California’s Black-led and Black-empowering nonprofit organizations (BLOs) are united in their devotion to their communities, their creativity and resilience, and their provision of essential services, often through government contracts. It’s less well understood that BLOs also contribute economically to their communities and the state of California. To capture the impact of the economic, social, and well-being contributions of BLOs, Black Equity Collective partnered with NFF and public opinion research firm EVITARUS to conduct a survey of more than 200 California-based BLOs. The results are captured in a new report: California Black-led Organizations: Strengthening California’s Economy & Communities Survey.

BLOs are resilient, tirelessly serving their communities despite underfunding that constrains their community impact and ability to provide a livable wage for employees. This report reveals the economic value created by BLOs to show where adequate government and philanthropic funding could unleash BLOs’ full potential to create sustained community wealth and well-being.

• BLOs are vital lifelines in their communities and make direct economic contributions locally and to the state by paying salaries and payroll taxes, supporting local businesses, and more.
• BLOs are deeply invested in their communities. They maximize their suite of resources to support community wealth and well-being while continuing to face funding and other systemic barriers to meeting the demand for their work.
• If properly funded with both public and private dollars, the impact of BLOs would be exponential.

• For all funders: Work strategically to value the economic benefit that BLOs provide. 
• For philanthropy: Support and invest in key areas BLOs need to achieve a shared vision for even greater community impact. 
• For government funders: Create the conditions for BLOs to partner effectively with you on shared community impact goals.