New Website Strengthens Black Male Achievement Field

Foundation Center and Open Society Foundations Launch BMAfunders.org

NEW YORK, March 28, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Foundation Center and the Open Society Foundations have launched the web portal BMAfunders.org to facilitate engagement, collaboration, and strategic decision making among funders, nonprofits, and policymakers working to promote positive outcomes for black men and boys in America. The site is supported by the Campaign for Black Male Achievement, in which the Open Society Foundations has invested $50 million over the past five years.

"We urge more grantmakers and philanthropists across sectors to enter the field of black male achievement for the long term, and to do it with the understanding that their investments are helping to strengthen the social fabric of America," said Shawn Dove, manager of the Campaign for Black Male Achievement. "BMAfunders.org helps philanthropic leaders get up to speed by highlighting what's working and by spreading the word about what success looks like."

BMAfunders.org supports those working to reverse the damage done by years of systemic injustice by providing access to a variety of knowledge resources, including:

• A mapping tool that fosters collaboration by showing who's funding what program, where;
• A  timeline of philanthropic milestones that sheds light on the historical context of the field;
• An "Outcomes Toolkit" that points users to key measures that will help them assess the impact of their work; and
• A comprehensive collection of research reports, as well as case studies of work on the ground that highlight innovation and lessons learned.

"BMAfunders.org shows that there are foundations who are not afraid to tackle one of the most daunting challenges in our society," said Bradford Smith, president of the Foundation Center.  Armed with knowledge tools, the right data, and peer-to-peer insights, donors can find new allies to make their work even more strategic.

The portal builds on the groundbreaking 2012 report, Where Do We Go From Here? Philanthropic Support for Black Men and Boys, which examines foundation funding flows in support of black men and boys and highlights innovative philanthropic initiatives.

The official launch of the BMAfunders.org site will take place at the Association of Black Foundation Executives annual conference on April 6 in Chicago where it will be particularly relevant to the theme of "innovation and investment to increase impact in black communities." A formal demonstration of the web portal will be complemented by the opportunity for hands-on exploration throughout the event.

At BMAfunders.org, visitors can sign up for e-mail updates to learn about news and events related to black male achievement, as well as submit grants data, case studies, and philanthropic milestones. Updates are also available on Twitter at @BMAfunders.

Active in more than 100 countries, the Open Society Foundations work to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens. Working with local communities, the Open Society Foundations support justice and human rights, freedom of expression, and access to public health and education.

SOURCE Open Society Foundations