Black History Month: Why stories, communities and legacy matter

But it can also be an opportunity for charities and fundraisers to think more deeply about whose stories we preserve, whose voices we amplify and who we are fundraising with and for.

We have seen first-hand the importance of this through our work with Black Cultural Archives (BCA).

Preserving stories that might otherwise be lost

Black Cultural Archives is dedicated to collecting, preserving and celebrating the histories of people of African and Caribbean descent in the UK.

Its work is about much more than preserving historical documents. It is about ensuring that experiences, achievements and contributions that might otherwise be overlooked become part of the history we all share.

Archives have an important role to play in this. What is collected, preserved and made accessible influences how future generations understand the past. It can challenge gaps in the historical record and provide people with the opportunity to see their own experiences reflected in the stories that are told.

That has a powerful connection to fundraising.

Understanding the people behind the cause

Good fundraising starts with understanding people.

Who are your supporters? What matters to them? What experiences have shaped their connection to your cause? And whose perspectives might be missing from the conversation?

These questions are particularly important for charities working with communities whose histories or experiences have not always received the recognition they deserve.

Authentic fundraising isn't about finding the right words for a particular awareness month. It is about building relationships, listening to people and understanding what motivates them to support your organisation.

Representation matters

For charities, representation isn't simply about who appears in a photograph or social media post.

It is also about whose stories are being told, who is involved in decision-making and whose experiences are reflected in your fundraising communications.

Black History Month provides a useful opportunity to look at these questions:

- Are you telling a genuinely representative story about your organisation?
- Are you listening to the communities you work with?
- Are people being given the opportunity to tell their own stories, in their own way?
- Are you building relationships that continue beyond a particular awareness day or month?

Moving beyond the awareness calendar

One of the challenges of awareness days and months is that organisations can sometimes feel pressure to say something simply because the calendar tells them to. But meaningful engagement shouldn't begin and end in October.

For charities, Black History Month can be a prompt to think about how Black history, voices and experiences are reflected throughout the year.

That might mean reviewing your communications, considering who you work with, developing stronger community relationships, looking at your fundraising audiences or exploring whether your organisation's history is being told from a sufficiently broad range of perspectives.

It can also mean supporting organisations whose purpose is specifically to preserve and amplify those stories.

What can fundraisers learn?

There are some important fundraising lessons here.

Listen before you communicate: Understanding your audience should come before deciding what you want to say. Take the time to listen to the people and communities connected to your cause.

Tell authentic stories: Stories are at the heart of great fundraising, but they should be told respectfully and, wherever possible, with the involvement and consent of the people whose experiences they represent.

Look at the bigger picture: A campaign focused on one awareness month shouldn't exist in isolation. Think about how your organisation demonstrates its values throughout the year.

Build genuine relationships: Community engagement shouldn't simply be a route to finding donors. Strong relationships are built on mutual respect, understanding and a shared interest in creating positive change.

Think about legacy: The work of organisations such as Black Cultural Archives reminds us that fundraising isn't only about generating income today. It can also help preserve knowledge, experiences and stories for generations to come.

A responsibility to keep listening

Black History Month is an important moment to celebrate and recognise Black history and the contribution of Black communities. For fundraisers, it can also be a reminder that the stories we choose to tell matter.

At IFCo, our work with organisations such as Black Cultural Archives has reinforced the importance of understanding the people behind a cause and helping organisations communicate their purpose in ways that are meaningful, respectful and authentic.

The challenge is not simply to find something to say during Black History Month. It is to keep listening, keep learning and keep asking: Whose story are we telling — and who needs to be part of telling it?

About International Fundraising Consultancy

At International Fundraising Consultancy, we work with charities and not-for-profit organisations to develop fundraising strategies, strengthen their income generation and build meaningful relationships with supporters.

Our consultants bring experience across a wide range of fundraising disciplines and work with organisations to develop approaches that are appropriate, practical and deliverable.