Civic Commons is excited to announce the application period for the Black Homeownership Legacy Fund (BHLF) grant is now open!
Donor Name: Civic Commons
State: Washington
County: King County (WA), and Pierce County (WA)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 10/20/2023
Grant Duration: 1 year
Details:
The Black Homeownership Legacy Fund (BHLF) is a capacity-building fund housed at the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation. The fund was established to provide grants to nonprofit organizations that support homeownership activities benefiting low- and moderate-income Black households in South Seattle, South King County, and North Pierce County. Successful applicants will be able to demonstrate how the grant funds will increase homeownership units and/or support future Black homeowners. BHLF was designed to create access to capacity-building funds for community-based nonprofit organizations who are BIPOC-led and working to make homeownership more accessible to Black households. It puts into practice the funding principles established by Black Home Initiative (BHI), a tri-sector regional partner network.
The primary purpose of Black Home Initiative (BHI) is to increase the number of BIPOC households who successfully secure homeownership. The ultimate impact they aspire to is the reduction of inequity and an increase in inter-generational household wealth. The initial emphasis, and the shared priority, is on Black households; within five years, the goal is to make the opportunity to own a home, and the potential benefits of that asset, available to 1,500 new low- and moderate-income Black homeowners in South Seattle, South King County (starting south of Seattle), and North Pierce County (which includes Tacoma, Fife, Lakewood, Parkland, and surrounding areas). The initiative will concurrently focus on the essential work of clearly defining, and transforming, the systems that have impeded access to homeownership for Black households in the geographic focus area.
Black Homeownership Legacy Fund (BHLF) Focus Areas
BHLF offers grant funding specifically for capacity- building and technical assistance. These funds are not intended to be used to cover day-to-day existing operations. Instead, the intention and expectation of these awards is to increase current performance on outcomes associated with homeownership among Black households with low-to-moderate incomes. Funding for consultants or additional FTE will be considered; however, FTE should be limited to the percentage of staff time dedicated to activities that will advance the BHI mission. Ineligible uses include, but are not limited to, sponsorship of events, travel to and fees for conferences, and the crafting or advancing of public policy. All funds must be spent within one year of receiving funding.
BHI Network Partner Funding Principles
Community investment funding for affordable housing in the United States is a complex system. It often brings together public and private funds, and is generally more robust for development of multi-family rental affordable housing. In addition, many existing funding programs have “gating” barriers that make access difficult for community-based organizations/developers who are BIPOC-owned and led.
- BHI’s primary goal is for the economic benefit of funds marshaled for this work to be gained by Black-led developers and Black-led nonprofit organizations.
- Moreover, the benefit of the resources marshaled should, as much as possible, directly support LMI Black homebuyers.
- Regarding the creation of additional homeownership homes: BHI will prioritize Black- owned/Black-led developers and Black-led community-based organizations to lead the development work and, when necessary, consider joint ventures with appropriate community-facing/community-serving organizations.
- Regarding the identification and support of Black homebuyers: BHI prioritizes the funding of Black-led nonprofit organizations who specialize in doing outreach and in providing pre-purchase counseling and support. When necessary, funding may also be provided to community-serving organizations committed to the BHI shared priority and principles.
- BHI will prioritize intermediaries to disseminate funds based on their commitment to the BHI shared priority and principles. Fees should be aligned with the goal of maximizing the funding levels passing through to community-based organizations and to Black developers, while insuring mission impact.
- BHI expects that all funder advisory groups will be made up of Black community members.
- All funding criteria and proposal requirements for new, intermediary funding programs will be assessed to ensure they meet BHI standards.
Organizations Eligible to Apply to BHLF
Grants will be awarded as outlined in the BHI Network Partner Principles. Eligible nonprofit organizations will:
- demonstrate commitment to the BHI shared priority.
- be embedded in community.
- have a proven record of uplifting Black households.
- carry out the work of identifying and supporting Black homebuyers and/or developers of affordable ownership homes (to produce more homes for purchase).
For more information, visit Civic Commons.
