Honoring Black History Month 2025

This Black History Month, we reflect on the 2025 theme, “African Americans and Labor,” recognizing the past and present contributions of Black workers across all sectors—including the nonprofit sector. Yet, even as Black nonprofit professionals and leaders play a critical role in advancing social good, they continue to face systemic barriers rooted in structural racism. 

The nonprofit sector is not immune to the challenges of racial injustice. Black nonprofit professionals experience disproportionate barriers to leadership roles, chronic underfunding of Black-led organizations, and the emotional toll of navigating predominantly white spaces. These realities are compounded by recent federal-level attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, which threaten the progress made toward racial equity in workplaces, philanthropy, and policy. 

To deepen our collective understanding and commitment to change, we encourage nonprofit professionals to explore the following resources: 

• Sustaining Black Organizing: The Need for Long-Term Investment – This report highlights the chronic underfunding of Black-led organizing and the need for sustainable financial and institutional support. 

• For the Long Haul: Recap and Reflections – A reflection on the work needed to support Black leaders in the nonprofit sector beyond short-term funding cycles. 

• The Perils of Black Leadership – An in-depth look at the unique challenges faced by Black leaders in nonprofits, including heightened scrutiny, under-resourcing, and burnout. 

• Race to Lead: Confronting the Nonprofit Racial Leadership Gap – A comprehensive study on how systemic barriers hinder Black professionals from advancing in nonprofit leadership roles. 

• Black Women and Gender-Expansive Leadership Project – A report highlighting the leadership experiences and challenges faced by Black women and gender-expansive individuals in the nonprofit sector. 

As we honor the labor of African Americans past and present, we must also commit to dismantling the systemic inequities that persist in our sector. This means advocating for equitable funding practices, investing in Black leadership, and resisting efforts to undermine DEI initiatives. 

Black nonprofit professionals have always been at the forefront of justice work. It is our collective responsibility to ensure they receive the resources, opportunities, and respect they deserve. This Black History Month—and beyond—let’s move beyond acknowledgment to action.