#GivingTuesday

ACCOUNTABILITY CANNOT WAIT.
Give with eyes wide open.

On this Giving Tuesday, generosity is everywhere—and so are the glossy campaigns designed to inspire it. But now more than ever, we must ask critical questions about the organizations we support and the values they truly embody. Don’t be distracted by well-crafted campaigns, polished messaging, inspirational quotes, or performative taglines.

Too often, the very institutions that serve survivors are causing harm behind closed doors, especially to Black women, femmes, and gender-expansive people working within them. While some organizations present a progressive public image, their internal cultures tell a different story. Staff walk on eggshells. Leadership turnover is constant. Boards fail to hold executives accountable. And Black employees who raise concerns often face retaliation or silent exile.

This is not hypothetical. These aren't distant or rare occurrences. They are painfully familiar to many of us. As a Black woman who has navigated the gender-based violence movement for nearly three decades, I have seen and experienced these realities firsthand.

The stories are plenty.
Organizations proclaim racial equity and issue public statements about inclusion, yet internally the environments are harmful and toxic, especially for Black people.

So yes, give. Yes, support. But give with intention.
And ask for receipts—literally and figuratively.

As a donor, you have the right to ask tough questions. You have the right to know how your contributions are being used, and whether they align with your values:

• At the grassroots level: What outcomes are they achieving? Who is being reached? What is actually changing? Ask for stories, along with the numbers.

• At statewide and national levels: Who is in leadership? Who holds real decision-making power? What is their track record on inclusion and equity as it related to programs, policies, and internal culture? Look beyond curated social posts and messaging campaigns.

• On all levels, ask about staff turnover and workplace culture: Are people thriving or simply surviving? What would the last 5–10 Black and Brown staff who left say if they felt safe to speak out?

• Pay close attention to how Black women and gender-expansive people are treated: Are they supported or silenced? Are they empowered to lead, or kept in "their place" with performative, symbolic titles and roles?

This moment calls for more than charity.
It calls for accountability.
It calls for collective care.

How advocates are treated inside these organizations matters just as much as the justice and equity we fight for outside of them.

If your values are rooted in racial equity, liberation, and the well-being of Black people, I encourage you to consider supporting the following Black-led organizations doing transformative work: Ujima: The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community; National Organization of Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Violence; eleven24; Girls for Gender Equity; the Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective (BEAM); Resonance Network; and Social Justice Fund NW.

These organizations unapologetically center Black leadership, honor the strength and resilience within our communities, and challenge systemic harm 24/7/365. I’ve seen and experienced their efforts firsthand, and they are truly deserving of your support.

The national organizations can also connect you to grassroots, boots-on-the-ground, groups ensuring your donations reach the communities most impacted.

This is not an exhaustive list—just a recommended starting point.

This #GivingTuesday let’s move beyond blind support and embrace bold discernment. Let’s ensure our dollars, praise, and partnerships reflect our core values not just about ending violence, but about transforming the systems that enable it.

Your money, time, and resources are your power.
Use them to hold the mainstream movement against gender-based violence accountable, for the future of those we serve and for the integrity of the movement we love.

Support—but with eyes wide open.
Because equity and integrity, not empty intentions, will sustain and propel this movement forward.

*This piece is an excerpt from the forthcoming report, Support With Eyes Wide Open: Demanding Accountability in the Gender-Based Violence Movement, scheduled for release in early 2026.