The National Black United Fund (NBUF) performs three key roles in taking Black American community-based philanthropy to new levels:

Building Black Philanthropy

NBUF and its 20 local Black United Funds work to persuade Black Americans to take their tradition of giving to new levels. We specialize in Customized Philanthropic Giving Programs, empowering Black Americans to invest in the way that works best for them.

We also raise funds through employee payroll deduction campaigns in both private and public sectors, the Combined Federal Campaign, individual donations, foundation grants, corporate giving, endowment funds and bequests.

NBUF brings new philanthropic dollars into local Black American communities by educating and securing the commitment of individuals who understand charitable giving, but who historically have not participated in organized giving programs.

Growing Local Black United Funds (BUFs)

The national office of NBUF provides administration, management, research, advocacy and technical assistance for the 20 local affiliates. Grants are distributed by the affiliates to community-based organizations and institutions serving the Black American community.

NBUF is also the corporate sponsor of the National Black United Federation of Charities (NBUFC), a federation of over 45 national Black American non-profit organizations engaged in social justice, policy advocacy, community development, and charitable services.

Leading the Way

Shortly after its birth some 30 years ago, NBUF took legal action to break the monopoly which many traditional mainstream charities held over the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), which resulted in the inclusion of thousands of ethnic, alternative, and social change organizations in CFC.

NBUF uses its national platform to redefine the challenges and goals for diversity, democracy, and ethnic self-help in the charitable and philanthropic fields. NBUF’s national office provides a variety of services to its local affiliates and community-based organizations, including campaign management, fund development, fund management, strategic planning, and board training. NBUF also provides training and support in professional fund-raising standards and accountability systems. And we help create new models for democratic access and diversified fund-raising workplaces.

In the 21st century, NBUF is pursuing these goals on a new and broader scale, reaching new Black American and other philanthropic audiences with a strategy to make Black self-help more systematic and sustainable for the challenges of the future.

Breaking New Ground for Nearly 30 years

Since its founding in 1972, the National Black United Fund has continually broken new ground, both in reinvigorating the Black tradition of self-help and in shattering barriers to philanthropic giving to charities serving the Black community. NBUF's proud record of achievement includes:

1972: The leaders of the Brotherhood Crusade of Los Angeles - an organization creating a strategic model for Black fund?raising and self?help - found the National Black United Fund to spearhead similar community-based efforts around the country. NBUF establishes affiliate organizations in Boston, Detroit, Fort Worth and Los Angeles.

1970s: NBUF fills the gap left by traditional mainstream funding sources which invest less than 2 percent of their resources in organizations led by Black Americans.

1976: Seeking to achieve philanthropic justice and equity, NBUF takes legal action to join the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), after being denied entrance twice.

1980: NBUF breaks the barrier, winning admission to the CFC. This landmark victory not only allows federal employees to donate to NBUF through payroll deductions - it paves the way CFC participation by more than 800 national organizations, many serving Black and other minority communities. And it sets a precedent that opens up state, county and municipal employee payroll deduction campaigns for NBUF.

1980s: NBUF dramatically expands our participation in employee payroll deduction campaigns, establishes new affiliates, and matures into the only charitable network expanding Black American philanthropy by building community capacity and Black-owned assets.

1991: NBUF organizes the National Black United Federation of Charities (NBUFC), through which Black non?profits come together as a collaborative fundraising entity.

1992: NBUF organizes the MAARK (Maintaining Black American Responsibility and Kinship) program to better connect Black American resources to Black community-based non?profit organizations.

1993: NBUF convenes the "Collaboration, Networking, and Partnership Institute" to foster collaboration and partnerships among local affiliates and national federation members.

1997: NBUF inaugurates its annual sponsorship of the Community and Economic Development Resource Center, which provides incentive, information, and workshops on community groups participating in economic and community development.

2000: NBUF and its affiliates raise and donate more than $6.5 million, while NBUFC raises in excess of $1.5 million.