August 17 is National Nonprofit Day, a holiday observed to acknowledge and celebrate nonprofits’ positive influence in our communities and globally. Sherita J. Herring, a prominent speaker, best-selling author, and business strategist, created this holiday in 2017 to “educate, enlighten and empower others to make a difference, while acknowledging those who are in the trenches, impacting lives every day – the Change-Makers of the World!” Herring chose NND to be observed annually on this day because that’s when the Tariff Act of 1894 was signed into law, including exemptions for nonprofit organizations and charitable institutions.
Since then, nonprofits have impacted society significantly, from advocacy to assisting with accessibility to the arts, education, and health care to supplying various programs to underserved or marginalized communities.
National Nonprofit Day
Now that we know how National Nonprofit Day came about, here are 10 nonprofits making positive strides in the black community!
1. Made In Her Image
Made In Her Image is a nonprofit organization that aims towards social equity in the film, media, and entertainment industry for girls and women of color. The organization was founded in 2018 by Malakai, an award-winning director and philanthropist based in Los Angeles, California, and Phoenix, Arizona. Malakai’s mission for MIHI is “to strategically build a career pipeline and place representation directly into the hands of the young women & communities who need it the most.” The organization serves youth between the ages of 8 – 18 by creating engaging programs in media literacy and empowerment while also offering informative programs for women who are breaking into the industry.
2. Black Women’s Health Imperative
The Black Women’s Health Imperative is the first nonprofit organization created by Black Women to help protect and advance the health and wellness of Black women and girls. Byllye Y. Avery founded the Black Women’s Health Imperative, formerly the National Black Women’s Health Project, in 1983 with the commitment to define, promote, and maintain the physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing of Black women and their families. Since its inception, the organization has been at the forefront of women’s health issues through comprehensive public education initiatives that promote the overall wellness of Black women.
3. Coding Black Females
Founded in 2017, Coding Black Females (CBF) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to provide opportunities for Black women developers. CBF creates a space for developers to progress themselves, meet familiar faces, network, receive support, and build relationships by hosting regular meetups, no matter how long you’ve been in the industry or if you’re a freelancer or work for a significant company.
4. Black Youth Project 100
The Black Youth Project (BYP100) was founded in 2013 under the leadership of Cathy Cohen. The Chicago-based organization is member-based, composed of Black Youth Activists, creating justice and freedom for all Black people. The BYP100 works to achieve this by building a network focused on transformative leadership development, direct action organizing, advocacy, and political education using a Black queer feminist lens.
5. The Black Feminist Project
The Black Feminist Project is a nonprofit based in the Bronx, NY. Their mission is to enrich the lives of, restore agency, justice, joy, and health to Black womxn, girls, and non-men often referred to as marginalized genders or MaGes and the children they care for – with an emphasis on mother-led families. Tanya Fields, Executive Director, and Founder created the Black Feminist Project in 2009.
She was inspired to start the nonprofit because of her experiences as a single working mother living in a marginalized community. These experiences include sexist institutional policies, structurally reinforced cycles of poverty, and harsh inequities in wealth and access to capital—experiences like these result in women being unable to get out of poverty and sustain their families. The Black Feminist Project uses dynamic and engaging food and reproductive justice programming that explores the intersections of race, class, gender, and respectability politics, empowers them to tap into their inherent leadership abilities, and dare to put themselves at the center of their universes.
6. Girls Going Global
Girls Going Global (GGG) is a Philadelphia, PA, and Atlanta, GA-based nonprofit organization with the mission to empower girls of color through travel and cultural exchange to become creators and leaders of the world. Martice Sutton, A rising nonprofit leader, professional speaker, and consultant, was working to create better experiences for young girls in India when she realized young Black girls in America needed someone to champion their causes too. With this in mind and her desire to travel, Sutton founded the GGG in 2012. Girls Going Global provides global leadership programming to girls from underrepresented communities.
7. Uniquely You Summit
In 2009, Shaleah Sutton launched the Uniquely You Summit for Girls, a unique annual conference in the greater Philadelphia area where hundreds of Black girls, ages 11 to 18 years old, participate in conversation and dialogue to address the difficulties of being young, Black, and female in America. Since its inception, UYS has impacted thousands of Black girls through its annual Summit and other programs.
8. Girls For A Change
Girls For A Change (GFAC) was formed in 2000 and achieved nonprofit status in 2004, with the idea of empowering young women by inviting them to design, lead, fund, and implement social change projects that tackle issues girls face in their neighborhoods. The nonprofit’s goal is to “support and inspire young women of color to visualize their potential through discovery, development, and social change innovation within their communities.”
9. Buy From A Black Woman
Since 2016, Buy From A Black Woman has empowered, educated, and inspired Black Women business owners and the people who support them. The organization ensures that Black Women have the tools and resources that will allow them to be successful. Through educational programs, an online directory, and funding, Buy from a Black Woman continues to grow as a trusted resource that helps Black Women in business.
10. Mission 31
Mission 31 is a mentoring organization with the motto “Shape girls into women, one life at a time.” The Detroit-based organization was founded in 2013 by Brittney Webster, who decided to pursue her passion for mentoring the youth. Webster teamed up with her good friend and college roommate, Erikka Simpson, to develop the Mission 31 brand. By the end of the summer of 2013, Mission 31 had built a team that would lay the foundation of what it is today. Mission 31 aims to teach, mentor, and inspire young ladies in grades 6-12 by strengthening their decision-making skills and self-confidence.