that we surveyed were significantly more likely to receive advice not to mention race when describing their work. They were most likely to receive this advice when presenting work to funders and in program descriptions. They were also the only group to be encouraged not to mention race in their organization’s name. Such advice most often came from sources outside the organization, specifically funders, external colleagues, and consultants. Similarly, more than half of all nonprofit leaders we interviewed received some type of race-related advice. 

3. Black-led nonprofits feel pressured to change their language for funders  

More than half of Black-led nonprofit leaders we interviewed received either direct or subtle messages from funders to modify their race-explicit language. Many were asked to adopt more inclusive language, such as exchanging terms like “Black” for “BIPOC” or “underrepresented” in grant proposals. Others, while not explicitly asked to avoid mentioning race, felt pressured to de-emphasize their identity and ties to the Black community to make funders feel more comfortable.  

Although requests for more inclusive language may seem innocuous, pressure to modify race-related language can carry significant costs. Practically, nonprofits have to spend time and resources tailoring materials to appease different audiences. They may also face financial repercussions; one-third of interviewees anticipated negative funding outcomes if they used race-explicit language with funders (e.g., in grant applications, program descriptions). Leaders also described the psychological toll of trying to balance staying authentic to their mission and maintaining financial support. As one interviewee shared, “Having to have these sidebars about language takes away from the core of our work.” 

4. Black-led nonprofits demonstrate resilience as they navigate conversations around race 

Despite implicit and explicit pressure, most leaders we interviewed have maintained a race-explicit focus in their work and continued to serve their communities. Some have chosen to strategically tailor messaging for different audiences, while others continue to talk about race with all funders. Others have either downplayed the racial angle of their work or adopted more inclusive language to describe the populations they serve. Although they take different approaches, nonprofit leaders reported navigating an increasingly challenging philanthropic environment strategically without compromising their missions to serve Black communities. 

What these findings mean for foundations  

Our results suggest several action steps for foundations interested in supporting Black communities and the nonprofits that serve them. First, communicate with potential grantees if you are open to funding race-explicit work. Second, commit resources faster and with fewer barriers so nonprofits can support community members with their most pressing current challenges. To learn more about racial equity funding recommendations and practices, check out the Racial Equity Advancement and Defense Initiative (READI). 

Learn more about the report from Susan Taylor Batten, president and CEO of ABFE.