About
Common Future is a San Francisco-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to close the racial wealth gap in the United States. The organization notes that generations of Black and Indigenous communities and other communities of color have been locked out of wealth and power, and it works to restore economic power to communities across lines of difference. Its stated vision is a future where all people, no matter their race and class, have power, choice, and ownership over the economy.
Mission
Common Future is building a future where all people have power, choice, and ownership over the economy. The organization fights for a world where all communities across racial differences have the economic independence and power to steward their own restoration and healing. It has been working to close the racial wealth gap for over 20 years.
What they do
Common Future drives change through four interconnected approaches:
- Incubate: launching and supporting field-defining initiatives that advance racial and economic equity
- Co-create: working alongside community-centered initiatives to bolster their capacity, taking an active role as a designer and developer with partners
- Fund: building a just model of investing that shifts power to community leaders, organizing and distributing funding to support partners and their solutions (the organization does not offer grants)
- Influence: uplifting the models it incubates, co-creates, and funds through policy work, partnerships, coalitions, funder advisory services, events, and original content
Program pages on its website include an accelerator, Community Credit Lab, a policy incubator, and equitable fundraising initiatives.
Scale and impact
According to its website, Common Future has catalyzed more than 90 initiatives, sourced more than 500 community-led solutions, and influenced $280 million in philanthropic dollars.
Financials
Per its IRS Form 990 data on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer for the fiscal year ending December 2024, Common Future reported revenue of $5,785,475, expenses of $8,013,919, and net assets of $16,919,835. Contributions made up roughly 80 percent of revenue. The IRS granted its tax exemption in October 2005.
Governance
Common Future describes itself as multiracial and women-led, with a staff and board that are majority people of color. The organization is led by three co-CEOs: Sandhya Nakhasi, Jennifer Njuguna, and Jessica Feingold.