Built for a Time Such as This: How ABFE Used a Tumultuous Time in History to Uplift Its Community | Nonprofit Quarterly | Civic News. Empowering Nonprofits. Advancing Justice.

The COVID-19 pandemic intensified trauma for the Black community alongside ongoing violence against Black people, including the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd. After 2020, support increased for Black-owned businesses, Black media, and Black lives, while some corporations launched DEI initiatives and made commitments to the Black community. ABFE, a nonprofit membership organization, has worked for over 50 years to combat racism and advance Black joy through advocacy for transformative investments. Its report, Equity Under Review: Black Voices in Corporate Grantmaking at a Crossroads, examines the position of Black leaders in philanthropy, including setbacks and successes. Information gathering began by 2023, but political changes in November 2024 disrupted ABFE’s efforts.

"In 2020, the world turned completely upside down as we all experienced the collective trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic. For the Black community, the trauma of the pandemic was compounded by the latest iteration of violence against Black people. The murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd thrust issues of police brutality and racial inequity onto a national stage."

"Afterward, there was a surge of support for Black-owned businesses, Black media, and Black lives as a whole. Several corporations implemented DEI initiatives, made promises to the Black community, and ensured that they would be on the right side of history. For the members of ABFE (Association of Black Foundation Executives), this moment was nothing new. In fact, it was the perfect opportunity to shine a light on what they've been doing for over 50 years."

"The nonprofit membership-based organization strives to combat racism and advance Black joy by advocating for impactful, transformative investments in the Black community. Their most recent report, Equity Under Review: Black Voices in Corporate Grantmaking at a Crossroads, speaks to the unique position of Black leaders in philanthropy, as they are often a very small group. The report also highlights the setbacks and successes of Black leaders in philanthropic spaces."

"By 2023, information gathering for the report was in motion, but in November 2024, when Donald Trump was elected to a second term, everything changed. Almost immediately after the election, ABFE lost"

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