The Future We Weave: Community Investments in Black Sustainable Futures
An Invitation for Our Community
One question bftn hears often is: "How can I support bftn?" There are many ways that our community already supports us: through voting for our short documentary Woven From Nature that won the Wildseeds Impact Media Award. To sharing and watching our member profiles on our Youtube. Attending our members' workshops and events. We are so grateful for all of the support we already receive.
Still, the question of how folks can support bftn is ongoing and evolving. This summer we have another answer and it is our annual summer giving initiative called The Future We Weave. We can't wait for all the conditions to be right to invest in our members and our vision. We've made it this far because of a community that believes in what's possible and a handful of funders who have supported our mission. But as the saying goes: if you want to go far, go together. We want to go far!
We are inviting our community to continue investing in Black regenerative futures through The Future We Weave. This is our annual summer giving initiative, running every year through 2030. This work is multi-year and multi-generational. Our goal is to raise $50,000 by the end of this year. Next year we’ll have a different goal. Can you commit to supporting us once a year, every summer, until 2030?
Why We're Launching This Initiative
Today's philanthropy landscape is precarious, and funder trends shift every couple of years. Our vision is bigger than philanthropy so we know we know relying solely on grants isn't enough to sustain long-term work. This year we are expanding the ways we support our operations and our members. We are not waiting to be saved, we are saving ourselves with the help of our community who has been there supporting us from the start. We believe that building regenerative ecosystems requires consistent investment over time. We recognize that there will not be a perfect time to build the future we want, so we are pooling our resources to build that infrastructure now through our growing membership and aligned partnerships.
Since our inception in December of 2023 we have been creating pathways that support the livelihoods and lifeways of Black people working with regenerative fibers, plant dyes, and sustainable textiles. Our members span the entire ecosystem from farmers to fiber processors, emerging manufacturers, natural dyers, weavers, designers, and artists. All committed to creating and producing in reverence of the earth and each other. Our members' work is grounded in culture, climate, and community. These are pillars for more sustainable outcomes.
The Future We Weave supports bftn's overall operations, making the organization's broader work possible. This involves responding to members needs by being flexible with our support as members and opportunities evolve. This includes cultivating collaborations between members andbuilding relationships across regional and national fiber networks. We connect members with one another and strategic partners. The relationships we cultivate are our infrastructure in lieu of actual infrastructure–as we work to develop the systems, resources, and capacity we need for Black regenerative ecosystems to thrive.
Through our work we fund community workshops, events and gatherings that our members facilitate and curate; product development and technical assistance; material exchange and subsidization; collaborations across supply networks; and uplifting our members' work through storytelling and media. The work to build and sustain Black regenerative futures is long-term, so it requires long-term commitments. Every summer, the community helps build the next season of the work.
Every Gift Matters
Every donation—whether $20 or $2,000—moves the work forward. Small gifts collectively become powerful investments in Black regenerative futures. Small ripples turn into powerful waves. We are grateful for a donation at any and all levels. This campaign goes towards our operations, which helps us to do the work that supports our members to thrive. Feel free to ask your employer if they’ll match your donation. Share this initiative with friends, family, and anyone else who believes in what we’re doing. Grow with us. Help bftn cultivate the roots we need to rise!
