Non-profit

The Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI)

Website:

www.bwhi.org

Location:

Atlanta, GA

Tax ID:

58-1557556

Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2019):

Revenue: $2,770,138
Expenses: $2,853,261
Assets: $804,047

Type:

Nonprofit healthcare corporation

Founded:

1984 (granted nonprofit status in 1989)

President and CEO:

Linda Goler Blount

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

The Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI) was formed in 1984 to promote and protect health care for women and girls. BWHI’s founder, Byllye Avery, rose to prominence in the 1970s as a left-feminist scholar and founder of an abortion clinic. 1

BWHI continues advocating for abortion access and women’s health and has moved into broader left-of-center policy initiatives such as environmentalism, ending cash bail, global warming, government-funded abortion and mandatory contraception, and systemic racism. The group has accused health care workers of medical racism and bias affecting the health of black women.

History

The Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI) was formed in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1984 as the National Black Women’s Health Project. 2 The organization was founded by Byllye Avery, a former instructor at the University of Florida Department of Child Psychiatry. 3 In the 1970s, she and two other faculty members were known as the “feminist mafia” due to political activism. 4 In 1974, Avery and two others opened an abortion center in Gainesville, Florida. 5

After a 1983 Conference on Black Women’s Health issues, Avery founded the National Black Women’s Health Project in Atlanta. The National Women’s Health Project was designed to provide and promote affordable health care to black women in the Atlanta area. 6 As the organization grew, the name changed to BWHI and filed as a nonprofit corporation. 7 In 1990, BWHI opened an office in Washington, D.C., to affect public policy, advocate on health care issues, and maintain legalized abortion. 8

Views

Black Women’s Health Imperative’s main areas of focus have been general health care, maternity support, preventing diabetes, HIV prevention, standing against violence and sexual assault, allowing access to abortion, and health advocacy. 9 BWHI has moved to other social causes co-authoring a report with the left-leaning Natural Resources Defense Council on environmental justice and water equity. 10 The report states that climate change will be a large contributor to water issues and healthcare in the future. 11  BWHI supports legislation to fight perceived global warming, claiming that urban areas with large black populations and pregnant women will suffer from increased heat. 12

The organization recommends that programs be required, rather than encouraged, to promote LGBTQ youth in federally funded sex education programs. 13 BWHI supports and encourages ending cash bail for anyone arrested. 14 BWHI opposed the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court due to a perceived ideological viewpoint and called for a further FBI investigation into his background. 15

BWHI calls for increased Medicaid spending and expansion of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to enlarge government funding of healthcare. 16 BWHI continues to call for legalized and government-funded abortions, opposing any federal or state bans or limitations. 17 BWHI praised New York for requiring private insurers to provide up to 12 months of free contraceptives and cover medically necessary abortions. 18 BWHI wants contraceptives to be covered for everyone under the ACA with no religious or moral exemptions. 19 BWHI advocates that states codify a woman’s right to an abortion. 20

BWHI’s CEO, Linda Goler Blount, has stated that black women’s most significant health issue is deep-seated structural and systemic racism in healthcare. 21 Goler Blount stated, “there is greater understanding among the medical establishment that black women are made less healthy by medical racism and biases held by healthcare workers.” 22

Finances

The Black Women’s Health Imperative has total assets of $804,047. 23 According to tax returns, in 2019 BWHI recorded $2,770,138 in revenue and $2,853,261 in expenses. 24 Throughout its history, BWHI has received funding from left-leaning organizations such as Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, and Grantmakers for Girls of Color. 25 In 2021, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation awarded BWHI an initial grant of $1 million to create a Corporate Fairness Index to identify and evaluate corporations that are fair, equitable, and safe for black women. 26 In 2002, BWHI received an unspecified grant from MacKenzie Scott. 27

Leadership

Linda Goler Blount has been president and CEO of Black Women’s Health Imperative since 2014. 28 For three years previous, she was vice president of programmatic impact at the United Way of Greater Atlanta. 29 From 2004-2011, Goler Blount was national vice president for health disparities at the American Cancer Society. 30 She previously spent 7 years at the Coca-Cola Company on formula management and procurement. 31 From 1993-1997, Goler Blount was president of the William Foster group that provided health care consulting to ministers of finance and health in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. 32 She began her career at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an expert scientist. 33 She holds a MPH in epidemiology from the University of Michigan. 34

