Aurora's Black-Led Nonprofits Are Doing the Work—But They're Fighting for Pennies on the Dollar
Here's a number that should stop you mid-scroll: 1.8 percent. That's the share of national philanthropic dollars reaching Black-led nonprofits, according to data from Echoing Green and The Bridgespan Group.
Now look at Aurora. We're one of Colorado's most diverse cities—nearly 17% Black, with deep roots in neighborhoods like East Colfax, Montbello, and the Anschutz corridor. Organizations like the Village Exchange Center, Aurora NAACP, Black Parents United, and Soul 2 Soul Sisters aren't just "nonprofits." They're the backbone of food security, youth mentorship, maternal health advocacy, and civic engagement right here on Havana and Peoria.
Yet locally, these groups report the same funding gaps: shorter grant cycles, smaller unrestricted checks, and endless "capacity building" requirements that well-funded peers never face.
What Aurora residents can do right now:
- Give unrestricted. Monthly donations of $25–$50 to a Black-led org beat a one-time $500 restricted grant. - Volunteer expertise. Marketing, grant writing, IT, HR—skills you use at work are gold to lean teams. - Ask your employer. Does your company match donations? Sponsor a table at the next Aurora Black Community Fund fundraiser? - Follow the money. Track city and county grant awards. Show up at budget hearings when community investment is on the docket.
Aurora's strength has always been its people. Let's make sure the resources follow the leadership.
