Transformative Black-led Movement Fund

Applications to the TBLMF are closed.

In August 2020, we partnered with Black Visions to launch the Transformative Black-led Movement Fund (TBLMF). The goal of the TBLMF was to transparently and efficiently resource Black-led organizations and Black individuals in the Twin Cities. This fund was originally allocated $3.1 million, however because of clear need, it received an additional $4 million to let us invest in more community-led safety strategies now. The Transformative Black-led Movement Fund was open from August 10, 2020 to November 23, 2020.

The total amount redistributed through the TBLMF was $7.1 million. We distributed $1.3M in Mutual and Legal Aid, $1.1M in Economic and Cultural Justice, $3M in Organizing for a New Future, and $1.7M in Transformative and Healing Justice.

It is vital to be able to fund the work that Black folks are leading to develop and realize a shared vision of community-led safety for everyone. This work is long-term, deliberate, and thoughtful. It is urgent and urgently needs to be resourced. This funding is just a step towards building the future we need. We will keep building on this energy and on this moment together to create the world we need.

Meet our Grantees

Impact

Mutual Aid: Between September and December 2020, we distributed $1.1M in payments of up to $1,000 directly to individuals for Mutual Aid. A majority of the funding (95%) went to Black communities, with 5% being allocated to non-Black, Indigenous communities. People were free to use the money for rent, health care costs, school supplies, and more. 

Funding for projects and organizations: In two rounds, we awarded $6M to 121 organizations, collectives, artists, healers, organizers and more. Grantees from both rounds, listed below, are responding to the political and cultural opportunity to defund police and are beginning the process of developing and implementing a shared vision of community-led safety. 

Process

Grant-making decisions were made by a committee of trusted, experienced, and diverse Black community members (who are youth, LGBTQ, artists, community organizers, healers, and elders) after extensive review and discussion. 

Throughout the process, we valued simplicity and accessibility. We know Black people across the Twin Cities are doing incredible work towards liberation, whether or not they are non-profits. Our grant making was rooted in community knowledge and trust, and the process centered Black people. 

The TBLMF Committee Members are Abena Abraham, Rox Anderson, Quincy Ballard, D.A Bullock, Adrienne Doyle, Tana Hargest, Janis Lane-Ewart, Denaisha Motley, Nekessa Opoti, Jason Sole and Tia Williams.

Please reach out to us at TBLMF@nexuscp.org with questions or concerns.

What were our funding criteria?

Through this fund, we supported Black communities, including organizations and individuals. We also prioritized funding organizations led by and for marginalized Black communities and Black people who hold the marginalized identities, including LGBTQ communities, especially Trans communities/people; women, femmes, and children; people with disabilities; poor and working-class folks; immigrants, especially those who are undocumented; people who have been previously incarcerated; sex workers; and other criminalized communities.

A small percentage of the funding (5%) went towards supporting POCI-led organizations that help support Black movement work and Black liberation, even if they are not necessarily Black-led. Additionally, resources will be allocated to support Indigenous and people of color with mutual and legal aid.

We have prioritized the following community organizing strategies that will help us defund the police, move us towards abolition, and build the future we need.

Economic and Cultural Justice

  1. Supporting Black businesses committed to community wealth building,  cooperatives and cultural economic models that are rooted in mutuality, and stewardship. Supporting economic efforts that shift away from extractive models towards strategies that build regenerative local economies.  
  2. Resourcing and small business development for artists leading projects and initiatives expanding consciousness and understanding of abolition; prioritizing emerging to mid-career artists and Black Trans artists. 
  3. For example: registering as a business with the state, studio rental, business consulting, marketing, developing an artist cooperative, etc.

Organizing for a New Future

  1. Capacity building for Black-led organizations and emerging projects
  2. Rapid response resources for community organizing strategies to engage diverse communities in the process to reimagine community safety, invest in communities, and transition away from policing. 
  3. Support for on-going grassroots organizing strategies that seek to transform the social, economic, political, and cultural conditions of all Black people. 
  4. Support for cultural organizing projects led by Black artists in partnership with communities and organizations

Mutual and Legal Aid

  1. Resourcing organizations to redistribute cash assistance to Black community members
  2. Direct emergency cash assistance for Black community members 
  3. Emergency resources for Black community legal aid; prioritizing legal costs for frontline protestors and Black immigrants
  4. Support for POCI community members currently dealing with houselessness and/or who are on the frontlines of the sanctuary movement in Minneapolis, with a focus on Indigenous community members/organizations.

Transformative and Healing Justice

  1. Capacity building for Transformative and Healing justice organizations, projects, and initiatives developing models for community safety and accountability
  2. Resources to support the development of non-police involved safety alternatives
  3. Capacity building for individual transformative and healing justice practitioners
  4. Capacity building and project grants for Black artists
  5. Resources to hold healing processes