References

  1. Sinister Wisdom: A Multicultural Lesbian Literary & Art Journal. www.sinisterwisdom.org. Accessed April 8, 2022. http://www.sinisterwisdom.org/SW93Supplement/Parrish.
  2. Black Women’s Health Imperative website. www.bwhi.org. Accessed April 8, 2022. https://bwhi.org/our-story/
  3. Black Women’s Health Imperative website. www.bwhi.org. Accessed April 8, 2022. https://bwhi.org/our-story/; Sinister Wisdom: A Multicultural Lesbian Literary & Art Journal. www.sinisterwisdom.org. Accessed April 8, 2022. http://www.sinisterwisdom.org/SW93Supplement/Parrish.
  4. Sinister Wisdom: A Multicultural Lesbian Literary & Art Journal. www.sinisterwisdom.org. Accessed April 8, 2022. http://www.sinisterwisdom.org/SW93Supplement/Parrish; University of Florida. Florida NOW Archives. Accessed April 8, 2022. http://flnowarchive.rc.ufl.edu/wiki/Gainesville_Women%27s_Health_Center_and_Birthplace
  5.  Sinister Wisdom: A Multicultural Lesbian Literary & Art Journal. www.sinisterwisdom.org. Accessed April 8, 2022. http://www.sinisterwisdom.org/SW93Supplement/Parrish.
  6. Black Women’s Health Imperative website. www.bwhi.org. Accessed April 8, 2022. https://bwhi.org.
  7. Black Women’s Health Imperative website. www.bwhi.org. Accessed April 8, 2022. https://bwhi.org/our-story/; Black Women’s Health Imperative, Return of an Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2019.,
  8. Black Women’s Health Imperative website. www.bwhi.org. Accessed April 8, 2022. https://bwhi.org/our-story/.
  9. [1] Black Women’s Health Imperative website. www.bwhi.org. Accessed April 8, 2022. https://bwhi.org.
  10. Clean Water for All report. “Water, Health, and Equity.” Accessed April 8, 2022. http://3hqwxl1mqiah5r73r2q7zll1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/CWC_Report_Full_report_lowres.pdf.
  11. Clean Water for All report. “Water, Health, and Equity.” Accessed April 8, 2022. http://3hqwxl1mqiah5r73r2q7zll1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/CWC_Report_Full_report_lowres.pdf.
  12. Black Women’s Health Imperative National Policy Agenda. www.bwhi.org. October 2020. Accessed April 8, 2022. https://3hqwxl1mqiah5r73r2q7zll1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/BWHI_NHPA_2020-21.pdf.
  13. Black Women’s Health Imperative National Policy Agenda. www.bwhi.org. October 2020. Accessed April 8, 2022. https://3hqwxl1mqiah5r73r2q7zll1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/BWHI_NHPA_2020-21.pdf.
  14. Black Women’s Health Imperative National Policy Agenda. www.bwhi.org. October 2020. Accessed April 8, 2022. https://3hqwxl1mqiah5r73r2q7zll1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/BWHI_NHPA_2020-21.pdf.
  15. Black Women’s Health Imperative press release. www.bwhi.org. September 28, 2018. Accessed April 8, 2022. https://bwhi.org/2018/09/28/bwhi-statement-on-delayed-vote-and-fbi-investigation-of-brett-kavanaugh-to-the-supreme-court/.
  16. Black Women’s Health Imperative National Policy Agenda. www.bwhi.org. October 2020. Accessed April 8, 2022. https://3hqwxl1mqiah5r73r2q7zll1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/BWHI_NHPA_2020-21.pdf.
  17. Black Women’s Health Imperative website, www.bwhi.org. “Repealing Hyde Isn’t Enough, But It’s a Great First Step.” October 6, 2016. Accessed April 8, 2022. https://bwhi.org/2016/10/06/repealing-hyde-isnt-enough-great-first-step/.
  18. Black Women’s Health Imperative website. www.bwhi.org. Accessed April 8, 2022. https://bwhi.org/policy-development/.
  19. Black Women’s Health Imperative National Policy Agenda. www.bwhi.org. October 2020. Accessed April 8, 2022. https://3hqwxl1mqiah5r73r2q7zll1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/BWHI_NHPA_2020-21.pdf.
  20. Black Women’s Health Imperative National Policy Agenda. www.bwhi.org. October 2020. Accessed April 8, 2022. https://3hqwxl1mqiah5r73r2q7zll1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/BWHI_NHPA_2020-21.pdf
