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Funding and Financing of Black, African, and Afrodiasporic Organizing in Germany: An Overview

Black, African, and Afrodiasporic organizations carry out indispensable democratic work – yet operate under precarious conditions. This study is the first to systematically examine their funding and financing realities: Over 60% struggle with structural underfunding, and two-thirds encounter barriers in funding processes. The study identifies root causes and formulates concrete recommendations for action.

Project Information

  • Conducted as part of the Cooperation Network against Racism
  • Project duration: since January 2025
  • Funded by the Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth

Methodology

  • 12 qualitative interviews with representatives of Black organizations
  • 5 interviews with funding institutions
  • 37 organizations in quantitative online survey
  • Data collection: 2025 | Publication: 2026

Key Findings

1. High Relevance – Structural Precarity

  • 86.5% of organizations founded by Black people
  • 75.7% work in community-based and participatory ways
  • Fields of work: empowerment, education, political work, culture, memory work

2. The Fit Problem

  • Projects fall between funding categories: too artistic for social funding, too cultural for arts funding
  • Black organizing is often only placed in the migration/integration category

3. The Professionalism Paradox

Small actors are viewed from a deficit perspective: “not professional enough.” Yet community proximity and direct impact receive little recognition. Structural causes of resource scarcity are reinterpreted as individual professionalism deficits.

Recommendation

Coordinated initiative for the promotion of Black, African, and Afrodiasporic organizing – modeled on Canada’s Black Entrepreneurship Program

Citation

Mouhamed, J., Gyamerah, D., Yıldırım-Caliman, D., & Bremberger, T. (2026). Funding and Financing of Black, African, and Afrodiasporic Organizing in Germany: An Overview. Center for Data-driven Empowerment, Leadership and Advocacy (zedela) & Each One Teach One (EOTO) e. V. https://zedela.org/publikationen/foerderung-schwarzer-organisierung/

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