Black Lives Matter partners with charity in sign of growth

In this photo taken Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, Rajasvini Bhansali, executive director of the International Development Exchange, also known as IDEX, poses at her office in San Francisco. Black Lives Matter has quietly established a legal partnership with the California charity in a sign of the movement's growth and expanding ambition. The nonprofit charity also known as IDEX has been acting since November as a mostly unseen financial arm of Black Lives Matter, which two years ago grew out of street protests and a hashtag. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) (The Associated Press)

In this photo taken Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, Rajasvini Bhansali, left, executive director of the International Development Exchange, also known as IDEX, talks with a co-worker at her office in San Francisco. Black Lives Matter has quietly established a legal partnership with the California charity in a sign of the movement's growth and expanding ambition. The nonprofit charity also known as IDEX has been acting since November as a mostly unseen financial arm of Black Lives Matter, which two years ago grew out of street protests and a hashtag. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) (The Associated Press)

In this photo taken Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, Rajasvini Bhansali, executive director of the International Development Exchange, also known as IDEX, poses at her office in San Francisco. Black Lives Matter has quietly established a legal partnership with the California charity in a sign of the movement's growth and expanding ambition. The Associated Press has learned that IDEX is managing the group’s financial affairs, allowing Black Lives Matter to focus on its mission, including building local chapters and experimenting with its organizational structure. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) (The Associated Press)

Black Lives Matter has quietly established a legal partnership with a California charity in a sign of the movement's growth and expanding ambition.

Since November, the San Francisco-based International Development Exchange has been acting as a mostly unseen financial arm of Black Lives Matter, with the ability to receive grants and tax-deductible donations on the group's behalf. More recently, the relationship evolved into a contractual partnership that will run through at least mid-2017.

The Associated Press has learned that IDEX is managing the group's financial affairs, allowing Black Lives Matter to focus on its mission, including building local chapters and experimenting with its organizational structure.

Leaders say the goal is to jointly seek social change in struggling communities in the U.S., as well as abroad.