Black Future Co-op Fund Invests $2M In Black-Led Arts And Education Organizations

The Black Future Co-op Fund, Washington state’s pioneering Black-led philanthropy, has announced a $2 million grant allocation to 20 Black-led organizations focused on arts and education. These grants, part of the “We See You” initiative, mark the fund’s commitment to empowering Black nonprofits that contribute significantly to self-determination, community connectivity, and civic discourse.

For generations, Black-led organizations have faced systemic underfunding, with only 1.8% of traditional philanthropic dollars reaching them.

Twina Nobles, Fund architect, CEO, and Washington State Senator for the 28th district, emphasized the importance of these grants.

“Arts and education are foundational to our communities and creating a liberated future, yet are often the least resourced,” said Nobles. “With this third round of We See You grants, the Black Future Co-op Fund recognizes Black arts and education leaders who are visionaries, historians, creators, and shapers of our culture and communities.”

This latest round of funding marks a significant step toward addressing this disparity and empowering Black-led initiatives in arts and education across Washington state.

Grant Recipients:

Acts On Stage – Acts On Stage centers the talents, works, stories, and initiatives of people of color and creatives of faith. They are on a mission to change lives dramatically through the production of high-quality programs and performances that elevate the arts, artists, and all audiences. Their vision is to be a driving force behind a new era renaissance where creativity creates change.

BlackPast.org – A curated collection on the history of African Americans in the United States and people of African descent around the world, BlackPast.org strives to provide comprehensive, reliable, accurate, and freely accessible information to more than 6 million global visitors annually.

Black Women’s Leadership Network – Black Women’s Leadership Network creates open, equitable, and inclusive spaces for Black women to come together and speak truths without fear, affirm and celebrate accomplishments, and be supported personally and professionally.

BLK WINS – BLK WINS strives to be a direct resource for Black people, specifically Black youth, to discover and identify who we truly are, where we come from, and how we got here — and to pass this knowledge on to future generations.

Buffalo Soldiers Museum Tacoma – The 9th and 10th Horse Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers Museum serves to educate, preserve, and present the history and outstanding contributions of America’s Buffalo Soldiers from 1866 through 1948, including WWI and WWII. The museum is a community partner with public schools for students’ learning about history and government.

Brotherhood Initiative – The Brotherhood Initiative empowers University of Washington undergraduate men of color to thrive on campus and graduate prepared for a lifetime of leadership, service, and success.

Building Youth Through Music DBA WayOut Kids – WayOut Kids uses music and media to engage children through edutaining (education+ entertaining) programs that improve their life choices, overall health, and long-term success.

Community Equity Initiative – The Community Equity Initiative (CEI)’s BIPOC Family Excursion Program is fiscally sponsored by Well Organized. CEI works for racial justice and wellness by supporting engagement and deep connection among people of the global majority with activities facilitated by educators, artists, and activists of the global majority.

Cornish College of the Arts – Led by President Dr. Raymond Tymas-Jones, Cornish College launched the Syvilla Fort Scholarship Fund to support the next generation of artists of color in pursuing a bachelor’s and achieving their dreams.

Pierce County Community Action Programs Division – Pierce County Community Action Programs Division is committed to serving, promoting, and strengthening our communities by effectively presenting and addressing issues of poverty. Programs help residents with early childhood education, energy and rental assistance, home repairs, weatherization, and more.

FamilyWorks – FamilyWorks nourishes, connects, and empowers thousands of families through its food banks, mobile food pantries, resource center, and array of education, health, and other supportive programs.

Freedom Church of Seattle – Freedom Church of Seattle leads the Jesus Center Community Outreach Programs and Ministries that provides food, rent, mortgage assistance, transportation, and other supportive services to primarily low-income individuals and families who are striving to live a good life yet face barriers from centuries of racist systems and practices.

Family First Community Center – The Family First Community Center serves all-ages with a variety of programs focused on recreation, education, wellness and togetherness. It is the first community center in Washington state that also includes a health clinic, providing medical, dental, and behavioral health services all under one roof!

Look, Listen + Learn TV – Look, Listen + Learn TV is a media organization featuring the brilliance of Black, Indigenous, and other people of color to support early learning, social-emotional skill development, and healthy interactions that encourage school readiness for 3- to 8-year-olds.

Fly Start – Fly Start offers an artistic platform, along with mentorship, community support, and connection to resources, to promote the growth and consciousness of the people.

Spectrum Dance Theater – Spectrum Dance Theater brings dance of the highest merit to diverse audiences so that the arts are integral partners in civic dialogue and considered part of the solution to challenges facing our communities.

SWAG: Strong Women Achieving Greatness – SWAG seeks to equip people with the necessary tools for success; empower them by their own abilities through which they gain confidence to fulfill their potential; and connect them to strong women mentors who support them in achieving their goals.

Village Life Project – Village Life Project forwards the development of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (S.T.E.A.M.) scholarship in the African American community and facilitates solutions to contemporary global problems impacting the African Diaspora.

The Way to Justice – A community law nonprofit led and created by women of color, The Way to Justice provides direct representation, impact litigation, policy reform, and advocacy to address the barriers facing individuals who have been negatively impacted by our justice system.

The Tacoma Chapter of The Links, Inc. – The Tacoma Chapter is part of The Links, Inc., one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations, whose members are committed to the cultural and economic enrichment of African Americans; and locally seeks to increase and expand art activity throughout Black communities.

Angela Jones, Fund architect and director of the Washington State Initiative at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, emphasized the importance of equitable access to the arts and education:

“The Black Future Co-op Fund is committed to expanding equity by empowering Black-led solutions that foster Black wealth, health, and well-being,” said Jones.

With this latest round of funding, the Black Future Co-op Fund has committed more than $8 million since its launch in June 2020 to further its vision of a Washington state where all Black people are liberated, prosperous, and self-determined to fully live their lives.