BACKBLACK IMPACT GRANT
Meet our 2026 Impact Grant Winners.
Four Black-led nonprofits. $5,000 each, unrestricted. Chosen from 800+ applicants by community judges.
2026 RECIPIENTS
Many voices. One movement.
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Hope Restored Missions
PLANO, TX
Zero-barrier crisis care, including replacing the IDs people need to get back into housing and work.
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Minorities in Shark Sciences
SARASOTA, FL
Building the next generation of Black and brown ocean scientists through mentorship and hands-on fieldwork.
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Omega Lamplighters
TALLAHASSEE, FL
Mentorship and leadership development that starts with boys as young as three.
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The Humble Hustle Company
ROANOKE, VA
Free youth conferences that open doors to college and careers for teens in a smaller city.
THEIR STORIES
What $5,000 makes possible.
Dr. Tamara Monroe · Plano, TX
Hope Restored Missions
In 2019, three Black women started giving back out of the trunks of their cars. Today, Hope Restored Missions is a one-stop crisis hub serving Collin and Dallas counties. Anyone in crisis can walk in for a meal, clothing, and a hygiene kit, then get paired with a dedicated case manager.
“We will always make something out of nothing.”Daphne Warren, Hope Restored Missions
Jasmin Graham · Sarasota, FL
Minorities in Shark Sciences
In 2019, Jasmin Graham was the only Black member out of 500 in the largest scientific society for shark researchers. On Juneteenth 2020, she and three other Black women marine biologists founded MISS, and raised $35,000 in two weeks. This year, they brought 25 scientists of color to that same conference.
“My identity is not a bad word, and it shouldn’t be.”Jasmin Graham, President & CEO
Royle King II · Tallahassee, FL
Omega Lamplighters
Royle King II started Omega Lamplighters in 2008 as a 21-year-old student at Florida A&M University, to give young men a place to talk about anything without being judged. Today it’s a free home base for about 250 kids, with after-school programs, STEM, coding, gaming, stepping, summer camp, and trips every quarter.
“Can’t serve the boy if you don’t serve the family.”Royle King II, Founder & CEO
Xavier Duckett · Roanoke, VA
The Humble Hustle Company
The Humble Hustle Company started in 2015 with a small coat drive. Now it gets inner-city Black youth hiking, biking, and camping in the mountains around Roanoke, and runs career conferences with two local universities. This fall, funding gaps pushed those conferences to spring, and the day before they learned they’d received a 2026 Impact Grant, they were turned down for another grant.
“It shouldn’t have to stop because of funding.”Xavier Duckett, The Humble Hustle Company
ABOUT THE GRANT
Chosen by community, for community.
The BackBlack Impact Grant is a community-driven grant program providing direct funding to Black-led nonprofits during Black Philanthropy Month. Grants are awarded on merit, not by chance or fundraising totals, through three rounds of judging. Judges looked for creativity and storytelling, community engagement and outreach, and strong campaign activation and communication during Black Philanthropy Month.
01
Eligibility review
Every application was checked to confirm the organization is a Black-led nonprofit verified in the BackBlack Directory with an active fundraising campaign in August.
02
Community judging
A panel of community judges scored each eligible application. Every application was reviewed by three judges.
03
Final round
The highest-scoring finalists advanced to a final round of review, where four recipients were selected.
BY THE NUMBERS
800+
Applicants
45+
Volunteer judges
3
Rounds of judging
$20K
Awarded, unrestricted
STAY IN THE MOVEMENT
The grant is $5,000. The movement is bigger.
Explore the directory
Find and support Black-led nonprofits near you, all year long.
Give to BackBlack
Your gift to BackBlack grows the Impact Grant and the movement behind it.
Get notified for 2027
Be the first to know when applications open.
Be a part of what’s next
We are on a mission to move $1 billion to Black changemakers globally. Brands, funders, and institutions are how we get there. Be a part of this movement.