  21. Brathwaite, Lauren. “Linda Goler Blount, President and CEO, Black Women’s Health Imperative.” Philanthropy News Digest. July 20, 2021. Accessed April 8, 2022. https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/features/5-questions-for/linda-goler-blount-president-and-ceo-black-women-s-health-imperative.
  22. Brathwaite, Lauren. “Linda Goler Blount, President and CEO, Black Women’s Health Imperative.” Philanthropy News Digest. July 20, 2021. Accessed April 8, 2022. https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/features/5-questions-for/linda-goler-blount-president-and-ceo-black-women-s-health-imperative.
  23. Black Women’s Health Imperative, Return of an Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2019.
  24.  Black Women’s Health Imperative, Return of an Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2019.
  25. Black Women’s Health Imperative website. www.bwhi.org. Accessed April 8, 2022. https://bwhi.org/partners/.
  26. Black Women’s Health Imperative press release. “Black Women’s Health Imperative Launches National Workplace Equity Initiative to Combat Workplace Inequities and Health Disparities.” September 22, 2021. Accessed April 8, 2022. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/black-womens-health-imperative-launches-national-workplace-equity-initiative-to-combat-workplace-inequities-and-health-disparities-301382441.html.
  27. MacKenzie Scott Medium. www.medium.com. Accessed April 11, 2022. https://mackenzie-scott.medium.com/helping-any-of-us-can-help-us-all-f4c7487818d9.
  28. Linda Goler Blount LinkedIn profile. www.linkedin.com. Accessed April 8, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindablount.
  29. Linda Goler Blount LinkedIn profile. www.linkedin.com. Accessed April 8, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindablount.
  30. Linda Goler Blount LinkedIn profile. www.linkedin.com. Accessed April 8, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindablount.
  31. Linda Goler Blount LinkedIn profile. www.linkedin.com. Accessed April 8, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindablount.
  32. Linda Goler Blount LinkedIn profile. www.linkedin.com. Accessed April 8, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindablount.
  33. Linda Goler Blount LinkedIn profile. www.linkedin.com. Accessed April 8, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindablount.
  34. Linda Goler Blount LinkedIn profile. www.linkedin.com. Accessed April 8, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindablount.
  See an error? Let us know!

Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: August 1, 1984

  • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2019 Dec Form 990 $2,770,138 $2,853,261 $804,047 $703,479 N $2,620,395 $0 $0 $207,570 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $2,728,054 $2,972,477 $588,032 $686,546 N $2,702,954 $0 $0 $357,570 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $3,013,531 $3,094,794 $747,303 $601,394 N $2,957,504 $0 $0 $220,458 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $2,860,451 $2,529,623 $712,157 $215,080 N $2,700,257 $0 $0 $203,499 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $1,393,613 $1,734,482 $333,602 $319,476 N $1,378,562 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $1,969,258 $1,863,249 $212,867 $225,379 N $1,789,449 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $1,279,296 $1,316,634 $107,719 $226,240 N $1,210,631 $68,627 $38 $187,690 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $1,207,283 $1,173,459 $108,760 $189,943 N $1,152,123 $55,084 $76 $0 PDF
    2010 Dec Form 990 $1,193,156 $1,154,710 $90,044 $205,052 N $1,149,760 $43,319 $77 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    The Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI)

    384 Northyards Blvd, NW Building 100 Suite 190
    Atlanta, GA