Black By God Mobilizes Community to Offset 350,000 Funding Loss

This article was originally published by The Pivot Fund, an organization helping funders identify, invest in and support hyperlocal news outlets at scale, to create significant local, state and national impact.

From funding loss to community action: Lessons from Black By God
Black By God, a Pivot grantee, recently lost a $350,000 federal grant tied to its agriculture reporting. The cuts were part of a broader USDA funding pullback, with officials citing opposition to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

But BBG hasn’t scaled back. They’ve mobilized.

The outlet launched a $100,000 community campaign on May 2 anchored by a 24-hour live podcast-a-thon on a houseboat — bringing community voices, storytelling, and fundraising together in real time. The effort has already raised over $13,000 and continues to build momentum.

For many community publishers, funding cuts — particularly those tied to anti-DEI rollbacks — are not new. But BBG’s response offers a creative and actionable approach:

Turn fundraising into community engagement (think live events, storytelling, shared spaces)

Be transparent about the stakes—and invite your community into the solution: Live streams can be played in local businesses and reshared across socials

Leverage partnerships and matching funds to build momentum

Center your mission: show people exactly what their support makes possible

In a moment of shrinking funding and growing pressure, BBG shows that sustainability isn’t just about replacing lost revenue — it’s about activating the community that already believes in the work.