Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium has launched a new “Resistance and Resilience” grant initiative through its Black Girls Defense Fund. The organization will provide $2,000 mini-grants to support Black girls, women, and femme-identifying youth across 13 southern states. These funds aim to strengthen community-led efforts addressing unique challenges such as adultification, dehumanization, and violence.
Applications for the grants open on March 20, 2025, and will remain available until April 10. The initiative continues the organization’s impressive track record of supporting Black women-led organizations and empowering Black girls throughout the southern United States.
Addressing Critical Funding Gaps for Black Girls’ Initiatives in the South
The Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium emerged from alarming statistics revealing that Black girls in the South received less than 1% of the $4.8 billion in philanthropic investments. This stark funding disparity prompted action from Black Voters Matter co-founder LaTosha Brown and three other Black women philanthropists in 2017.
Their mission focused on funding the dreams and supporting the wellbeing of Black girls across Alabama, Arkansas, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Since then, the organization has made remarkable progress in addressing this funding imbalance through targeted grants and programs.
$2,000 Mini-Grants Support Protection and Advocacy for Black Girls
The newly launched “Resistance and Resilience” mini-grants specifically target organizations committed to protecting Black girls and fighting against dehumanization. Eligible applicants must reside in one of the 13 southern states and work to advocate for Black girls and women through a 501(c)(3) organization or with a fiscal sponsor.
“We launched this funding to strengthen community-led efforts addressing the unique challenges Black girls face,” the organization stated on Instagram. These challenges include adultification, where Black girls are perceived as less innocent and more adult-like than their white peers, as well as various forms of dehumanization and violence that disproportionately affect young Black women.
Southern Black Girls’ Growing Impact Reaches Millions in Funding
Southern Black Girls has already demonstrated significant impact in its mission to support Black girls and women. The organization reports awarding over $10 million to 221 Black women-led organizations and more than 800 girls throughout the South since its founding.
Beyond financial support, the consortium has created innovative programs to engage and empower Black girls. In 2022, they partnered with rapper Megan Thee Stallion’s Pete and Thomas Foundation to launch the “Joy is our Journey Dream Tour.” This month-long bus excursion created dedicated spaces for Black girls to connect and express their creativity.
How to Apply: Information Sessions and Application Process
Interested organizations can access the application for the Black Girls Defense Fund’s Resistance & Resilience mini-grants on the Southern Black Girls website starting March 20. The consortium has established a straightforward application process with a clear deadline of April 10 for submission.
Additionally, prospective applicants can attend an informational session scheduled for March 27 via Zoom at 12:00 PM Eastern Time. This meeting will cover the application process in detail, provide essential tools for successful applications, and offer an open forum for questions. Advance registration for this informational session is available through the organization’s website.
Building on a Legacy of Supporting Black Girls Throughout the South
The new grant initiative builds upon Southern Black Girls’ established commitment to addressing systemic barriers facing Black girls and women. Through targeted funding and programming, the organization continues its work to change the narrative and improve outcomes for this historically underserved population.
The consortium’s approach recognizes the intersectional challenges faced by Black girls in southern states, where both racial and gender discrimination can create significant barriers to success. By providing financial resources directly to community organizations, the grants help ensure that solutions come from within the communities they serve, creating more sustainable and culturally appropriate interventions.