Organizations and leaders advancing racial justice are under intense pressure from legal, political, and narrative attacks aiming to drive despair and diminish resources for programs that uplift Black communities and communities of color. But in the face of these challenges, The Collective calls on philanthropy, business - along with all who hold the power and will to act - to double down, not back down.

Lulete Mola, President and Co-Founder of the Black Collective Foundation MN

About MN LEAD

MN LEAD (Legal Education, Advocacy, and Defense for Racial Justice) is a statewide initiative of the Black Collective Foundation MN, focused on strengthening our racial justice ecosystem through building resilience. We aim to combat fear and ensure that race-conscious programming endures in the face of legal and political challenges.

MN LEAD is part of a national movement inspired by the Black Freedom Fund’s LEAD for Racial Justice Initiative in California, with similar efforts growing in Washington, and Oregon. Together, we work to protect and amplify racial justice movements nationwide.

What does mn lead do

MN LEAD advances its purpose through four interconnected functions:

Organize Legal Support
We are building a robust network of nonprofit and pro bono attorneys trained in civil rights law and prepared to support organizations navigating race-conscious programming.
Educate and Equip Organizations
We provide risk assessment tools, ongoing learning community sessions, targeted grantmaking, and a library of online resources to help organizations sustain their work under pressure and build long-term resilience. See more about our MN LEAD resources here.
Convene and Connect In Community
MN LEAD convenes organizations and leaders to learn, strategize, and respond collectively to emerging threats. We give particular. attention to reaching communities in Greater Minnesota, ensuring that resilience and support extend statewide.
Build Narrative Power
Through messaging support, language frameworks, and coordinated narrative efforts, we reinforce the legitimacy and necessity of racial justice work while motivating organizations and leaders to persevere.

impact to date

Trained

Trained nearly 350+ nonprofit and philanthropic leaders on race-conscious programming and legal risk

SHARED

Shared a risk assessment tool to help organizations identify legal vulnerabilities and published a field report on building organizational resilience

HOSTED

Hosted virtual and in person events with 770+ participants to deepen analysis and build community

distributed

Distributed nearly half a million in grantmaking to strengthen racial justice organizations statewide

standing with black migrant and refugee communities

The Black Collective Foundation is a leading coalition partner of the Minnesota Black Migrant Coalition, a cross-cultural alliance of Black leaders and organizations working to safeguard the dignity, safety, and well-being of Black migrants.

Our involvement in the Minnesota Black Migrant Coalition is just one part of our broader commitment to Black migrant and refugee communities. In addition to our work with the Minnesota Black Migrant Coalition, we also invest directly in organizations that serve these communities. We convene leaders, funders, and community members to coordinate response and build lasting infrastructure. And through the Coalition, we help anchor a statewide effort that meets urgent needs while advancing the conditions for safety, dignity, and well-being for all.

Our commitment to Black migrant and refugee communities is a reflection of our belief in the expansive, interconnected ways that Minnesota’s Black communities are bound to one another across borders and generations.

Join Us Today

Thanks to your support and partnership, we’ve begun to build something rare: a cross-sector, multiracial, values-driven effort to protect and sustain race-conscious programming. Together, we are making it possible for nonprofits and funders to act with greater clarity, confidence, and solidarity.

If you are a funder, donor, or community organization interested in participating in MN LEAD, please complete the following form. We appreciate your interest and look forward to collaborating with you!