Boeing invests $10.6 million to support racial equity and social justice

The grants are focused on increasing the number of minority and underserved students pursuing STEM education and diversifying the aerospace talent pipeline

August 28, 2020 in Community

Today, on the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Boeing announced $10.6 million in grant funding to 20 nonprofits working to address racial equity and social justice in the United States. The grants are focused on increasing the number of minority and underserved students pursuing science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and diversifying the aerospace talent pipeline. Grant dollars will also fund programs that work to address criminal justice reform and health care gaps in underserved and minority communities.

“At Boeing, we acknowledge the toll that systemic racism and social injustice have had on people of color, particularly Black communities here in the United States,” said David Calhoun, Boeing president and CEO. “As we work internally to confront these issues, we also remain focused on addressing the causes and impacts of racism and social inequality in the communities where our employees live and work. With today’s financial commitment to this group of nonprofit partners, we are hopeful that together, we can begin to make real advances in our ongoing pursuit of equality.”

Nonprofits receiving grant funding include:


These grants build on Boeing’s history of partnering with organizations that provide access to and address inequities in communities of color. Over the past five years, Boeing has invested more than $120 million to support underserved communities – including racial equity and social justice programs – across the United States.

In addition to the grant announcements, the Boeing Black Employees Association (BBEA) organized several events to celebrate the March on Washington and further the mission of racial equity and equality at Boeing.

“The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was a historic moment for our country, and it’s important that we continue learning from and building on the work of those civil rights leaders,” said Chinyere Udoh, an electrical systems design engineer and current enterprise vice president of BBEA. “Boeing’s support of, and participation in, these events is critical as we continue improving racial equity and equality in America.”

Approximately 50 Boeing employees will participate in the Commitment March in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 28. Hundreds of others across the company joined virtual events, including a conversation about current acts of injustice, protests and race with Damion Thomas, a curator at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Additional announcements related to Boeing’s racial equity and social justice investment strategy are planned in the future.