News release: Baobab launches £3 million fund to resource racial justice
Today Baobab Foundation launches with a new £3 million fund to resource grassroots organisations and individuals who are resisting racial injustice.
Baobab is a pro black, people driven movement, created by and for Black and Global Majority communities in the UK. It believes that the communities harmed by racism are best placed to create change and so it aims to return power to the people with direct, lived experience of the issues they are trying to solve.
Baobab aims to challenge the dynamics that put up barriers and create distances between funders and communities. We will use our position to identify and embed disability justice and intersectionality approaches that close the power gaps between funders and the communities they serve.
In short, we aim to permanently shift how mainstream funders work with Global Majority communities on racial and disability justice.
Jake Ferguson, Founder and Steering Group Member, Baobab Foundation:
‘The funding landscape does not favour Black and Global Majority communities which is why Baobab was born – to positively disrupt the inequitable status quo and redistribute power and resources to those most affected by racism. We do this by working with our 300+ Baobab members and funders who share our values.
‘Being part of Baobab has taught me a lot about how things can be done differently and how equity in the funding landscape is a key component of a fairer society. Baobab is all about making ‘By Us, For Us’ a reality for Black and Global Majority Communities in the UK.’
Michael Pitchford, Programme Manager, The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust:
‘JRCT is proud to support the emergence of Baobab as a bold and ambitious initiative for resourcing racial justice by and from communities with first hand experience of racism, we are all on a journey towards racial equity and hope to learn and grow through the process.
‘We have seen from a distance the work that has gone into creating a model where power is held differently, and where reparative and restorative justice is being centred. We recognise that the journey for Baobab and others like it will be so much harder because of the barriers that exist, and that there is so much more we need to do as funders to bring about greater change.’
Joanna Keefe, Global Corporate Responsibility Manager, Linklaters LLP:
As soon as we learnt about Baobab’s concept and ambition, we wanted to support its development and we provided initial funding during its research phase. The ambition to address widespread racial inequalities aligns with our own aspirations.
‘We saw the potential impact Baobab could have across the UK – from enabling unheard voices to be heard to a shift in power dynamics in charitable funding – and wanted to join with Baobab and support this movement for change. We are delighted to provide significant contributions to the Collective Fund and Endowment ahead of Baobab's official launch.‘
Baobab Foundation is a membership-based network of Black and Global majority organisations, groups and individuals, more broadly supported by funders, investors and other like-minded organisations.
Registration for the fund is now open and will close at 23:59 UK time on Friday 23 September. Visit baobabfoundation.org.uk to find out more.
Ends
Media enquiries:
Marsha Lowe
marsha@oxygenarts.com
Notes to Editor
Baobab Foundation exists to create a world where the struggles, achievements and resistance of Black and Global Majority people are recognised and resourced so that everyone can achieve justice, unity and freedom. It is more than a foundation, it is a unique network of over 400 people from grassroots organisations, radical friends and solidarity partners who connect in words, thought and action to achieve lasting systems change. www.baobabfoundation.org.uk
The Baobab Foundation was created out of the Black African/Caribbean struggle and resilience in the UK. It was catalysed in 2020 by a series of traumatic events including the murder of George Floyd. The creators mobilised resources from UK trusts, foundations and private businesses to challenge and heal ongoing experiences of underfunding, marginalisation and anti-blackness, but also to celebrate black power, creativity, value, energy and joy.
Baobab Foundation is a dual structure Community Benefit Society (bencom) regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. This legal form offers Baobab the tools, scope and flexibility to support Black-led communities while upholding its principles. One of the bencoms is recognised as charitable and enables Baobab to conduct charitable work, while also not limiting its ability to address systemic racism. Bencoms are democratic co-operatives, and Baobab wants its members to be the decision makers and movers of change.
Baobab recognises that people who are defined as Black and minority ethnic are in fact the global majority, at around 80% of the world’s population. The reduction of Global Majority people to a minority in the West is part of a broader context of systemic oppression.
Baobab has been supported since its inception by a range of partners which have included: British Land, Charities Aid Foundation, City Bridge Trust, Clothworkers Foundation, Comic Relief , ELBA, Indigo Trust, Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, Lankelly Chase, Linklaters, Macqaurie, National Council of Voluntary Organisations, Oak Foundation, Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Trust for London.
All images should be credited to @BaobabFoundation.