Why Black-Led Nonprofits Fail—And How We Fix It

When We Brunch to Build

Mar 18, 2025

Black-led nonprofits are the backbone of our communities. Historically, grassroots organizations have been the catalyst for change, survival, and progress. From the civil rights movement to mutual aid networks that kept our people afloat. Yet, here we are in 2025, still fighting the same injustices and systemic oppression. And the one thing that could help us move past these atrocities? Community organizations built for us, by us.

But here’s the harsh reality:
❌ Most Black-led nonprofits don’t make it past five years.
❌ Less than 3% of grant funding goes to Black-led organizations.
❌ Many operate as charities instead of structured businesses, which limits sustainability.

This isn’t by accident. Black-led nonprofits fail most in three critical areas:

1️⃣ Program Development – Many organizations start with passion but without a structured, scalable, or measurable program. Passion alone won’t keep the lights on. A well-developed program is the foundation of nonprofit success.

2️⃣ Funding – Black-led organizations struggle to secure grants, donors, and sustainable revenue. Fundraising isn’t just about asking for money, it’s about strategy, relationships, and business acumen.

3️⃣ Stewardship – Money mismanagement, lack of compliance, and failure to show impact leads to distrust among funders and the community. If you can’t prove the impact of your work, sustaining your nonprofit becomes nearly impossible.

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Culturally Responsive Programs Matter

Studies show that culturally responsive services, those built by and for the communities they serve, lead to greater impact, stronger outcomes, and deeper trust. This is why we must create and support programs that center our needs, address our struggles, and uplift our communities.

This is exactly why FASTell Girl Model2Mentor Program exists.

✨ Our programs are built specifically to serve Black and Brown girls.
✨ Our staff and leadership reflect the communities we serve.
✨ Our services aren’t just reactive—they are transformative.

We aren’t just another nonprofit. We are a movement.

📢CAMMUNITY Call2Connect📢

Download the FREE course – Foundations of Nonprofit Development for the African American Community to learn how to build sustainable, community-driven organizations.
Learn more about FASTell Girl’s Summer 2025 Program – If you know a girl who needs mentorship, healing, and career development, this is the place for her.
Join Brunch2Build email list – Our in-person workshop where we strategize, build, and connect to strengthen our communities.
Check out these scholarship opportunities - Each month we research hundreds of scholarship opportunities for minority students.
You can download "The Golden Rule to Your Scholarship Story e-Guide" to help craft a compelling and successful application story. This guide provides students with valuable insights and strategies to effectively communicate their journey, strengths, and aspirations in scholarship applications.

We cannot afford to let another generation go by without the resources they need. It’s time to build—strategically, intentionally, and unapologetically.

CAMMUNITY Newsletter Disclaimer

The information provided in CAMMUNITY Newsletter and related eBooks is intended to offer guidance, structure, and knowledge to support community development efforts. However, we do not guarantee approval, selection, or awarding of any programs, services, scholarships, or grants mentioned.

While most of the information shared is thoroughly researched and studied, the purpose of this newsletter is to provoke urgency in creating community organizations that contribute to building a progressive and profitable African American community. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and due diligence when applying for funding opportunities or implementing strategies outlined in this publication.

By engaging with this content, you acknowledge that CAMMUNITY Newsletter serves as an informational resource and not a guarantee of financial or programmatic success.

Cameka LaSha, founder of the FASTell Girl Model2Mentor Program, has dedicated her life to guiding at-risk girls through the darkest parts of their journey. As a professional Child & Adolescent Behavior Counselor and Belief Therapist, H.E.R. nonprofit provides behavioral management services for girls battling suicidal thoughts, equipping them with the tools to Heal, Emerge into their purpose, and Rewrite their narratives.

A survivor of H.E.R. own trauma, Cameka found her voice through poetry. A voice that speaks for those who feel unseen and unheard. Known as Soultry, H.E.R. words don’t just flow; they rise from the depths of H.E.R. soul, carrying the weight of lived experiences and the raw truth of H.E.R. journey.

H.E.R. gift for writing extends beyond poetry. She has authored powerful blog pieces for Thug Therapy Sessions and Southern B’heal, two platforms dedicated to breaking the stigma surrounding mental health in minority communities. She is also the author of Principles of GEM, a healing guide for young girls and women seeking restoration. H.E.R. latest venture, the CAMMUNITY Newsletter, serves as an educational and awareness platform for the African American community, bringing support and visibility to H.E.R. nonprofit work.

Now, after facing breast cancer, H.E.R. journey to Heal, Emerge, and Restore what pain and darkness once stole continues. As an advocate, creative, and storyteller, she uses H.E.R. platforms to speak truth, spark healing, and remind every girl that H.E.R. story is far from over.