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One way to celebrate National Black History Month is to donate to organizations that give back to and support the Black community. If you're looking for ways to contribute, here are some organizations worth learning more about.
Thurgood Marshall College Fund
Named after the first Black Supreme Court justice, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund is dedicated to support Black colleges. Focusing on three pillars — scholarships, programs and policy and advocacy — the TMCF is dedicated to students. Awarding over $300 million in assistance to students and schools, TMCF accepts donations, so it can continue its mission of supporting Black colleges and students.
Founded by a gay Black man living with HIV, a gay Black doctor and a lesbian Black in doctor in 1999, the Black AIDS Institute works to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Black community. Providing a spectrum of medical care, the Black AIDS Institute provides both preventative and treatment health care services. The nonprofit also works to create awareness about HIV/AIDS in the Black community. The Black AIDS Institute accepts monetary donations and has a page dedicated to how people can support them.
Another education-based nonprofit, Black Girls CODE is dedicated to teaching girls programming and technology skills. The organization hosts workshops and after-school programs as well as works to educate people about the racial and social aspects of the digital divide. Black Girls CODE offers scholarships to its programs and hosts events like hackathons as well. To support Black Girls CODE, people can sign up as volunteers or donate.
The concept for 100 Black Men of America started in 1963 and in 1986, chapters of 100 Black Men held a meeting to establish a national organization. With mentoring the focus of this nonprofit, 100 Black Men of America hosts a variety of programs, has chapters across the nation and holds events. The nonprofit accepts donations, ensuring their mentoring mission lives on.
Mothers Against Police Brutality
Started by Collette Flanagan after her son Clinton was fatally shot by a Dallas police officer, Mothers Against Police Brutality advocates for policy reform, civil rights and police accountability. Along with their advocacy work, MAPB allows mothers to share their stories and hosts events to give people a platform to speak out. People can volunteer with MAPB or donate to support its mission.
Black Trans Advocacy Coalition
Working to improve the Black trans experience, the Black Trans Advocacy Coalition Mission advocates for this vulnerable community in all facets of life including in health care, housing and employment. Whether it’s ensuring Black trans people have equal access to health care without stigma, fighting for accessible and affordable housing or making sure that Black trans people have employment equality, the BTAC is fighting the good fight. To support the organization, people can volunteer, become an ambassador or donate.
Focused specifically on Black women and girls, The Afiya Center is a reproductive justice organization in North Texas founded and directed by Black women. Bi-yearly, the nonprofit releases a report on the state of Black women in Texas and hosts a variety of different programs. Providing HIV programming, offering resources for abortion access and raising funding for research in maternal mortality is just some of what The Afiya Center does. To support this nonprofit, people can volunteer or donate.
Nonpartisan, multi-racial and multi-faith, Faith in Texas works to achieve economic, racial and social justice for all people. Some of Faith in Texas’ programs include LIVE FREE Texas, which aims to end mass incarceration and gun violence, and voter mobilization. Faith in Texas also has The Luke 4:18 Bail Fund to help release people in Dallas County so they can return to their families, jobs and communities. For those looking to support Faith in Texas, people can volunteer with the nonprofit or donate.