Boston's $112B Nonprofit Sector Fails Women of Color, Report Finds

BOSTON, MA – March 24, 2026 – A landmark report released today reveals a staggering disparity in philanthropic funding within Greater Boston, showing that organizations explicitly serving women and girls of color receive just 0.02% of the region's $112 billion in nonprofit revenue.

The first-of-its-kind study, titled Carrying the Weight, Leading the Change, was led by the Boston Women's Fund in collaboration with the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy (CWPPP) at UMass Boston. It paints a stark picture of a system that, despite its immense financial power, is critically underinvesting in the grassroots leaders on the front lines of community support. While women and girls of color constitute nearly 20% of Greater Boston's population, the organizations dedicated to them are left to operate on a financial precipice.

A System of Financial Neglect

The report's findings go beyond a single shocking statistic, detailing a pattern of systemic inequity. Of the more than 3,000 nonprofits in the Greater Boston area, less than 0.5% are explicitly dedicated to serving women and girls of color. The financial figures are even more damning. Out of the sector's $112 billion in total revenue, only $1 billion was directed toward all women- and girls-serving organizations. Of that slice, a mere $25 million reached groups specifically focused on women and girls of color.

This translates to just two cents for every one hundred dollars in the region's nonprofit ecosystem.

Furthermore, the report highlights a deep concentration of funding that exacerbates the problem. More than 60% of all philanthropic support for women and girls in Greater Boston flows to just five large organizations, none of which are explicitly dedicated to serving women of color. This structure effectively creates a bottleneck, channeling resources to established, mainstream institutions while bypassing the smaller, culturally-specific grassroots groups that often have the deepest community trust and impact.

This local crisis mirrors a national trend, where giving to organizations for women and girls of color accounts for a mere 0.5% of all charitable donations. However, the specificity of the Boston data provides a granular look at how these dynamics play out in one of the nation's wealthiest and most philanthropic cities.

The Human Toll of Underfunding

Beyond the spreadsheets and financial data, Carrying the Weight, Leading the Change gives voice to the leaders who bear the brunt of this disparity. Through focus groups with BIPOC women and gender-expansive grassroots leaders, the report documents a pervasive culture of burnout, chronic stress, and personal sacrifice.

These leaders described being forced to overwork to fill the gaps left by persistent underfunding, often at the expense of their own physical and mental health. They are, as the report's title suggests, carrying the weight of their communities while simultaneously trying to lead change with a fraction of the resources available to their white and male-led counterparts.

The report also identifies structural barriers embedded within standard philanthropic practices that sideline these essential organizations. Complicated and time-consuming grant applications, reporting requirements that favor larger institutions, and reliance on exclusive, relationship-based funding networks create a system that is difficult, if not impossible, for under-resourced grassroots leaders to navigate. These practices prevent them from accessing the key resources needed to address vital community needs, from healthcare and employment equity to support for survivors of violence.

An Alarming Demographic Exodus

The report uncovers another disturbing trend that serves as a potential consequence of this ecosystem of neglect: a significant decline in the population of young Black women in Boston. Between 2018 and 2023, the city saw a 28% decrease in Black women aged 18-24 and a 19% decrease among those aged 25-34.

While the report does not draw a direct causal link, the data points to a city becoming less tenable for the very communities these underfunded organizations aim to serve. When support systems are starved of resources, and the leaders who reflect the community are themselves struggling to stay afloat, it contributes to an environment where young women of color may not see a future. This exodus raises critical questions about Boston's long-term health, equity, and ability to retain its diverse talent. The underinvestment in their dedicated support networks is an undeniable part of this challenging urban landscape.

A Blueprint for a More Equitable Future

Despite the grim findings, the report's authors frame it not as an indictment but as a call to action—a blueprint for redesigning a broken system. The Boston Women's Fund, which has championed equitable grantmaking for 40 years, is using the data to challenge the entire philanthropic sector to rethink its approach.

"We are living in extraordinary times. It's clear that carrying on with business-as-usual practices will continue to fail women and gender-expansive grassroots leaders of color. But thankfully, this flawed system can be redesigned," said Natanja Craig Oquendo, CEO of Boston Women's Fund, in a statement accompanying the report. "We're thinking differently about philanthropy, about how to be stronger partners to nonprofit leaders, and we're asking others in the sector to join us."

The report outlines several concrete recommendations for funders, institutions, and policymakers. These include:
* Providing multi-year, unrestricted grants to give organizations stability and flexibility.
* Reducing barriers in grantmaking by simplifying applications and reporting.
* Investing in organizational capacity, including leadership development and operational support.
* Sharing power with the community through participatory, community-led grantmaking committees.

The conversation is already underway, with the report being featured at a public convening at the UMass Club titled, "In This Moment: Women of Color Driving Change for Equity." The findings serve as a powerful tool for accountability and a guide for funders who are serious about advancing racial and gender justice, urging them to move beyond rhetoric and commit to tangible, equitable resource allocation.