Black and African Diaspora Focused-Research
Research centred on Black and African-descended communities across the diaspora.
29 opportunities · 12 traditional · 17 nontraditional
Traditional (12)
- First Book GrantEarly-career awardLouisville InstituteSupports pre-tenured faculty who have faced significant adversity in their professional lives to complete a first scholarly book focused on minoritized Christian communities in North America. Relevant to social work faculty writing on race, religion and community wellbeing. Attendance at a January 2028 Winter Seminar is mandatory.up to $55k · Annual cycle · Jan
- Museum Grants for African American History and CultureTraining & capacityInstitute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)Builds the capacity of African American museums and HBCU collecting institutions and develops their professional workforce, including projects that increase access to museum and archival collections.$5k–$500k · Annual cycle · Mar, Nov
- Racial Diversity UK FundFoundation grantNuffield FoundationResearch funding on barriers and pathways to a racially just and inclusive UK society; the 2026 priority theme is inter-generational change in a racially diverse UK.$19k–$635k · Annual cycle · Oct
- Cushwa Center Research Grants and AwardsFoundation grantCushwa Center for the Study of American Catholicism, University of Notre DameSix funding programmes for scholarly research, open to scholars outside Notre Dame. The Gustavo Gutierrez Research Awards support projects in theology, history and the social sciences engaging the preferential option for the poor; the Cyprian Davis Award recognises research on the Black Catholic experience; the Mother Theodore Guerin grants support research on Catholic women including oral history interviews. Relevant to social work historians and researchers on poverty, race and gender in faith-based service systems.Not a cash award · Annual cycle · Dec
- Racial Diversity UK FundFoundation grantNuffield FoundationResearch grants on racial inequalities, discrimination and disadvantage in the UK. The 2026 round's priority theme is inter-generational change in a racially diverse UK, covering identity, civic participation and life chances.Amount not published · Annual cycle · Oct
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities - Excellence in Research (HBCU-EiR)Federal grantU.S. National Science FoundationNSF programme funding research projects at public and private HBCUs, aligned to NSF's regular research programmes, to build institutional research capacity at institutions less successful in NSF's larger open competitions.Amount not published · Annual cycle · Oct
- Health Policy Research ScholarsFederal fellowshipRobert Wood Johnson FoundationA national leadership and funding program for full-time doctoral students from historically marginalised backgrounds, in any research discipline, who want to apply their research to health equity and health policy.up to $30k per year · Annual cycle
- APF Visionary GrantsPilot / seed fundingAmerican Psychological FoundationSeed grants for research, education and intervention projects applying psychology to social problems. Named priority areas include advancing racial equity and eliminating stigma and prejudice based on race.up to $20k · Annual cycle
- 1890 Institution Teaching, Research and Extension Capacity Building Grants Program (CBG)Training & capacityUSDA National Institute of Food and AgricultureBuilds teaching, research and extension capacity at the 1890 land-grant HBCUs. Research and integrated projects on food security, childhood obesity prevention, food safety or sustainable bioenergy are eligible.$100k–$750k · Annual cycle
- Maternal Health Research Collaborative for Minority-Serving Institutions (MH-RC-MSI) Research CentersTraining & capacityHealth Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Maternal & Child Health BureauBuilds the capacity of minority-serving institutions to conduct quantitative and qualitative research on the root causes of disparities in maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, and to develop community-based solutions. Recipients must engage communities throughout, train early-career researchers, publish, and submit at least one external grant proposal for sustainability.Amount not published · Periodic calls · Jun
- Grants and Scholarships - Grant OpportunitiesFoundation grantOregon Community FoundationStatewide community foundation running many named funds on staggered application windows, including capacity-building grants for Black-led and Black-serving organizations and housing grants for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities.Amount not published · Several times a year · Jan, Feb, Mar, Jun, Aug, Oct
- Rubenstein Library Research Travel Grants (incl. Mary Lily, Franklin Center, Human Rights Archive, History of Medicine)FellowshipDavid M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University LibrariesTravel grants of up to $1,500 for in-person research in Duke's designated collections, including women's history (Sallie Bingham Center), African American history (Franklin Center), the Human Rights Archive, LGBTQ+ history and history of medicine.up to $2k · Annual cycle · Feb
Nontraditional (17)
- Pooled and participatory fundsParticipatory grantmakingBorealis PhilanthropyA set of pooled funds — including Black-led movement, disability inclusion and racial equity funds — where movement leaders help decide the grants, and where research is funded as a movement tool.$25k–$300k · By invitation
- Black Feminist Fund — Sustain Fund and Solidarity FundParticipatory grantmakingBlack Feminist FundTwo participatory funds resourcing Black feminist movements globally: multi-year core support (Sustain) and shorter solidarity/convening grants. A Grant Review Committee of movement people makes the final funding decisions, not staff.$20k–$200k · Periodic calls
- Black Future Co-Op Fund — "We See You" GrantsParticipatory grantmakingBlack Future Co-Op Fund (Washington State)A Black-led, trust-based fund for Black-led organizations across Washington State, urban and rural. There is no application: organizations are surfaced by community nomination and relationship, and no reports are required.$10k–$50k · By invitation
- Black Philanthropy Circle FundParticipatory grantmakingBaltimore Community FoundationA donor-advised giving circle of Black philanthropists in Baltimore that pools contributions and awards $25,000 grants to Black-led organizations and organizations rooted in Black communities.$25k · Annual cycle
