Imagine Black
Imagine Black is a Portland-based 501(c)(4) nonprofit, founded in 2009, that builds Black political power in Oregon through voter engagement, candidate endorsements, policy advocacy, and leadership development programs serving Black Oregonians statewide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersPortland, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Imagine Black does
Imagine Black is a 501(c)(4) civic engagement and political advocacy nonprofit founded in 2009 as the Portland African American Leadership Forum (PAALF) and rebranded to Imagine Black in 2020. The organization builds Black political power in Oregon through voter engagement, candidate endorsements, legislative advocacy, community organizing, and leadership development programs including the Black Seeds School and African American Leadership Academy. Its constituency is Black Oregonians statewide, and its work is guided by a Black Queer Feminist lens.
Operationally, Imagine Black runs an integrated portfolio of digital and programmatic tools: the Black Possibilities mobile app, an online Voter Guide, the Afro-Ecology Poll, advocacy campaigns on child care and public safety reform, the People's Plan policy document, and convening events such as the Reimagining Public Safety Forum. The organization works through three affiliated corporate entities — Imagine Black (501c4 for advocacy), Imagine Black Futures (501c3 for education), and Imagine Black Ventures LLC — and is staffed by six people operating on an approximately $1M budget, a 400% increase over four years.
The business model is a recurring donation-and-membership engine (Kinfolk members, Accomplice Sustainers, grants) rather than product or service sales. Coalition partnerships with Unite Oregon, the Climate Justice Collaborative, APANO, Coalition of Communities of Color, and the Oregon Cares Fund Coalition provide amplification leverage. Revenue is diversified across small-dollar donors, sustainer recurring contributions, and grant funders; the technology stack is a Squarespace website plus a mobile app, with no disclosed AI or proprietary platform.
Imagine Black firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Imagine Black
- Legal name
- Imagine Black
- Website
- https://imagineblack.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Imagine Black is a Portland-based 501(c)(4) nonprofit, founded in 2009, that builds Black political power in Oregon through voter engagement, candidate endorsements, policy advocacy, and leadership development programs serving Black Oregonians statewide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Imagine Black industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Advocacy & Civic Engagement
- NAICS
- Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Racial & Ethnic Justice Organizations (BPAGAFAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Civic Participation & Leadership Development (Voting, Advocacy, Community Leadership) (EDAAADAL), Human Rights, Social Inclusion & Disability Inclusion (BPAGABAN)
Keywords
Where Imagine Black is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Portland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Imagine Black business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Membership: Imagine Black operates as a 501(c)(4) political advocacy nonprofit funded through member donations, sustainer contributions, and Kinfolk membership programs.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Imagine Black product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Imagine Black is a 501(c)(4) civic engagement and advocacy nonprofit that builds Black political power in Oregon through community organizing, voter engagement, candidate endorsements, legislative advocacy, and leadership development programs. Its offerings include the Black Possibilities App, Voter Guide, Afro-Ecology Poll, Child Care and Public Safety advocacy campaigns, the People's Plan policy document, and leadership development programs such as the Black Seeds School.
Product overview
Imagine Black is a civic engagement and advocacy organization operating through three distinct corporate entities: Imagine Black (501c4), Imagine Black Futures (501c3), and Imagine Black Ventures LLC. The organization offers a suite of digital and programmatic tools including the Black Possibilities App (mobile application), Voter Guide, and Afro-Ecology Poll for community engagement. Its advocacy work centers on campaigns for child care, public safety reform, and leadership development through programs like the Black Seeds School and People's Plan. The portfolio functions as an integrated civic infrastructure designed to build Black political power through electoral engagement, policy advocacy, and leadership cultivation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Black Possibilities App A mobile application accessible at imagineblackaction.com/m/blackpossibilitiesapp that provides resources and information for Black community members, supporting civic engagement and political participation.
- Voter Guide An online voter guide providing information about candidates and electoral participation for Black Oregonians, used to support informed voting and civic engagement.
- Afro-Ecology Poll A polling and temperature-check tool for the Afro-Ecology initiative that gathers community input on environmental and ecological priorities from Black Oregonians.
- Leadership Development Program Programs including the Black Seeds School, leadership academies, and workshops designed to develop Black community leaders and build long-term civic leadership capacity in Oregon.
- People's Plan A comprehensive policy document developed through community engagement with over 400 African Americans in Portland, outlining community-driven priorities and policy recommendations.
- Child Care Campaign An advocacy initiative focused on child care policy and accessibility for Black families in Oregon, including legislative testimony and community mobilization.
- Public Safety Campaign An advocacy campaign focused on reimagining public safety and promoting community-centered safety approaches, including the Reimagining Public Safety Forum 2022 and related debate series.
- Kinfolk Membership Program A membership program for Black Oregonians and allies offering recurring support and community connection to sustain Imagine Black's organizing work.
