The Movement for Black Lives (M4BL), formed in December of 2014, was created as a space for Black organizations across the country to debate and discuss current political conditions; develop shared assessments of what political interventions are necessary in order to achieve key policy, cultural, and political wins; and convene organizational leadership in order to debate and co-create a shared movement-wide strategy—all under the fundamental idea that we can achieve more together than we can separately.

The Movement for Black Lives is made up of over 150 organizations that coordinate actions, messages, and campaigns across the U.S. This movement is driven by leadership anchored to 6 tables: Policy, Organizing / Base Building, Electoral Justice, The Rising Majority, Culture, and Resource.

What is the M4BL resource table? 

M4BL makes decisions about the movement’s resource needs strategically and collectively through its resource table. The resource table is made up of a cross-section of both national and local activists, collectives, and organizations which determine movement resource needs and priorities, and decide where those resources should go.

How does the resource table work? How will the funds be allocated? 

M4BL exists within a diverse ecosystem of committed movement leaders, activists, collectives, and organizations which make decisions collectively about how M4BL’s resources are deployed. These decisions are informed by what resources are available and where those resources are needed based on emergent and existing actions, campaigns, and policy battles; and driven by M4BL’s Project 2024: Black Power Rising 5-year Plan.

What are the specific supports M4BL is providing to local & national movement actors? 

As resource needs are identified by the M4BL resource table in coordination with local and national leaders, resources are earmarked and delivered to those who are doing the work in the ways that they need it. Because the work on the ground is emergent, assistance may look like deploying communications expertise to coordinate with local actors, developing and researching policy briefs, convening, safety and security planning, and regranting to meet needs locally, whenever possible. We ask our funders and donors to trust in M4BL’s leadership to identify the processes to determine the best way to move support throughout the M4BL ecosystem.

What are the short-term priorities and long-term vision of the M4BL? 

The immediate need is to strengthen the national infrastructure, continue to organize and visiblize the #DefundPolice campaign and provide support to partners across the ecosystem.

You can learn more about M4BL’s Project 2024: Black Power Rising 5-year Plan.

What is your funding capacity? How much funding can you absorb? 

Our fiscal sponsor Alliance for Global Justice and an internal operations team are working to build out our internal infrastructure to prepare to receive this influx of resources. Under the leadership of M4BL’s resource table (the leadership body that works to identify funding priorities and practices), we are confident we can absorb our goal of $50M this year to fortify our national infrastructure; respond to urgent and time sensitive mobilizations; and support our ecosystem of Black-led, Black facing organizations.

Is there a target goal at this time? 

Yes. To meet this moment, donor organizers in support of the Movement for Black Lives have called for $50M in commitments this year.

Read more information for potential donors at the Movement for Black Lives.