The Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium has unveiled a new funding initiative aimed at strengthening advocacy for one of America’s most overlooked demographics. The “Resistance and Resilience” mini-grants program, launching this month, will provide crucial financial support to organizations working with Black girls and women across the southern United States.
The initiative comes at a critical moment when research continues to show Black girls in southern states face disproportionate challenges including adultification bias, where they are perceived as less innocent and more adult-like than their white peers, leading to harsher disciplinary actions in schools and interactions with authority figures.
13 states targeted for immediate impact
The grants program will focus on 13 southern states where advocacy groups have historically struggled for funding:
- Alabama, where Black girls are three times more likely to be suspended than white girls
- Arkansas, which has seen advocacy groups operating on shoestring budgets
- Florida, where grassroots organizations report significant funding gaps
- Georgia, home to numerous emerging advocacy groups
- Kentucky, where rural Black communities face additional resource challenges
- Louisiana, with growing youth-led initiatives needing support
- Mississippi, where some counties have no dedicated programs for Black girls
- North Carolina, seeing increased demand for mentorship programs
- South Carolina, where school-based initiatives seek expansion
- Tennessee, with promising pilot programs ready to scale
- Texas, where urban and rural divides create service gaps
- Virginia, with increasing focus on policy change initiatives
- West Virginia, where demographic isolation compounds challenges
Each grant provides $2,000 to registered 501(c)(3) organizations or those with fiscal sponsors that specifically address the needs of Black girls, women or femme-identifying youth in these regions.
Application timeline creates opportunity for preparation
The grant application process has been structured to allow organizations time to develop strong proposals. Applications open on March 20 with submissions accepted until April 10, providing a three-week window for organizations to articulate their missions and planned impacts.
The stark reality is that less than one percent of the $4.8 billion in philanthropic investments goes to Black girls in the South. This funding disparity highlights why initiatives like these mini-grants are essential for addressing historical inequities in resource allocation across the region.
Prospective applicants can gain additional insights through an informational Zoom session scheduled for March 27 at 12:00 PM Eastern Time. The session aims to demystify the application process and provide guidance on crafting compelling proposals that highlight the unique needs of their communities.
Building on a foundation of substantial impact
The Consortium’s efforts since its founding in 2017 have created a template for effective community investment. With more than $10 million awarded to 221 Black women-led organizations to date, the group has established itself as a significant force in reshaping funding priorities across the philanthropic landscape.
These investments have directly supported over 800 girls through various programs including leadership development, arts engagement, educational initiatives and mental health services. The Consortium’s approach emphasizes community-driven solutions, recognizing that local organizations often understand community needs best but lack necessary resources.
The new mini-grants initiative builds upon previous successful programs, including the 2022 “Joy is our Journey Dream Tour,” a partnership with rapper Megan Thee Stallion’s Pete and Thomas Foundation. This month-long bus tour created spaces for Black girls to connect through art, music and shared experiences across multiple southern cities.
Addressing historic funding inequities
The Resistance and Resilience mini-grants aim to address a persistent problem in philanthropic giving: the chronic underfunding of initiatives focused on Black girls and women. Studies continue to show that despite increased attention to equity in philanthropy, organizations led by and serving Black women and girls receive disproportionately small percentages of overall funding.
This disparity becomes even more pronounced when examining regional giving patterns, with southern states often receiving less philanthropic investment than other regions despite significant need. The Consortium’s targeted approach aims to provide resources where traditional funding streams have fallen short.
The grants program also recognizes the importance of addressing the full spectrum of challenges facing Black girls, from education access to safety concerns, mental health support and leadership development. By funding diverse approaches to these interconnected issues, the initiative takes a holistic view of community development.
Beyond financial support
While the $2,000 grants provide immediate financial assistance, the Consortium’s approach includes additional benefits for recipient organizations. Grant recipients become part of a growing network of similar organizations across the South, creating opportunities for resource sharing, collaborative learning and collective advocacy.
This network-building aspect addresses another challenge frequently cited by small community organizations: isolation and limited opportunities to connect with peers doing similar work in other communities. By fostering these connections, the Consortium aims to amplify impact beyond what individual grants might achieve alone.
For emerging organizations, the application process itself offers value by prompting strategic thinking about program design, impact measurement and sustainability. Even for groups not selected in this funding cycle, these planning exercises can strengthen future fundraising efforts and program development.
Looking forward
As the application period approaches, eligible organizations are encouraged to begin gathering materials and refining their proposals. The Consortium recommends that applicants clearly articulate how their work specifically addresses adultification bias, supports Black girls’ agency and resilience, and creates sustainable community impact.
The Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium represents a growing movement to redirect philanthropic resources toward communities that have historically been overlooked despite clear need. By focusing specifically on Black girls and women in the South, the organization addresses intersecting challenges of race, gender and geography that have created persistent barriers to advancement.
For organizations serving Black girls and women in eligible states, the Resistance and Resilience mini-grants offer not just financial support but recognition of their essential work in communities across the region. As applications open on March 20, the initiative stands poised to strengthen advocacy efforts at a time when such work remains critically important.