Companies that use Imagine Black
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Imagine Black technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Imagine Black partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Unite OregoncoreCoalition partner in Defund police campaign; co-developed the $50 million budget cut proposal for Portland Police Bureau that was submitted to City Council during 2020 budget deliberations
- Oregon Cares Fund CoalitioncoreCoalition work on $62 million COVID relief fund (Oregon Cares Fund) that helped numerous Black Oregonians during the pandemic; helped author the Cannabis Equity Bill
- Climate Justice CollaborativemajorCross-cultural organizing and advocacy coalition including APANO, Native American Youth & Family Center, OPAL, Verde working on equitable processes in Portland's built environment
- Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO)majorCoalition partner in Climate Justice Collaborative addressing environmental racism and frontline community needs
- Coalition of Communities of ColormajorCoalition partner addressing racial equity and systemic issues affecting communities of color in Oregon
- Working FilmsminorPartnered with Imagine Black to host Beyond Walls film screening at Hollywood Theater focusing on voices of incarcerated individuals
- Southern Oregon Black Leaders, Activists, and Community Coalition (SOBLACC)majorPartnership to host Redistricting Rapid Response Workshop ensuring Black voices are heard in Oregon redistricting process
- Portland State UniversitymajorPartnership through Black Seeds School program at Oregon State Penitentiary and various educational initiatives; hosting Alley-Oop the Vote at Viking Pavilion
- IRCO Africa HouseminorPartnered on Fertile Black Soil Dialogue series and Walking While Black focus groups with Portland Bureau of Transportation
- NASS (National Association of Secretaries of State)minorAwarding body for Medallion Award recognizing civic engagement work; provides recognition platform for democracy initiatives
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Imagine Black competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Center for Black Equity: Organization supporting Black LGBTQ+ communities and advocating for equity, with a focus closely aligned with Imagine Black's Black Queer Feminist (BQF) framework. Comparable in mission to center Black intersectional leadership and community empowerment.
- Color of Change: National online racial justice advocacy organization that mobilizes Black communities on policy, electoral, and corporate accountability campaigns. Comparable to Imagine Black as a Black-led advocacy nonprofit driving civic engagement and policy change, though at significantly greater national scale.
- Black Voters Matter: Organization focused on increasing Black voter registration, turnout, and civic participation. Directly comparable to Imagine Black's voter engagement, candidate endorsement, and electoral mobilization work, with a similar community-organizing approach to building Black political power.
- Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ): National network mobilizing white allies for racial justice while centering Black-led organizing. Comparable to Imagine Black's coalition-based advocacy approach and community organizing on racial equity issues, though with a different primary base.
Broad incumbents
- NAACP: The nation's largest and oldest civil rights organization, with a mission closely aligned with Imagine Black's focus on Black political power, voter engagement, and anti-discrimination advocacy. Functions as a broad incumbent with local chapters operating in similar civic engagement spaces.
- Movement for Black Lives: National coalition of Black-led organizations advancing a shared policy agenda on racial justice, including defund police and economic justice campaigns. Comparable as an umbrella framework Imagine Black's Defund.Reinvest.Protect work aligns with, though operating at a network rather than single-organization level.
- National Urban League: Historic national organization advancing economic and civil rights for African Americans through programs, advocacy, and civic engagement. Comparable mission and broad civic engagement focus, though operating at significantly greater scale across multiple domains.
Regional players
- Coalition of Communities of Color: Oregon-based coalition advancing racial equity for communities of color. Already a partner of Imagine Black and directly comparable in mission, regional focus, and policy advocacy work in the Pacific Northwest.
- Unite Oregon: Oregon-based immigrant and civil rights coalition. Direct coalition partner of Imagine Black on campaigns such as Defund.Reinvest.Protect and comparable in grassroots organizing, policy advocacy, and community-led civic engagement in the same geography.
- Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO): Oregon-based AANHPI advocacy organization and Imagine Black coalition partner within the Climate Justice Collaborative. Comparable as a regional racial justice advocacy organization operating in Oregon with community organizing and policy advocacy focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Imagine Black social profiles
Digital presenceImagine Black financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Imagine Black leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Imagine Black subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Imagine Black funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Imagine Black M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Imagine Black
What does Imagine Black do?
Imagine Black is a 501(c)(4) civic engagement and advocacy nonprofit that builds Black political power in Oregon through community organizing, voter engagement, candidate endorsements, legislative advocacy, and leadership development programs. Its offerings include the Black Possibilities App, Voter Guide, Afro-Ecology Poll, Child Care and Public Safety advocacy campaigns, the People's Plan policy document, and leadership development programs such as the Black Seeds School.
Is Imagine Black a public or private company?
Imagine Black is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Imagine Black founded?
Imagine Black was founded in 2009. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Imagine Black based?
Imagine Black is headquartered in Portland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Imagine Black make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Membership.
Who are Imagine Black's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Center for Black Equity, Color of Change, Black Voters Matter and Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ). Broad incumbents are NAACP, Movement for Black Lives and National Urban League. Regional players are Coalition of Communities of Color, Unite Oregon and Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO).
Does Imagine Black have an API?
No public API is recorded for Imagine Black.
What industry is Imagine Black in?
Imagine Black's product category is Community Advocacy & Civic Engagement. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAFAC, Racial & Ethnic Justice Organizations, with a secondary code of EDAAADAL, Civic Participation & Leadership Development (Voting, Advocacy, Community Leadership). Its NAICS code is 813311 and its SIC code is 8300.