Community Bail Funds by State
As protests for George Floyd and Black Lives Matter spring up across the country, arrests do as well. If you are unable to show up but want to support protestors, covering their bail is an amazing way to do so. Bail funds recycle bail, so your donation can help multiple people. For more info as to the good community bail funds do, take some time to look at:
Unable to Post Bail? You Will Pay for That for Many Years
This list includes both actual nonprofits that have served areas where protests are taking place and GoFundMe/other fundraising pages created in recent days to support bail for protesters specifically. It does not include bail funds used to pay immigration bail, just pre-trial. As an FYI: most GoFundMe pages and the like have not stated what they will do with the money once bail has been paid (bail is recyclable). GoFundMe also has a 2.9% + $0.30 fee for all donations.
Many of the organizations have a large focus on bailing out inmates due to the pandemic or are specific to certain counties/jails, and it can’t be guaranteed that your funds will directly go to bailing out those arrested for protesting. Nonetheless, these are locally led and serve communities of color for the most part.
I compiled this list using resources like the National Bail Fund Network, The Bail Project, resources shared on Twitter, and my own searches. I only included what I could find on the internet, from organizations’ own websites/social media and other platforms that reference them, and have only made a few attempts to contact individual funds.
Due to time constraints, I was only able to vet each organization through a quick 5-10 minute read through of their websites or social media. I didn’t include funds whose only available online resource was a PayPal/Venmo/donation page, but did include recently created donation pages whose stated purpose was bailing out protesters specifically. Many PayPal pages reported on Twitter to be local BLM chapters/other bail funds are therefore not included, but I am currently trying to confirm that they are legitimate via email/DM. Some can be found here. As with all donating, I highly recommend quickly familiarizing yourself with your chosen organization to ensure that your dollar will have the impact you want.
If you know of any other bail funds that are focused on bailing out protestors, please DM me with a link. If there’s any reason as to why anyof these organizations should not be promoted or the information below is inaccurate, please also DM. You can find me on Twitter (@nyboasberg) and Instagram (@nola.jpeg).
For other good organizations, please look at this other list I’ve compiled, focusing mostly on Twin Cities and Denver. Please add any local, grassroots organizations in your area that are actively fighting for racial, social, and economic justice.
(currently looking for people who’ve compiled ways to help Black-owned businesses!! DM if you have them!!)
Ways to Help by @Seanwineman on Twitter
Includes petitions, places to text, call & donate, additional resources, and info for protesters.
FANTASY WORLD MASTER LIST OF RESOURCES ON HOW TO DISMANTLE SYSTEMIC RACISM
One of the most comprehensive resources I’ve come across, and includes almost everything you could want. If you’re looking for more, start here.
If you want to donate:
85+ bail funds organized by city/jurisdiction specifically for protesters, law firms supporting protesters w/ contact info.
Includes places to donate (mostly bail funds), reading lists for non-Black allies, resources for protesters, mental health resources, and Black/POC people to follow on social media.
Includes relevant events, petitions, places to donate (GoFundMe, bail funds, organizations, and individuals), information for protesters including legal resources, education resources, information regarding specific cases of police brutality, and other resources.
Includes lots of places to donate (bail funds and nonprofits), relevant articles and literature, petitions, food banks, mental health resources, and other resources. Spanish version linked within doc.
Includes lots of petitions, educational resources, Twitter threads, donation organizations, police complaint scripts, zip codes for international donors, and legal advice.
PETITIONS + DONATIONS by @yanliism on Twitter
In addition to petitions and donation sites, it also includes Canadian representatives to contact.
Resources for demanding justice for George Floyd
Includes articles on police accountability and places to donate to help Minneapolis specifically, as well as bail funds, GoFundMes, racial justice orgs, petitions, and education resources.
Resources for Bailout Funds, Anti-Racism, Accountability, and Supporting Black Lives
Includes bail funds, resources & actions specific to George Floyd, BLM orgs, and resources to demand justice for Ahmaud and Breonna.
