Black-led Joy and Wellness Fund
Supporting staff well-being at Black-led organizations
Launched in 2021, the Black-Led Joy and Wellness Fund and the REPAIR framework were created as part of the Blueprint for Impact, Seattle Foundation’s North Star. By following the Blueprint for Impact, Seattle Foundation is on a path to invest in community-led strategies and elevate the capacity of nonprofits and leaders to successfully transform systems.
Many staff at Black-led organizations are on the verge of burnout after years of responding to the twin pandemics of COVID-19 and anti-Black racism. Often, these smaller organizations don’t have the resources to provide paid time off to staff or reimbursement for wellness activities such as rest or sabbaticals. The Black-Led Joy and Wellness Fund is one approach Seattle Foundation has taken to center the importance of wellbeing among these organizations and their staff — allowing them to take a collective deep breath.
In close partnership with the Black-Led Organization Cohort, also known as the BLOC, 29 organizations collectively received $540,000 from the Black-Led Joy and Wellness Fund in 2021, and 22 organizations received $435,000 in 2022. These 50+ organizations received another joy and wellness grant in 2025 to support the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of staff at these Black-led organizations.