Black Equity Collective
Black Equity Collective is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit philanthropic network that connects institutional funders with Black-led and Black-empowering nonprofits in Southern California through multi-year infrastructure grants, peer-learning convenings, and capacity-building programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Black Equity Collective does
Black Equity Collective (BEC) is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit philanthropic network that connects institutional funders with Black-led and Black-empowering nonprofit organizations across Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. The organization runs a portfolio of programs organized around three pillars: Network Engagement (member convenings, peer learning, and cultural programming), Organizational Resiliency (multi-year infrastructure grants across BUILD, ENGAGE, and CATALYZE tracks), and Field Building in Philanthropy (Funder Learning Lab and the Principles for Black Equity framework). Its core technology stack comprises the UpMetrics impact analytics platform for member tracking and program measurement, Airtable for membership interest and network management, and DonorPerfect for donation processing — there is no proprietary AI/ML technology, and AI capabilities are not a stated focus. Revenue mechanics rely entirely on philanthropic contributions: signed Funder Agreements from institutional funders (California Wellness Foundation, WHH Foundation, California Health Care Foundation, James Irvine Foundation, Weingart Foundation, Liberty Hill Foundation, Edison International) anchor the operating base, supplemented by corporate partners such as Microsoft (in-kind technology training via the Nonprofit Tech Acceleration program), Nonprofit Finance Fund (in-kind financial management training), and Cedars-Sinai (the funded Workforce Development Pilot Initiative issuing $110K grants). Membership growth has been supply-constrained — 54 BLOs are active with a waitlist of 80+ — and cumulative funds raised exceeded $20M within roughly three years of operation, with 12 full-time staff managing the work out of a downtown Los Angeles office.
Black Equity Collective firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Black Equity Collective
- Legal name
- Black Equity Collective
- Website
- https://blackequitycollective.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Black Equity Collective is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit philanthropic network that connects institutional funders with Black-led and Black-empowering nonprofits in Southern California through multi-year infrastructure grants, peer-learning convenings, and capacity-building programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Black Equity Collective industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Philanthropic Network Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC)
Keywords
Where Black Equity Collective is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Black Equity Collective business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Philanthropic Donations and Grants: The Black Equity Collective is funded through donations and grants from institutional funders, foundations, and corporate partners who are committed to the long-term viability of Black-led organizations. The organization raises funds to support organizational resiliency programs, grants, and operational costs.
- Funder Partnerships: Partners make financial contributions and institutional commitments through signed Funder Agreements, aligning their equity journey to the Collective's articulated values around advancing Black equity.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Black Equity Collective product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Black Equity Collective operates as a permanent philanthropic network in California that connects funders with Black-led organizations. It aggregates donors and Black-led nonprofits into a coordinated membership structure and channels pooled resources, capacity-building support, and convenings toward advancing Black equity across the state.
Product overview
Black Equity Collective is a nonprofit philanthropic network that offers a portfolio of interconnected programs organized around three pillars: Network Engagement (member programs and convenings), Organizational Resiliency (grant programs with BUILD, ENGAGE, and CATALYZE tracks), and Field Building in Philanthropy (Funder Learning Lab). The core products include the annual Equity & Justice Symposium, the Collective Conversations fireside chat series, the Data Workgroup, and published research reports. These offerings work together to strengthen Black-led organizations in Southern California through direct funding, capacity building, peer learning, and convenings, while also transforming relationships between philanthropy and Black communities through funder education and engagement.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Membership network for Black-led organizations
Quantifiable outcome
- 24% smaller average revenue for Black-led vs White-led organizations
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Black Equity Collective
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Black Equity Collective technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature1 record
Black Equity Collective partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- MicrosoftcoreMicrosoft's Nonprofit Tech Acceleration for Black and African American Communities (NTA) partnered with BEC to provide training and coaching focused on building core infrastructure of Black-led member organizations. Microsoft delivers technology and skills training while BEC provides funding and capacity-building opportunities.
- Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF)coreNFF provides individualized financial management training to BEC's Organizational Resiliency Tracks cohort. Training covers budget development, multi-year budget projections, scenario planning, capitalization, cash flow planning, and financial reporting.
- UpMetricscoreUpMetrics provides BEC with its impact analytics platform to support network growth, refine programs, and foster collaboration. Platform capabilities include collecting application survey data, tracking membership goals, visualizing member locations, and building data-centered feedback loops.
- Social Good SolutionscoreSocial Good Solutions manages the full operations of the Black Equity Collective, providing operational infrastructure and support.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Black Equity Collective competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Liberation Ventures: A philanthropic collaborative funding the racial-justice field through pooled resources and field-building research. Directly comparable in collaborative funder structure, equity-focused metrics work, and reliance on foundation partnerships.
- Borealis Philanthropy: A racial-justice funder collaborative that pools resources from foundations to invest in movements led by people of color. Directly comparable to BEC's model of convening funders around a racial-equity agenda, though operating at a national rather than regional scale.
- Solidaire Network: A donor organizing network mobilizing resources to support Black, Indigenous, and people-of-color-led movements. Comparable as a pooled, donor-network model focused on social-justice grantmaking, with a more national membership base than BEC.
- Hispanic Federation: A national Latino nonprofit that aggregates philanthropic and corporate funding to support Hispanic-led and Hispanic-serving organizations. Closely analogous model to BEC: a racial-ethnic intermediary that channels institutional funding into community-led nonprofits.
- California Black Freedom Fund: A California-focused pooled fund advancing Black freedom and equity through philanthropic investment in Black-led organizations. Directly comparable as a regional Black-equity funder collaborative and confirmed partner/sponsor of BEC's annual Equity & Justice Symposium.
Regional players
- Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP): A philanthropic advocacy and grantmaking organization supporting AAPI communities. Comparable in structure and mission as a racial-equity-focused funder collaborative and network, though serving a different demographic community.
- ABFE (Association of Black Foundation Executives): A national membership association of Black philanthropic leaders and grantmakers. Comparable as the institutional backbone of Black-focused philanthropy in the U.S., with overlapping funder networks and an explicit equity frame.
Emerging players
- National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP): A research and advocacy organization that pushes philanthropy toward equity and community-led change. Comparable as a sector-influencing voice, though focused on policy and advocacy rather than direct regranting.
- The JIB Fund: The LA-based foundation that incubated BEC's predecessor (Black Equity Initiative) and where founder Kaci Patterson built the original model. Directly relevant as the institutional antecedent and still an active Black-equity funder in the same Southern California ecosystem.
Others
- Weingart Foundation: A major Los Angeles-based private foundation that funds nonprofits serving Southern California's underserved communities. Comparable as one of BEC's anchor institutional funders and a regional peer in the same foundation ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Black Equity Collective social profiles
Digital presenceBlack Equity Collective financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Black Equity Collective leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Black Equity Collective funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Black Equity Collective 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 Black Equity Collective
What does Black Equity Collective do?
Black Equity Collective operates as a permanent philanthropic network in California that connects funders with Black-led organizations. It aggregates donors and Black-led nonprofits into a coordinated membership structure and channels pooled resources, capacity-building support, and convenings toward advancing Black equity across the state.
Is Black Equity Collective a public or private company?
Black Equity Collective is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Black Equity Collective founded?
Black Equity Collective was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Black Equity Collective based?
Black Equity Collective is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Black Equity Collective make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Philanthropic Donations and Grants are the primary driver. The others are funder Partnerships.
Who are Black Equity Collective's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Liberation Ventures, Borealis Philanthropy, Solidaire Network, Hispanic Federation and California Black Freedom Fund. Regional players are Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP) and ABFE (Association of Black Foundation Executives). Emerging players are National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP) and The JIB Fund. Weingart Foundation is listed as an others.
Does Black Equity Collective have an API?
No public API is recorded for Black Equity Collective.
What industry is Black Equity Collective in?
Black Equity Collective's product category is Philanthropic Network Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAN, Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAC, Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8600.