2025 was the year we proved what’s possible when access meets opportunity.
With the support of our partners and community members, we created measurable economic impact for BIPOC marketers and developers.
Here’s what that looked like:
27 new partners helped us raise over £35,000
In 2025, 27 new partners helped us raise over £35,000 in funding.
We are especially grateful to organizations and individuals, including Semrush, Advanced Web Ranking, Citation Labs, DataCamp Donates, BrightonSEO, The SEO Community, RR Digital, and Navah Hopkins.
854 new members joined the FCDC
Our community grew by 22% over the year, from 3,960 members in December 2024 to 4,814 in December 2025.
We now have members across 75+ countries.
That growth means more BIPOC marketers are finding access to training, mentorship, and paid opportunities.
Over 1,000 learning resources distributed
In 2025, we distributed over 1,000 educational resources to community members.
For many members, these are resources they would not have been able to afford otherwise.
4 laptops distributed to members who needed them most
Last year, we distributed four laptops to under-resourced members who needed them to participate in our dev cohort program and secure work opportunities.
Sometimes impact looks like funding, other times it looks like a working computer.
We launched our first developer cohort
In 2025, we launched our first Advanced Web Development Cohort, sponsored by Navah Hopkins and led by Colin Gray, Head of Mobile at Shopify.
Three out of five students have already secured paid internships at Citation Labs, with potential transitions into full-time roles.
We sponsored 19 members to attend global SEO conferences
We provided scholarships for 19 FCDC members to attend BrightonSEO, Semrush Spotlight, and MozCon.
For many, it was their first time attending an international conference where they could get new contracts, partnerships, and speaking opportunities.
We ran our first paid content program
Many BIPOC writers struggle to secure bylines and get paid fairly for their work, so we launched the FCDC Content Program to create paid byline opportunities for community members.
Ten writers participated, and we began publishing original content from community members to help them build their portfolios, visibility, and income.
We published our first SEO research study
In partnership with Advanced Web Ranking, we published our first research report on AI brand mention volatility, led by Success Olagboye.
The study was featured on Moz, Advanced Web Ranking, and SEO Roundtable.
The visibility positions the FCDC members as contributors to global industry conversations rather than just learners.
We hosted six international meetups
Online communities are powerful, but in-person connection builds deeper trust and opportunity.
In 2025, we launched Sip and Search, our free SEO meetup series that brings marketers together to learn, network, and grow.
We hosted six meetups across Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, London, and Brighton.
Our members earned over $650,000 through the FCDC opportunities
Access to global roles shouldn’t depend on where you live. In 2025, we helped 15 members secure internships and full-time roles, contributing to over $650,000 in earnings across the community.
53 members received structured mentorship
Mentorship is at the heart of what we do.
In 2025, we provided structured mentorship to 53 community members, pairing them with experienced professionals in SEO, marketing, and development.
One of the members had to say this:
Our members spoke at international conferences
Public speaking is one of the clearest ways to demonstrate thought leadership and earn visibility in the industry.
Last year, members of our community took the stage at Women in Tech SEO, Customer Marketing Alliance, and BrightonSEO, strengthening their credibility and opening doors to new opportunities.
What’s coming in 2026
We had a great 2025, and we want to keep the momentum going in 2026. Here’s what we plan to achieve:
- Pair 50 members with SEO and marketing mentors
- Launch two new learning cohorts in SEO and Advanced Web Development
- Expand our laptop distribution program
- Publish more research-led studies on AI, SEO, and brand visibility
- Host SEO meetups in India, Nigeria, the United States, and England
- Relaunch the FCDC Expert Series, a monthly webinar series
- Sponsor 20 members to attend and speak at global conferences
- Launch a scholarship fund to support members facing financial hardship during training
We have seen what £35,000 can do. Now imagine what is possible with more.
Help us create meaningful change in 2026
Everything we achieved in 2025 was powered by volunteers, mentors, partners, and donors.
If you believe in creating fair opportunities for BIPOC talent, we invite you to support our mission.
To sponsor a program or become a partner, reach out to chima at freelancecoalition dot org
You can also support us by donating to fund our work.
Johnson Ishola
Johnson Ayomide Ishola is a content marketer at the FCDC. With a background in Economics, he brings a strategic, analytical edge to storytelling and brand development.
He specializes in lead generation and community-driven content, focusing on building authentic audience connections. At the FCDC, Johnson develops initiatives across various events and programs, using data-backed insights to craft narratives that drive engagement and growth.
