Black Futures Lab

What Black Futures Lab does

Black Futures Lab is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2017 by Alicia Garza, co-founder of Black Lives Matter, and headquartered in Washington, D.C. (712 H St. NE Unit #659). The organization works to build independent progressive political power in Black communities through four core programs: the Black Census Project (the largest survey of Black people in America, scaled from 30,000 responses in 2018 to over 211,000 in 2023 with a 300,000-response target for 2026), the We Got the Power Training Program for Black organizers, the Black Futures Policy Institute fellowship (120+ alumni across 21 states), and the Electoral Action Center voter resource hub.

The organization's technology stack is described as standard civic engagement tooling — survey platforms, voter contact databases, and digital organizing tools — with no proprietary platform identified. It operates a community-led go-to-market approach combining door-to-door canvassing, phone banking, text messaging, and digital channels to engage Black voters across all 50 states, with concentrated mobilization in seven battleground states (Georgia, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin).

Black Futures Lab is funded entirely through charitable donations processed via ActBlue Charities, with no disclosed revenue or investment funding. Programmatic delivery is increasingly channeled through the Black Power Voters Alliance, a 2024 coalition of nine national Black-led organizations (including Color of Change, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Movement for Black Lives, and Black Voters Matter), and a closely affiliated 501(c)(4) — Black to the Future Action Fund — sharing leadership with Executive Director Kristin Powell. The organization maintains a strategic advisory bench that includes Rashad Robinson (Color of Change), Heather McGhee, and Melissa Harris Perry, lending brand and intellectual reach across progressive policy circles.

Name

Black Futures Lab

Legal name

Black Futures Lab

Website

https://blackfutureslab.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Black Futures Lab is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2017 by Alicia Garza that builds Black political power through the Black Census Project, organizer training, a policy fellowship, and voter mobilization across all 50 states via the Black Power Voters Alliance coalition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations: Black Futures Lab is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that receives charitable donations processed through ActBlue Charities, Inc. Donations support the organization's programs including the Black Census Project, We Got the Power Training Program, and Black Futures Policy Institute.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Black Futures Lab is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs civic engagement and political power-building programs for Black communities in the United States. Its core offerings include the Black Census Project (a large-scale national survey of Black people), the We Got the Power Training Program (organizer training), the Black Futures Policy Institute (policy and leadership fellowship), and an Electoral Action Center providing voter resources and registration information.

Product overview

Black Futures Lab operates as a civic engagement and political organizing nonprofit offering a suite of programs including the Black Census Project (a large-scale survey initiative), the We Got the Power Training Program (organizer development), the Black Futures Policy Institute (policy fellowship), and an Electoral Action Center (voter resources). These programs work together to build Black political power through data collection, leadership development, policy advocacy, and voter engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Black Census Project: The largest survey of Black people in America, a powerful space for Black communities to dream, define, and demand the democracy they deserve. Now in its third iteration (2026), aiming to collect 300,000 responses.
• Black Futures Policy Institute
• We Got the Power Training Program