- Racial & Economic Justice FundParticipatory grantmakingBread & Roses Community Fund$10,000 grants to Philadelphia-area groups organizing for racial and economic justice, where the members of the year's Racial & Economic Justice Giving Project both raise the money and decide the awards.$10k · Annual cycle · Jan, Feb, Mar
- Black Philanthropy FundParticipatory grantmakingThe Cleveland FoundationAn endowed affinity fund seeded at $3 million whose grantmaking priorities and awards are set by an advisory committee of Greater Cleveland Black community leaders. First round ran in 2026.$10k–$25k · Annual cycle · Apr, May
- Baobab Community FundParticipatory grantmakingBaobab Foundation (United Kingdom)Long-term unrestricted funding for Black and Global Majority led groups across the UK, designed with members rather than for them, at GBP 5,000-30,000 a year for up to five years.$5k–$30k per year · Annual cycle · Jan, Feb
- Black Community Fund grantsFoundation grantBlack Community Fund (Greater Kansas City Community Foundation)A Black-led fund established in 1983 that has invested in the African American community of Greater Kansas City for over 30 years. Small grants are open now through the foundation's online portal.$2k–$10k · Rolling / open
- Arts and Community GrantsFoundation grantBlack Belt Community FoundationSmall annual grants from a Black-led community foundation covering 12 rural counties in Alabama's Black Belt. Genuinely local money that rarely circulates outside the region.$500–$5k · Annual cycle · Jan
- Freedom Scholar AwardPrize or challengeMarguerite Casey FoundationA one-time unrestricted award to scholars whose research supports social movements, explicitly including movements led by Black people, Indigenous people, migrants, queer people and communities of colour.$250k · By invitation
- Community Interest FundsParticipatory grantmakingOmaha Community FoundationFive resident-led funds — Omaha Neighborhood Grants, African American Unity Fund, Futuro Latino Fund, LGBTQIA2S+ Equality Fund, and Refugee Community Grant Fund — where committees of people from the served communities set the process and make the funding decisions.Amount not published · Annual cycle · Jan, Feb, Mar
- Fundo Baobá — Editais abertos, including Programa Marielle Franco Apoio Individual (2ª Edição)Participatory grantmakingFundo Baobá para Equidade RacialFundo Baobá is Brazil's fund for racial equity, running rolling public calls that resource Black-led organisations and Black individuals. The open Programa Marielle Franco – Apoio Individual (2ª Edição) offers technical and financial support to build the leadership of Black women working to influence and change government policy, an explicit policy-advocacy and capacity track. The fund's editais page also lists Edital Já É (2ª edição), BLACK STEM (3ª edição), Edital Carreiras em Movimento and Edital Educação em Tecnologia. The Marielle Franco line suits policy analysis, participatory evaluatioAmount not published · Several times a year
- Foundation For Black Philanthropy grantsParticipatory grantmakingFoundation For The CarolinasFounded in 1993 as the African American Community Foundation, this Charlotte-region fund runs a competitive annual grant cycle whose decisions are made by a Board of Advisors of Black civic, business and community leaders.Amount not published · Annual cycle
- Black Legacy FundParticipatory grantmakingGrand Rapids Community FoundationA Black community endowment at the Grand Rapids Community Foundation. A Black Legacy Fund Advisory Committee reviews every application and decides awards, and community feedback sessions shape future grantmaking priorities.Amount not published · Annual cycle · Jan, Feb, Mar
- Empower! Black Futures Community FundParticipatory grantmakingSanta Fe Community FoundationAn identity-based giving circle for Black life, arts and culture in New Mexico. A named volunteer advisory committee of people who identify with New Mexico's Black communities leads the grantmaking decisions.Amount not published · Annual cycle
- Fundo Agbara thematic funds — Apoio Imediato, Fundo Bem Viver and Asa DuduParticipatory grantmakingFundo AgbaraFundo Agbara is a Brazilian fund by and for Black women, channelling resources through thematic funds. Apoio Imediato supports Black women students taking up study opportunities abroad and human rights defenders at risk. Fundo Bem Viver resources well-being initiatives, with a Malunga Bem Viver line for collectives and organisations and a Descansa, Nêga line that pays for Black women's rest. Asa Dudu offers strategic business guidance. The fund reports more than R$6.8 million invested, a network of around 600 Black women's initiatives, and more than 5,000 Black women strengthened. It is a routAmount not published · Varies by programme
- Black Radiance Network — Justice & Liberation FundParticipatory grantmakingHeadwaters Foundation for JusticeUnrestricted general operating support to strengthen the Black movement ecosystem in Minnesota, relaunched in 2025 within the broader Black Radiance Network. Successor to the Black Movement Ecosystem fund. Unrestricted support of this size can carry the organizational capacity a Black-led group needs to sustain its own evaluation and documentation work with a research partner.Amount not published · Varies by programme
Other clusters
- Adolescent and Youth Development
- Aging Services and Gerontology
- American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Global Indigenous Populations (Indigenous Cluster)
- Asian and Asian-Pacific Islander Focused-Research
- Child Welfare
- Communities and Neighborhoods
- Crime and Criminal Justice
- Disability
- Gender
- Gender-Based Violence
- Health
- History
- Inequality, Poverty, and Social Welfare Policy
- International Social Work and Global Issues
- Immigrants and Refugees
- LatinX Focused-Research
- Mental Health
- Military Service Members, Veterans and Their Families
- Organizations and Management
- Race and Ethnicity
- Research Design and Measurement
- Research on Social Work Education
- School Social Work
- Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
- Social Work Practice
- Substance Misuse and Addictive Behaviors
- Sustainable Development, Environmental and Climate Justice
- Work and Work-Life Policies and Programs