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Netflix Inc. announced Tuesday an effort to grow economic opportunities for Black communities by allocating money to banks and other institutions that help provide financial support.
The company plans to put 2 percent of its cash holdings, or up to $100 million initially, toward financial institutions and other groups “that directly support Black communities in the U.S.”
Netflix NFLX, +0.78% argues in a blog post that such efforts can help close the “centuries-long financial gap between Black and White families” in the U.S.
“We believe bringing more capital to these communities can make a meaningful difference for the people and businesses in them, helping more families buy their first home or save for college, and more small businesses get started or grow,” wrote Netflix’s talent acquisition director Aaron Mitchell and treasury director Shannon Alwyn in the post. They cited statistics from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation indicating that Black-owned or Black-led banks represent just 1 percent of commercial banking assets in the U.S.
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The company is initially allocating $35 million of its $100 million commitment to two vehicles. Netflix will designate $10 million to the Hope Credit Union in an effort to boost economic opportunity in the Deep South. The company will hold $25 million in a newly established fund called the Black Economic Development Initiative that will be managed by the nonprofit Local Initiatives Support Corporation.
Netflix joins Apple Inc. AAPL, +0.90%, PayPal Holdings Inc. PYPL, +2.31%, Alphabet Inc.’s GOOGL, +0.31% GOOG, +0.23% YouTube, and other tech stalwarts that have made financial commitments to helping Black and minority communities.
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Netflix shares have gained 22% over the past three months as the S&P 500 SPX, +0.76% has risen 17%.
