NBJC

National Black Justice Collective Announces 2025 Benevolence Grants Supporting Black LGBTQ+/SGL Children, Youth, and Young Adults

CONTACT: Jordan Wilhelmi | jordan@unbendablemedia.com 

WASHINGTON – The National Black Justice Collective  (NBJC) is proud to announce the 2025 Benevolence Grants, renewing our commitment to celebrating and supporting Black Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer+/same-gender loving (LGBTQ+/SGL) children, youth, and young adults by investing in organizations that help them thrive. As attacks on LGBTQ+/SGL youth intensify nationwide, this year’s Benevolence cohort represents a powerful affirmation of communal care, mutual aid, and collective responsibility.

In 2025 alone, over 600 anti-LGBTQ+/SGL bills have been introduced—most targeting transgender youth. The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors allows 25 states to maintain similar bans. The administration has cut funding for the 988 specialized LGBTQ+ youth suicide hotline. An executive order now prohibits trans women and girls from participating in sports consistent with their gender identity.

“In the face of these escalating attacks, Benevolence grantees continue to show up for our babies, providing safe havens, affirming spaces, leadership development, emergency support, housing, mental health care, and so much more,” said Dr. David J. Johns, CEO & Executive Director of the National Black Justice Collective. “While extremists target us with denial of fundamental human rights and political threats to freedoms, these Benevolence organizations are providing what our young people need through safety, community, and love. Investing in them is how we protect our future and ensure Black LGBTQ+/SGL youth not only survive, but flourish.”

Below are the organizations receiving microgrants through NBJC’s 2025 Benevolence Campaign. We encourage supporters to learn more about each of these organizations and invest in their work.

New Grantees 

• All 1 Family Inc provides free to low-cost, accessible counseling services for LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies and connects those in need of mental health support with affirming, compassionate professionals who understand and respect their unique experiences.
• Amaad Institute facilitates personalized individual access to programs and services that foster safe and supportive healthy environments for people to live, learn, and develop to their fullest potential.
• Black Trans Youth Rising looks to collaboratively educate and support the next generation of Black Queer and trans organizers.
• Freedom, Inc. engages low- to no-income communities of color in Dane County, WI, with a mission to achieve social justice by coupling direct services with leadership development and community organizing.
• IYG creates safer spaces to foster community and provides programs that empower LGBTQ+ young people and magnify their voices.
• Lighthouse Foundation Chicagoland envisions a Chicagoland in which Black LGBTQ+ people are safe, resourced, empowered, liberated, and flourishing.
• Rainbow Youth Project USA Foundation strives to build and foster accepting and welcoming communities for young LGBTQIA+ siblings and their families while supporting and promoting political candidates who share core values.
• SnapCo builds safety within the community, invests in collective embodied leadership, and builds political power.
• Southern Vision Alliance is a justice-centered, values-based “grassroots intermediary” organized to provide incubation, infrastructure, capacity building, coaching, and technical assistance to frontline organizing projects, leadership programs, and collaborations led by directly-impacted communities in the US South. 
• United by Equity advances sustainable strategies and solutions that promote and provide equity for all, primarily focused on minority and marginalized people negatively and intensely affected by perpetual divisive and ineffective policies, systems, and institutions.
• YAP is grounded in the belief that HIV-related services for youth must be developmentally appropriate, culturally competent, coordinated, and family-centered to be effective.

Continuing Grantees 

• Alliance for LGBTQ Youth provides mental health and care coordination services, leadership development, and policy advocacy that centers the lives and experiences of LGBTQ youth in South Florida.
• BEAM removes the barriers that Black people experience in accessing or staying connected with emotional health care and healing through education, training, advocacy, and the creative arts.
• Black Star Project is committed to improving academic and economic prosperity in Black and Latinx communities through various educational and economic empowerment programs, workshops, and events to empower these communities of color.
• Haus of Codec is committed to ending transition-aged youth homelessness in Providence through the arts and workforce development.
• Kaleidoscope Youth Center provides a safer place, programming, and leadership opportunities so that youth can explore who they are and be empowered to become their confident, truest selves.
• Jasmyn supports the empowerment of LGBTQIA+ teens and young adults through leadership, advocacy, resources, and a safe and affirming community. 
• Justice for Black Girls disrupts educational, carceral, and cultural systems that harm young Black girls while creating liberated educational spaces for Black girls ages 13-24.
• My Sistah’s House is a grassroots, transgender-led organization that provides wraparound services for Black and Brown transgender and non-binary individuals, including safe spaces, emergency shelter, and access to health and social services.
• Neutral Zone is a transformative, youth-driven community where youth embrace their power, ignite their creativity, and launch their future to build equity, justice, and collective liberation.
• The Okra Project is a mutual aid collective focused on supporting Black Trans people and alleviating the barriers that the community faces. 
• The Pride Center at Equality Park provides a welcoming, safe space – an inclusive home that celebrates, nurtures, and empowers the LGBTQ+ community.
• The Queer Trans Project is dedicated to providing gender-affirming resources to empower queer and trans individuals nationwide, equipping them with the confidence and power to drive social change in their communities. 
• Rainbow in Black is dedicated to providing unwavering support, resources, and advocacy for Black families of transgender and gender-diverse youth.
• Sisters PGH dismantles the cycles of systemic oppression and marginalization impacting BIPOC transgender and nonbinary communities by providing holistic, trans-led, and gender-affirming care.
• SMYAL works to create a world where queer and trans youth thrive through affirming programs and services designed to develop critical life skills, build community, and foster a sense of belonging. 
• Stand with Trans empowers and supports transgender youth and their loved ones. 
• Trans Youth Emergency Project helps families navigate the complex and exhausting maze of gender-affirming care by offering logistical and financial support.  
• TruEvolution fights for health equity and racial justice to advance the quality of life and human dignity of LGBTQ+ people.
• Wordplay Cincy is committed to activating the strengths of children and teens in a safe, inclusive, and inspiring place.
• Youth Pride Inc. meets the unique, ongoing needs of LGBTQ+ youth and young adults through direct service, support, advocacy, and education.
• YWCA Madison is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. 

If you know of an organization or student group led by and supporting Black LGBTQ+/SGL students, youth, and young adults, please nominate them for a Benevolence Grant by clicking this LINK.