About The Collective
Through The Collective, we’re always asking, ‘How much greater can philanthropy be?’
The Black Collective Foundation MN believes Black-led change is genius. As Minnesota’s first Black community foundation and a pioneer of culturally specific philanthropy nationwide, The Collective partners with individuals and institutions to boldly invest in organizations, leaders, systems, and ideas. Together, we are realizing a more just Minnesota where all Black people are holistically well, living in dignity and prosperity.
Our Vision
Advance the genius of Black-led change and build a community where all Black people are holistically well, living in dignity and prosperity.
Our Mission
Build Black philanthropic power to strengthen the ecosystem of Black-led social, political, and economic change in Minnesota and beyond.
What We Do
We invest in the genius of Black-led change.
We resource organizations,visionaries, community builders, groups, businesses, faith leaders, artists, and communities who advance the power, interests, and well-being of Black communities, often benefiting all people.
We strengthen the ecosystem of Black-led change.
The Ecosystem of Black-led change includes communities of people, organizations, and ideas that experience a shared environment and a common vision for Black people to thrive. They are interconnected and interdependent to achieve that vision. We support, connect, gather, and amplify the ecosystem to build power and strengthen our community.
We build community wealth.
We’re growing the first Black community-led Foundation with an endowment in Minnesota. An endowment allows the community to be self-sufficient because it provides income in perpetuity for the genius of Black-led change.
We transform philanthropy in Minnesota & beyond.
We facilitate, support, and inspire the philanthropic field to be in power-shifting solidarity to realize the promise of racial justice.
Our Origin
The Black Collective Foundation MN (The Collective) was formed against the backdrop of the 2020 uprising for racial justice. As the murder of George Floyd sparked a worldwide movement for freedom and Black-led change, philanthropy, foundations and donors sought to respond to the moment. Philanthropy recognized its position as a powerful set of institutions and structures, and Black leaders working within philanthropy and in their communities asked what they could do together to energize and guide field transformation.
Our three co-founders – Repa Mekha, Chanda Smith Baker, and Lulete Mola – along with many members of our community, started the Black Collective Foundation MN to build a home for the genius of Black-led change. Rooted in community with influence in the sector of philanthropy, we were called to harness the struggles and possibilities of the historical moment to move the sector beyond momentary sympathy and into accountability, solidarity, and transformation.
While Minnesota was a catalyst of this historical moment, many of us in the Black community have always been in a state of uprising against the systems, cultures, and narratives that harm us all. The spirit of the Foundation and its commitment to Black-led change builds on a legacy of Black people resourcing and working to better our communities, not only within philanthropic institutions, but in our communities, every single day. Black-led change is social, political, and economic change led by diverse groups of Black people. It centers the power, interests, and well-being of Black communities and often benefits all people. It is rooted in cultural practice across generations and the diaspora and reflects the inherent dignity and vision of Black people.
While Black-led change continues to prove its impact and necessity, historically, Black-led change has been targeted, under-resourced, and under-recognized. The Black Collective Foundation MN is here to amplify and invest in Black-led change, so that it reaches its full capacity of impact for good. Black-led change makes the world a better place in spite of its opposition, imagine the possibilities if it’s recognized and resourced properly.
This organization is the realization of the legacy of vision, philanthropy, and generosity in Black communities, bringing it from the shadows into the light.
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We partner with organizations and courageous individuals who are ready to make a long term commitment to racial justice. We believe equity is a practice that takes daily actions and affirmations to realize.
This is more than a moment, it is a movement. Together we will build capacity for this and other Black-led organizations to better support our community.