Community Benefit Society
GOVERNANCE
BLKOUT is democratically governed, member-owned, and built on 10 years of Black queer men loving and leading together.
Cooperative ownership. Collective power.
Published · Updated
“owned by and accountable to the people we serve”
What BLKOUT is →How the Board Works
Cooperative governance through leadership pairs — one role, two people, mutual accountability. Each pair builds a working group to widen member engagement beyond the board itself.
Leadership
Chair & Co-Chair
A leadership pair. Leads board meetings, represents BLKOUT publicly, holds the strategic line.
Secretary
Records, notices, compliance: the organisational memory. Held by the Managing Editor, who works with the board but is not a director.
Managing Editor
Editorial direction across news, comms, and platform voice. The executive role, accountable to the board, not a board seat.
Functional Pairs
Community
Champions member needs, partnerships, engagement. Rooted in the lived experiences of Black queer men across the UK.
Digital
Guides platform development, data sovereignty, technology strategy. Technical background valued, not required.
Finance / Fundraising
RecruitingStewards financial health, budgeting, reporting and fundraising. Both seats open.
We're Still Recruiting
Both seats in the Finance / Fundraising pair are open — we're looking for two co-treasurers to steward BLKOUT's liberation economics together. We're filling them two ways: by appointment, and through this open call.
- Overseeing BLKOUT's financial health and reporting
- Supporting grant budgets, fundraising and funder reporting
- Presenting financial updates at board meetings (online, evenings)
- Making sure we meet our legal obligations as a Community Benefit Society
- Working with the Managing Editor on budget planning and financial strategy
You don't need to be a qualified accountant: you need to be comfortable with numbers and budgets, and willing to ask the questions that keep a small organisation honest. It's a voluntary role, with training and development on offer.
Other pairs welcome conversations from members ready to step up — the board is meant to grow with us. If you've thought about contributing, this is the invitation.
About BLKOUT
Community-owned liberation technology
Community Benefit Society
BLKOUT is structured as a CBS — a legal form ensuring community ownership, democratic governance, and benefits for our members and society. Unlike traditional companies, we're owned by our community, not shareholders.
Profits are reinvested to benefit Black queer communities, not extracted for private gain. 75% of revenue goes directly to creators and community — hardcoded, not aspirational.
10 Years. 10,000 Brothers.
Founded in 2016 as gatherings in London — just brothers finding each other. Grew to Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol. Survived a pandemic by becoming lifelines for each other online.
In 2025 we launched a full liberation technology platform: AIvor voice assistant, Events Calendar, News Platform, Communications Hub. Now we need governance to match our ambition.
Community First
We centre the needs, dreams, and wellbeing of Black queer people in every decision.
Collective Wisdom
We believe in the power of many voices. Together, we hold knowledge no single person could possess alone.
Protected Spaces
We create safe environments where everyone can speak their truth without fear.
How We Make Decisions Together
Community Proposals
Any member can bring ideas to the table. We listen to each other's dreams and work together to make them real.
Collective Voting
We vote on important decisions together. Each member has equal say, and we take time to understand all perspectives before choosing our path.
Working Groups
Small groups focus on specific areas, bringing their expertise and passion to serve the community.
Our Story-Powered Platform
BLKOUT is built on the power of our stories. See how we're creating technology that centres Black queer voices.
Where We're Headed
We're building BLKOUT in phases, guided by community needs and our commitment to liberatory technology.
Foundation (Current)
- —Community news curation platform
- —Events calendar for Black queer spaces
- —Chrome extensions for content submission
- —Basic moderation workflows
- —Member profiles and authentication
Community Tools
- —Community proposal system
- —Democratic voting on decisions
- —Working group coordination
- —Member directory and networking
- —Transparent governance dashboard
Liberation Features
- —Mutual aid coordination
- —Resource sharing marketplace
- —Community storytelling archive
- —Skill sharing and mentorship
- —Wellness and healing resources
Full Liberation Platform
- —Decentralised infrastructure
- —Community-owned data sovereignty
- —Economic cooperation tools
- —International solidarity networks
- —Full community autonomy
Become a Member
As a CBS member, you get a real say in how BLKOUT develops. Members vote on key decisions, elect the board, and shape our future.
- —Voting rights on major decisions
- —Elect board members
- —Shape platform direction
- —Priority access to events and resources
Partner with Us
Organisations can partner with BLKOUT to support Black queer communities while aligning with our community benefit mission.
- —Support community initiatives
- —Collaborative projects
- —Ethical partnership framework
- —Transparent impact reporting
Your Voice Shapes Our Future
The revolution needs governance, beloved. And governance needs you.
Get in Touch