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Black Male Advancement seeks level FY26 funding; plans grants, data study and program expansion
Summary
The city's Office of Black Male Advancement requested level funding for FY26 and described grantmaking, a multi-phase equity study and youth programs, while councilors pressed for metrics and partnership expansion.
City Councilors heard April 28 from Frank Farrow, executive director of the Office of Black Male Advancement, on the office's FY26 budget request and program outcomes.
"Our mission is to improve outcomes and reduce systemic barriers to advancement for black men and boys living in the city of Boston," Farrow said, describing the office's six priority areas including economic opportunity, housing and pathways to homeownership, education and youth advancement, public health and wellness, fatherhood and families, and returning citizens.
The office's FY26 request recommends level funding with a total recommended budget of $2,000,000. Farrow detailed three specific line items referenced in the presentation: $125,000 proposed for the phase 2 of an equity study, $25,000 for stipends to commissioners of the Black Men and Boys Commission, and roughly $700,000 allocated within Boston Public Schools (BPS) to support My Brother's Keeper programming.
Farrow said the office's My Brother's Keeper programs have served more than 1,000 young Black males and reported an 87 percent graduation-and-college-continuation rate among students connected to the program. The office also reported distributing roughly $500,000 annually in community grants; last year the program funded 63 organizations and reached about 14,000 individuals, while this year it funded 53 organizations. Farrow said the office has opened technical-assistance programs to over 100 community organizations to strengthen capacity and increase future funding competitiveness.
Councilors asked how progress will be measured. Farrow said the equity study and a planned public data dashboard will centralize metrics and help track outcomes across city departments; phase 1 of the study is expected to be released in months and phase 2 will yield actionable recommendations.
Councilors also asked about stipends for the Black Men and Boys Commission. Farrow said stipends will begin July 1 and are set at $1,200 per commissioner per year; the budget includes a $25,000 allocation for that purpose.
Farrow said the office is seeking to maximize impact through partnerships and technical assistance rather than expanding the number of small programs, and officials signaled plans to pursue philanthropic and matching partnerships to deepen grant dollars where possible.
No vote was taken; officials provided information for the council's FY26 budget deliberations.
