A list of nonprofit organizations uplifting Black lives and also working to bridge a divide between police and Black communities.

Throughout the year I try to donate to organizations and causes close to us. Our church, the BYU Black Alumni Association, and Partnerships for Children are a few of our regulars. But this year I’ve wanted to branch out a little more and contribute to relevant causes that can help our current climate.

For example, a couple of months we made a donation to No Kid Hungry which helped provide meals to kids who weren’t getting school lunches during the COVID school closures. Right now, I’d like to donate to causes that help Black lives or help bridge the divide between the Black community and police. If you read this post, or this post then you know this topic is very close to my heart.

I think it’s really important to donate to organizations you truly believe in and that you feel will go to a good cause. Passionate about LGBTQ rights? Find a cause that fits the bill. Passionate about mental health? What nonprofits speak to that cause? Did a mentor program shape you while you were growing up? How could you get involved to pay it forward?

What I look for in a nonprofit

I want to contribute to organizations that help uplifting Black lives, or the Black community and organizations that are trying to unify police and said communities.

When looking into this I found a lot of nonprofit organizations that seemed to fit the bill. Then did a little further digging into their social media channels and posts to see if they’re actively doing the work, have a the tone of a positive mindset (a personal preference) and coming from a place that felt like they wanted to truly care about improving lives in the Black community. Finally these organizations didn’t appear to be anti-police (this was personally important to me). I tried to narrow it down further by removing most locally focused nonprofits and left the national ones. 

After all that that I was left with these 18 organizations that we will be donating to over the next year and a half. I’d say this is a fluid list. Since I plan to share this I’ll keep it updated as I find others I think should be on here, or if I change my mind about any of these. 

Ok here we go! First, I’m simply going to list the name of the organization and a brief intro to the mission. Next, please do some of your own research to find out if it’s a cause you feel fits with your values and if so, consider making a contribution (could be in time or money!). According to their websites each of these are registered 503c Nonprofit organizations and donations are tax deductible.

Organizations Connecting Police and Communities

1. Be the Bridge – Empowering people and culture toward racial healing, equity and reconciliation.

2. Center for Policing Equity – Center for Policing Equity’s works to simultaneously aid police departments to realize their own equity goals as well as advance the scientific understanding of issues of equity within organizations and policing.

3. Police Activities League (Navigate to your local chapter)- To reduce juvenile crime and violence by using police officers and community members as coaches and mentors for inner city youth.

4. Bigs in Blue (an arm of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Organization)- Connecting youth and police through mentoring. 

5. National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives – To ensure equity in the administration of justice in the provision of public service to all communities, and to serve as the conscience of law enforcement by being committed to justice by action.

Nonprofits for Black Lives and the Political and Justice System

1. The Innocence Project – They exonerate the innocent through DNA testing and reform the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice.

2. Black Futures Lab – They’re working with Black people to transform our communities by building Black political power & changing the way power operates in cities and states.

3. Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies – creates ideas to improve the socioeconomic status and civic engagement of African Americans.

4. National Black Justice Coalition – A civil rights organization dedicated to the empowerment of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and same gender loving (LGBTQ/SGL) people, including people living with HIV/AIDS

5. Southern Poverty Law Center – They’re dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry. And seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of our society. 

6. Black Male Voter Project – They’re building a movement that encourages black men to regularly and actively engage in the voting and electoral process. 

Nonprofits Uplifting Black Lives Communities

1. African American Leadership Forum – working to build a just society that works well for everyone

2. Black Girl Ventures – Creating access to capital for Black and brown women founders.

3. Black Girls Code – Working to increase the number of women of color in the digital space by empowering girls of color ages 7 to 17 to become innovators in STEM fields. As well as leaders in their communities, and builders of their own futures through exposure to computer science and technology.

4. 100 Black Men – Aiming to improve the quality of life within our communities. And enhance educational and economic opportunities for all African Americans. 

5. Loveland Therapy Fund – provides financial assistance to Black women and girls nationally seeking therapy.

6. Dream Corp – a bipartisan effort to cut crime and incarceration across all 50 states. 

7. My Brother’s Keeper – President Obama launched My Brother’s Keeper in February 2014 to address persistent opportunity gaps facing boys and young men of color. And to ensure all youth can reach their full potential.

If you have a favorite nonprofit you think should be on the list please let me know! I’d love to update it with many more!

Tags: black lives, donation, giving back, nonprofits, police