Products and services

• Black Census Project The largest national survey of Black people in America, collecting data on Black communities' experiences, concerns, and visions for democracy and governance across class, disability, gender, geography, immigration status, and sexuality. Available in 6+ languages.
• We Got the Power Training Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 211,000+ Black people surveyed in 2023 Black Census - largest survey of Black people in American history
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Black to the Future Action FundflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 August 2024Black to the Future Action Fund is a closely affiliated 501(c)(4) organization that works to make Black communities powerful in politics. Both organizations share leadership (Kristin Powell is principal of both) and collaborate on the Black Census Project and voter mobilization efforts. The Action Fund focuses on policy advocacy and electing pro-Black legislators.
• Black Voters MattercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 August 2024Part of the Black Power Voters Alliance coalition, Black Voters Matter is a Black voter engagement organization focused on increasing voter registration and turnout in Black communities.
• Community ChangecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 August 2024Community Change is part of the Black Power Voters Alliance coalition, focusing on building power for low-income people and communities of color through grassroots organizing.
• Movement for Black LivescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 August 2024Movement for Black Lives is a coalition of over 50 organizations representing thousands of Black people. Black Futures Lab is a proud supporter and part of the Black Power Voters Alliance.
• Planned Parenthood Action FundcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 August 2024Part of the Black Power Voters Alliance coalition, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund focuses on reproductive rights and healthcare access which are key issues for Black communities.
• State VoicescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 August 2024State Voices is part of the Black Power Voters Alliance, providing infrastructure and support for state-level civic engagement and voter mobilization.
• Working Families PartycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 August 2024Working Families Party is part of the Black Power Voters Alliance coalition, focusing on progressive policy change and electoral politics.
• Black to the Future Public Policy InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlack to the Future Public Policy Institute is a free, Black-centered policy and leadership training fellowship. This is a related but distinct program from the Black Futures Policy Institute, operating as part of the Black to the Future ecosystem.
• Color of ChangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerColor of Change is a strategic advisor to Black Futures Lab. As part of the Black Power Voters Alliance, they work to build political power for Black communities through online and offline organizing.
• HIT StrategiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHIT Strategies partnered with Black Futures Lab to conduct national opinion surveys of Black people, including the 2020 and 2021 Black Futures Lab surveys capturing Black voter attitudes and concerns.
• DemosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDemos partnered with Black Futures Lab on the Black to the Ballot 2020 report examining vote-by-mail policies and voter suppression in target states.
• Socioanalítica ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocioanalítica Research conducted the 2023 Black Census Project survey in partnership with Black Futures Lab, helping to capture diverse experiences of Black Americans across all 50 states.
• ActBlue CharitiescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorActBlue Charities, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that processes charitable donations for Black Futures Lab and other nonprofits, democratizing charitable giving.
• Lateefah SimonminorOthersLateefah Simon is a strategic advisor to Black Futures Lab, bringing experience from MeadowFund and as a prominent Black civic leader.
• Melissa Harris PerryminorOthersMelissa Harris Perry is a strategic advisor, affiliated with Anna Julia Cooper Center/Wake Forest University, providing thought partnership to Black Futures Lab.
• Anthony ThigpennminorOthersAnthony Thigpenn is a strategic advisor from California Calls, a statewide coalition of grassroots organizations working on civic engagement.
• Rashad RobinsonminorOthersRashad Robinson is a strategic advisor, serving as president of Color of Change, one of the nation's premier racial justice organizations.
• Heather McGheeminorOthersHeather McGhee is a strategic advisor, NYT best-selling author of 'The Sum of Us', providing thought leadership to Black Futures Lab.
• Tracy SturdivantminorOthersTracy Sturdivant is a strategic advisor from The League, focused on building political power for young people.
• Tim SilardminorOthersTim Silard is a strategic advisor from Rosenberg Foundation, supporting progressive policy and social justice work.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Black to the Future Action Fund: Closely affiliated 501(c)(4) that shares principal Kristin Powell with Black Futures Lab and co-runs the Black Census Project and voter mobilization efforts. It is the most directly comparable organization because it executes the same political-power mission through a parallel legal entity.
• Color of Change: National Black-led racial justice organization and Black Power Voters Alliance member. Directly comparable on civic engagement, online and offline organizing, and policy advocacy targeting Black communities.
• Black Voters Matter: Black voter engagement and turnout organization and Black Power Voters Alliance coalition partner. Directly comparable on door-to-door canvassing, voter registration, and grassroots mobilization in Black communities.
• Movement for Black Lives: Coalition of 50+ Black-led organizations and Black Power Voters Alliance member. Directly comparable on Black political power-building, policy advocacy, and coalition organizing infrastructure.
• Demos: Progressive research and policy organization that partnered with Black Futures Lab on the Black to the Ballot 2020 report. Directly comparable on race-equity research, voting rights analysis, and policy advocacy infrastructure.
• State Voices: National civic engagement infrastructure network and Black Power Voters Alliance member. Directly comparable on state-level voter mobilization coordination and coalition infrastructure for communities of color.
• Community Change: Grassroots organizing and power-building organization focused on low-income communities and communities of color; Black Power Voters Alliance coalition member. Directly comparable on civic engagement, voter mobilization, and base-building for Black and progressive communities.

Broad incumbents

• NAACP: Large, century-old civil rights organization with overlapping voter mobilization, policy advocacy, and Black community engagement missions. A broader incumbent that competes for the same donor base and policy influence at greater scale.
• National Urban League: Established national civil rights and urban advocacy organization with civic engagement, economic empowerment, and policy programs. Comparable on Black community services and policy advocacy, but with broader portfolio including workforce development.
• National Action Network: Established civil rights organization with national voter mobilization and policy advocacy programs targeting Black communities. Comparable mission with broader advocacy portfolio and longer operating history.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/blackfutureslab
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCnA9Z6jPwXiSxcG1rzuj8lw
• Facebookfacebook.com/BlackFuturesLab
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blackfutureslab
• Instagraminstagram.com/blackfutureslab
• TikToktiktok.com/@blackfutureslab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Black Futures Lab