BackBlack Impact Grant Eligibility & FAQ

Selection Criteria

Grants will be awarded based on a holistic review of each campaign’s effectiveness, creativity, and community engagement. Specifically, we will evaluate:

Creativity and Storytelling

  • Use of original, mission-aligned visuals, graphics, or video

  • Quality and clarity of messaging about your work and impact

  • Unique or culturally resonant approaches to campaign storytelling

Community Engagement & Reach

  • Number of unique donors or contributors (no specific minimum)

  • Level of social sharing or amplification (e.g., shares, tags, reposts)

  • Community participation beyond donations, such as comments, volunteers, or event attendees

Effective Use of Platform Tools

  • Engagement with your fundraising platform’s features (e.g., team fundraising, giving tiers, supporter feeds, or built-in communication tools)

  • Frequency and creativity of updates throughout the campaign

The selection committee is composed of members from the BackBlack team and partner organizations with experience in fundraising, communications, and nonprofit strategy.

This is not a popularity contest. We are looking at campaigns of all sizes and will prioritize authenticity, effort, and innovation—not just big followings or large donations.

Frequently asked questions

  • The BackBlack Grant Program provides an unrestricted grant for verified Black-led nonprofits who are actively fundraising during Black Philanthropy Month (August 2025) using one of our official platform partners. We're awarding ten (10) grants of $1,000 each to organizations that demonstrate strong community engagement, storytelling, and campaign creativity.

  • To be eligible, your organization must:

    • Be a Black-led nonprofit, verified in the BackBlack Directory

    • Host an active fundraising campaign in August 2025

    • Use one of BackBlack’s official platform partners for your campaign

    Submit your campaign using the official BackBlack Grant Program form by August 31 at 8:00 PM EST

  • This is a no-strings-attached grant. The only thing you need to do is complete the BackBlack Grant Program form to submit your campaign for consideration. There’s no additional application or reporting required.

  • No fundraising minimum is required, but we encourage you to actively promote your campaign to your community. We want to see how you're rallying support, telling your story, and using creative engagement to advance your mission.

  • Grants are not awarded randomly. We will review eligible campaigns based on:

    • Creativity and storytelling

    • Community engagement and outreach

    • Effective use of platform features

    This is a merit-based selection process — not a sweepstakes or drawing.

  • Grant winners will be identified in early September and grants will be distributed within approximately 4 weeks after required payment documentation is received. If a grantee does not return the required documentation within 30 days, an alternate winner may be selected.

  • No. Your campaign can be for any program or general operating support. It does not have to reference Black Philanthropy Month, but it must be active during the month of August 2025.

  • No problem — you can join the Directory by submitting your organization [here]. Just be sure to complete that step before the August 30 deadline so we can verify your eligibility.