National Resource List #GeorgeFloyd+
Includes legal advice, places to donate, tips for protesters and social media tips.
FUNDRAISING/PETITION/TRANS RESOURCE DOC
Includes bail funds, petitions, and resources targeted at the Black trans community (where to donate & organizations)
If you’re a protester:
National Resource List #GeorgeFloyd+
Includes legal advice, places to donate, tips for protesters and social media tips.
Includes lots of petitions, educational resources, Twitter threads, donation organizations, police complaint scripts, zip codes for international donors, and legal advice.
Ways to Help by @Seanwineman on Twitter
Includes petitions, places to text, call & donate, additional resources, and info for protesters.
85+ bail funds organized by city/jurisdiction specifically for protesters, law firms supporting protesters w/ contact info.
Includes relevant events, petitions, places to donate (GoFundMe, bail funds, organizations, and individuals), information for protesters including legal resources, education resources, information regarding specific cases of police brutality, and other resources.
How to Protect Yourself Against Tear Gas, Pepper Spray
USA Today article detailing what tear gas and pepper spray are, how they are dispersed, what symptoms to expect, and how to treat it.
US Youth Climate Strike’s BLM Actions Database
Nationwide protest and action list compiled by US Youth Climate Strike.
If you want to help but don’t have $$ and can’t protest:
Stream to Donate BLM Youtube Video
100% of ad revenue will be donated to Black Lives Matter & associated bail funds. Don’t skip the ads! Want more? Here’s a Twitter thread of a whole bunch of videos doing the same thing!
BLM Neighborhood Handout Template
A template for handouts to distribute in your neighborhood, made by those in Denver but the information can easily be changed to fit your own location. This is a great way to reach those who don’t actively consume social media, especially if you live in predominantly wealthy neighborhoods!
FUNDRAISING/PETITION/TRANS RESOURCE DOC
Includes bail funds, petitions, and resources targeted at the Black trans community (where to donate & organizations)
Includes lots of places to donate (bail funds and nonprofits), relevant articles and literature, petitions, food banks, mental health resources, and other resources. Spanish version linked within doc.
Includes lots of petitions, educational resources, Twitter threads, donation organizations, police complaint scripts, zip codes for international donors, and legal advice.
PETITIONS + DONATIONS by @yanliism on Twitter
In addition to petitions and donation sites, it also includes Canadian representatives to contact.
Resources for demanding justice for George Floyd
Includes articles on police accountability and places to donate to help Minneapolis specifically, as well as bail funds, GoFundMes, racial justice orgs, petitions, and education resources.
Resources for Bailout Funds, Anti-Racism, Accountability, and Supporting Black Lives
Includes bail funds, resources & actions specific to George Floyd, BLM orgs, and resources to demand justice for Ahmaud and Breonna.
Crowdsourced letters to select counties and cities asking to defund the police.
Email templates to defund and reform the police that contain comprehensive policy demands.
Email templates demanding justice for nonwhite victims of police violence
If you want literature & media:
Literally an entire library of Black authors and philosophers, multiple free ebooks!!! Check it out!!!
Includes background info for why protests are happening, explains philosophy behind ACAB and why “All Lives Matter” isn’t helpful, donation & petition links, contact info for Minneapolis public officials, steps to take instead of calling the cops, and other resources.
Educate Ourselves so White People Don't Have To: An Attempt at a Public Syllabus
150 sources, including books, poetry, essays, movies, podcasts, and other forms of media, as well as Black-owned bookstores and book clubs.
A day-by-day, week-by-week syllabus chock-full of things to read, listen to, watch, and action items.
If you want to support Black businesses:
A global marketplace for Black-owned businesses (think Amazon but exclusively Black-owned businesses) that also serves as a forum and organizing platform for social, racial, and economic justice.
An extremely comprehensive directory of Black US businesses in every major US city. They also have a Canadian and UK site.