Netflix donates $5 million to support black organizations

Netflix will donate $5 million to support organizations that create long-term opportunities for entertainment creators, youth and businesses in the black community.

To help black creators develop more television and film stories, the streaming service will share $1.5 million in donations between Ghetto Film School, Film Independent Project Involve, Firelight Media, Black Public Media and other Black-focused organizations.

“Tackling racism and injustice in meaningful ways means creating long-term opportunities for the Black community,” said Reed Hastings, CEO, Netflix.

“The main role we play is through our funding of and member viewing of important content like ‘When They See Us.’ As an additional step, today we’re committing $5 million to nonprofits dedicated to creating direct opportunities for Black creators, Black youth and Black-owned businesses.”

Netflix is donating $1 million in grants to black youth organizations, including Know Your Rights Camp, The Posse Foundation and Black Girls Code. It is pledging $500,000 to black-owned businesses in Los Angeles that have been economically hurt by the coronavirus pandemic.

The company is also matching 200% of its employees’ donations to charitable causes.

Netflix will announce the benefactors of the remaining $2 million soon. New initiatives to support long-term opportunities for the black community should follow in the coming months. The streaming service also updated its list of genres with a Black Lives Matter category. Two of its series - “When They See Us” and “Dear White People” - saw large increases in viewership following the police killing of George Floyd.

Netflix has a history of donating to important causes. The company created a $100 million fund to help film and TV industry employees affected by productions canceled or postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. It also pledged to pay talent guarantees to cast members affected by the shutdown of film and TV productions.