This Fund acknowledges the historic philanthropic divestment from Black communities and people, and makes explicit our commitment to resourcing local, Black-led organizations and their leadership as they grow their organizations; build enduring and sustainable infrastructure; grow deeper, wider bases of support and power; and advocate for better and just systems that will benefit all people.
In addition to our eligibility requirements, organizations or projects seeking funding should:
Address the root causes of inequity through systems change work. We define systems change as challenging and changing the culture, policies, practices, and priorities that create and perpetuate inequities. These inequities have only been further exposed and exacerbated during the pandemic.
Build power for purposes of advancing racial and/or economic justice.
Leverage one or more of these tactics for change:
Organizing & Base Building
Advocacy
Coalition Building
Actively participate in broader organizing, movement, and/or field-building work to advance racial and economic justice in Greater Washington.