Can A Foundation Collaborative Promote Economic And Racial Justice?

credit: Salvation Army USA

Three Connecticut community foundations have assets totaling more than $2 billion. Cesar Aleman, the director of the newly formed Connecticut Urban Opportunity Collaborative, was announced as their joint hire in June. CUOC seeks to coordinate senior staff in order to develop strategies for dismantling structural racism and advancing social and economic mobility. In 2019, the Community Foundation of New Haven, Connecticut, established the "Stepping Forward" fund. Over the next three years, the fund will allocate $26 million in foundation grants to COVID relief and recovery, as well as to advancing racial justice.

CFON also launched its NEON (Nexus for Equity + Opportunity Nationwide) cohort program at the same time. One area of emphasis is advocacy, while another is narrative change, as well as power and leadership. Ginsburg mentions this in New Haven as part of an unprecedented PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) agreement with Yale University. A large portion of this work entails promoting business ownership in BIPOC communities. An internal audit in Fairfield County discovered that even when funding services for Black and Brown people was provided, there was a small population of Black and Brown people in those groups.

Connecticut Community Foundations are addressing issues of social and economic mobility, equity, and the dismantling of racist systems. According to the director of the New Haven Community Organization (CUCOC), the organization's goal for 2022 is to double the amount of money distributed through participatory grantmaking processes. Despite the fact that seven of the foundation's board members are people of color, the majority of donations come from white people. Aleman's foundation has also raised $2.5 million for the Black Futures Fund, which will be distributed by a group of Black community leaders. Dismantling structural racism will take decades, according to Aleman. It will take decades to establish racist practices in all sectors.

Read the Entire Article

A customized collection of grant news from foundations and the federal government from around the Web.

How's Your Community Doing?
Check Out it's
Community Vital Signs

Kosciusko County Goes 'All in' With New Countywide Initiative For Economic and Community Growth
Foundation: Lilly Endowment

All In Kosciusko exists to promote and accelerate the economic and community development already happening across the county.Concerns about economic diversification, talent retention and quality of...more

Bill Gatton Foundation

The Bill Gatton Foundation supports K-12 and higher education, health, and community development in Kentucky, Upper East Tennessee, and Southwest Virginia.Large education grants include $13.5 million...more

Local Organizations Win $9 Million For New Affordable Housing, Social Services

Local organizations win $9 million for new affordable housing, social services.Connecticut's Community Investment Fund grants come amid a deluge of cuts to federal funding.The fund was established in...more

Kindness and Philanthropy Feeding People in Tahoe
Foundation: Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation

Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation has proudly supported Bread & Broth for the past 10 years.In 2024, the Community Foundation was able to introduce the mission of Bread and Broth to a donor who is...more

Latino Community Foundation Awards $3.88M in Grants Across California and Nevada
Foundation: Latino Community Foundation

Latino Community Foundation Awards $3.88M in Grants Across California and Nevada.NewsBreak: Latino Community Foundation awards $3,000,000 in grants across California andNevada.Newsbreak: $1.5 million...more

Beyond Philanthropy: Alejandro Betancourt Lopez's Vision of Impact-Driven Business Development

Alejandro Betancourt Lopez rejects traditional corporate social responsibility models that separate business operations from community impact.Rather than limiting community engagement to corporate...more

Thoughtful Philanthropy For A Happier Community

Thoughtful giving isn't just about making a donation, it's about creating meaningful impact.Community foundations exist to connect generosity with need, ensuring that charitable giving is both...more

Nonprofit Finance Fund Hires Kareem Thomas As Chief Credit Officer

Kareem Thomas most recently served as Chief Credit and Lending Administration Officer at Reinvestment Fund.Bhavani Daryanani has more than 20 years of experience in the sector, bringing deep...more

Secu Foundation Honored With Ccuf Hero Award For Partner in Philanthropy

SECU Foundation has been named a recipient of the 2024 Carolinas Credit Union Foundation Hero Award for Partner in Philanthropy.The SECU Foundation promotes local community development in North...more

Love Where You Live Initiative Identifies Reno County Priorities; Grant Opportunities Available
Foundation: Hutchinson Community Foundation

Residents say increases in average household income and businesses that pay above average wage are the top indicators of economic progress in Reno County.They also identify attracting new businesses,...more