Black Health Equity: 6 Black-Led Organizations Making a Difference

Black-led organizations are driving vital progress in the public health of their communities. And they’re not just participating in the conversation. They’re leading the charge to close the health equity gap for Black Americans.

These organizations are working against long-standing inequities and systemic barriers in America that have prevented fair access to care. This has led to significant health disparities. Via grassroots efforts, they’re carving pathways to a future of Black health equity.

Below, we spotlight six Black-led organizations committed to this cause.

1. Black Women’s Health Imperative

Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI) is a national nonprofit that was founded in 1983 by Byllye Y. Avery. It’s one of the earliest initiatives to address the health disparities Black women experience. Since its inception, BWHI has played a crucial role in driving policy change.

BWHI focuses on a wide range of health issues that disproportionately affect Black women. These include reproductive and metabolic health, among others. Examples of BWHI wellness programs include:

• N.O.U.R.I.S.H. Doula Program: A 12-month doula training program supporting Black families from preconception to postpartum.

• Change Your Lifestyle, Change Your Life: A 12-month CDC-approved program for Black women that helps prevent Type 2 diabetes through lifestyle changes.

• Rare Disease Diversity Coalition: A coalition of healthcare professionals, advocates, and industry leaders who help address health disparities related to rare diseases in diverse communities.

• 1 Million, 1 Season: An initiative encouraging Black women to receive regular preventive screenings, such as mammograms. They also provide tools for finding screening locations.

Read more like this

Explore these related articles, suggested for readers like you.

The Black Transgender Community Is Disproportionately Impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic, Research Shows

Health Insurers Are Beginning to Include Coverage for Healthy Foods. Could It Save Lives?

View more

Want to get involved with BWHI? You can make a donation, start a fundraiser, or partner with the organization. You can also sign up to receive emails from BWHI for news and announcements.

2. The Black AIDS Institute (BAI)

The Black AIDS Institute (BAI) focuses on addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic within Black communities. Founded in 1999, BAI has been instrumental in combating the disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDs on Black individuals.

BAI is committed to reducing healthcare disparities in several ways. These include mobilizing Black people and institutions, engaging with the Black community, and helping people find HIV treatment and prevention services. The organization offers multiple programs, services, and resources, including:

• B-SEC BHIVE: This initiative works to expand and diversify the HIV workforce in partnership with colleges and universities. The curriculum provides training, mentorship, and professional development to those interested in HIV prevention, care, and advocacy.

• Black Women and PrEP Toolkit: This toolkit contains posters, brochures, and other resources about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) created for and by Black women.

Interested in getting involved with BAI? You can make a donation, sign up for BAI updates, volunteer, and more. You can also check BAI’s job page for open positions within the organization.

3. The Center for Black Health & Equity

The Center for Black Health & Equity was initially founded in 2000 as the National African American Tobacco Prevention Network. Its original mission was to address tobacco-related death and disease in Black communities. Since then, these efforts have expanded to include HIV/AIDS, health and food literacy, and institutional racism. 

They also conduct research on the root causes of Black health disparities in the U.S. The organization works to reduce these disparities through policy advocacy, community engagement, and education. Examples of these strategies in action include:

• Urging early cancer screenings

• Encouraging people to test for HIV

• Helping people quit smoking

• Training community leaders in equity-centered policies

• Providing resources for how to spot and address misinformation found online

Want to stay up to date on The Center for Black Health & Equity events, webinars, and news? You can subscribe to their newsletter. Donations are another way to support the organization.

4. The Loveland Foundation

The Loveland Foundation was established in 2018 by Rachel Cargle. The foundation focuses on mental health care access for Black women and girls.

The Loveland Therapy Fund is the foundation’s signature program. It offers financial assistance for therapy sessions with licensed therapists. Since 2019, over 150,000 hours of therapy have been provided through the fund.

The foundation also helps find culturally competent healthcare professionals for their clients. In doing so, they've partnered with Zencare, Therapy for Black Girls, and Black Female Therapists. However, any therapist in the U.S. may choose to accept therapy vouchers from the fund.

Interested in applying for the Loveland Therapy Fund? You can sign up here. Other ways you can get involved include becoming a fundraiser or making a donation.

5. National Black Nurses Association

The National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) is a professional organization dedicated to advancing the health and wellness of Black communities. Established in 1971, the NBNA represents over 200,000 Black nurses and nursing students across North America and Africa.

The NBNA champions policies and practices that promote equitable access to quality healthcare. This work includes increasing the representation of Black nurses in healthcare leadership and promoting culturally competent care practices.

Examples of NBNA strategies include:

• Education and training: Scholarships, mentoring programs, and continuing education opportunities. These programs support the professional development of Black nurses and nursing students.

• Community outreach: Partnerships with local organizations and community leaders. Through them, NBNA provides health screenings, education, and resources to underserved communities.

• Policy change: Annual forums focused on health policy, as part of National Black Nurses Day on Capitol Hill.

Are you a nurse or nursing student interested in becoming a member of NBNA? You can sign up here. And if you don’t have a local NBNA chapter to join, you can start your own.

6. Color of Gastrointestinal Illnesses

The Color of Gastrointestinal Illnesses (COGI) is a nonprofit founded by Melodie Narain-Blackwell. It aims to improve health equity and quality of life for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). Primarily, COGI focuses on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other chronic GI illnesses.

COGI’s vision is for an equitable and anti-racist healthcare system to be available for all. The foundation works toward its mission through education, research, community, and advocacy.

• Education: Offering on-campus seminars to educate students on digestive health, preventative healthcare, and how to advocate for themselves and others. COGI also hosts an annual Equity in GI conference.

• Research: Addressing the lack of diversity in clinical trials by encouraging BIPOC individuals to become participants. COGI has also partnered with institutions such as the Morehouse School of Medicine on research initiatives.

• Community: Offering community and support groups, such as The Huddle and Together IBD, for people to share their experiences

• Advocacy: Pushing for health equity, care access, and IBD-related legislation at all levels of government.

Are you interested in getting involved with COGI? Learn more here. And if you or someone you care for are living with IBD, you can sign up to be a COGI member for free. You can also sign up to be a COGI ambassador. Donations are another way you can support the foundation.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Tyler Frank, MS

Tyler Frank is a PhD student in the Public Health Sciences program at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. He received his Master of Science in Applied Health Behavior Research at the Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine.

Edited by:

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD, is the director of pharmacy content for GoodRx. She has over a decade of experience as a pharmacist and has worked in clinical, academic, and administrative roles.

Reviewed by:

Karla Robinson, MD

Karla Robinson, MD, is a medical editor for GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified family physician with almost 20 years of experience in health through varied clinical, administrative, and educational roles.

Our editorial standards

Meet our experts