BLOG

From the Dodge Foundation: At the Dodge Foundation, we are committed to engaging with and learning about racial justice-focused organizations working across the state of New Jersey. We have been supporting these types of organizations through our Imagine a New Way initiative over the last several years, connecting with organizations through intentional outreach and relationship building, and through a community-engaged grantmaking process in our Momentum Fund. Today, we are excited to announce that we are creating a new pathway for connection with racial justice-focused organizations that have not previously had access to the Dodge Foundation through our first-ever “Open Call.”

We know that supporting organizations through an open call process is in alignment with our vision. We have been working and building towards this moment for years because we believe that this process is critical to achieving a just and equitable New Jersey. We expect to distribute $500,000 with grants ranging from approximately $15,000 to $75,000 to 10 to 20 organizations depending on the organizations and the number of applications we receive. Organizations are eligible to apply with the following criteria:

Have never previously received funding from the Dodge Foundation
Ensure that its racial justice work is based in and benefits communities in the state of New Jersey
Address the root cause and repair of structural racism and inequity in New Jersey
Have an annual operating budget of up to $3M
Have 501(c)(3) status or operate under a fiscal sponsor

We are interested in supporting organizations working across all issue areas, particularly those addressing how inequities overlap and intersect. You can find more details about our process on our dedicated Open Call page on our website. 

From Alliance Events: Stories connect us, and who tells them matters – this is especially true when it comes to the story of our heating planet. That’s why philanthropy’s support of climate research and journalism is such an important tool for climate action.

We want to know who these funders are, and who they’re supporting.

In a global conversation bringing together expert journalists covering climate change, as well as the funders who make supporting climate research and media a core part of their strategy, we’re focusing on how to get the story out.

Join speakers Sven Egenter (Clean Energy Wire), Mikaela Weisse (WRI), and Aarti Khosla (Climate Trends) on Tuesday, May 16 at 9am CT. Learn more and register here.

From Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors: Philanthropy has the power to create meaningful and lasting change in the world. However, to do so, we must center people and communities in our work. Join us for the first session of our webinar series where we will explore the importance of centering the voices of impacted communities in philanthropy as we work towards a just world. 

In this session, as we delve into the critical role of philanthropy in addressing social and environmental issues, we will focus on the need to listen to and learn from communities who are impacted by these issues, and how to prioritize their voices in our decision-making processes. We will explore ways to center these voices, including community engagement, partnership-building, and empowering community-led solutions, among other tactics. 

We will also examine the importance of intersectionality in our philanthropic work. We will explore how issues of race, gender, class, and other forms of oppression intersect to create systemic barriers to change. We will discuss ways to address these barriers, including investing in organizations and movements led by impacted communities. 

By the end of this session, you will gain a deeper understanding of the importance of centering people and communities in philanthropy. You will learn practical steps you can take to center these voices in your work and create meaningful and lasting change in the world. Join us for this inspiring and thought provoking session and be part of a community of like-minded philanthropists committed to creating a more just world.

Register for the webinar here.

From Arts Education Partnership: Arts Education Partnership is hosting our first virtual conversation bringing together arts, juvenile justice and education-based organizations! This event is for those interested in or currently doing work at the intersection of arts, education and juvenile justice across the country. We invite you to join a national conversation focused on fostering collaborations and information sharing among attendees. Together we will discuss several topic areas that can be leveraged to support youth involved in the justice system such as funding, community partnerships, family and custodial supports, engagement, and data collection and reporting.

We hope to create a network sustained by ongoing engagements to share knowledge, raise challenges and collaborate to find solutions that can be implemented locally and nationally.Please spread the word to your colleagues and complete this pre-event survey to help inform the agenda and how we can adapt programming for future engagements!

Learn more and register here.

From Bloomberg Philanthropies: Bloomberg Philanthropies announced today that all cities in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. can apply for $25,000 USD Asphalt Art Initiative grants to help improve street safety, activate public spaces, and engage community residents. The expansion of the Asphalt Art Initiative to Canada and Mexico builds upon three rounds of previous Asphalt Art Initiative grants made in 2020-2022, supporting a total of 64 projects spanning 41 U.S. cities and 22 European cities. The initiative invites Canadian, Mexican, and U.S. cities of any size to apply by June 12, 2023. Up to twenty winning cities will be announced in the fall with selected projects planned for installation throughout 2024. In addition to grants, the selected cities will receive technical consulting provided by Bloomberg Associates in partnership with tactical urbanism firm Street Plans Collaborative. 

Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Asphalt Art Initiative responds to the growing number of cities around the world embracing art as an effective and low-cost strategy to improve street safety through interventions on crosswalks, intersections, plazas, and other transportation infrastructure. In addition to safer streets, the program creates vibrant public spaces, fosters a city’s interagency collaboration, and increases each city’s capacity to work with artists as well as community groups on creative projects. The 64 projects supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies completed to date have transformed a combined 360,464 square feet of streetscape with artwork while engaging nearly 7,765 residents and 178 artists in the design and installation process.

The Asphalt Art Initiative is inspired by work done to improve pedestrian safety and revitalize New York City streets during Michael R. Bloomberg’s mayoralty (2002-2013) and Bloomberg Philanthropies’ pro bono consultancy, Bloomberg Associates, which, as part of their scope, advises cities around the world on implementing arts-driven street design projects.

Read the full announcement here.

From ASC: In 2015, ASC began its journey towards cultural equity. Why? Because ASC’s staff and board realized that — to truly achieve the organization’s vision of “Culture for All”— all Charlotte-Mecklenburg residents must have equitable opportunity to participate in the cultural life of our region as audiences, volunteers, artists, administrators, board members and donors. ASC believes that everyone has cultural traditions that are inherently valuable, and that artists, scientists and historians play a unique role in challenging inequities and inspiring human understanding, justice and opportunity for all. 

Since beginning its cultural equity journey, ASC has:
• Expanded Operating Support Grants to new grassroots and multicultural organizations
• Restructured project-based funding as Cultural Vision Grants to align with community priorities and diversify the funding pool
• Started Catalyst for Cultural Equity, a program that prepares arts and culture nonprofit professionals to help advance cultural equity in their organizations
• Launched Culture Blocks, a Mecklenburg County-funded program to provide arts and cultural experiences closer to where people live
• Started two artist fellowship programs that demonstrate ASC’s belief investing in Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s creative individuals benefits the region’s overall cultural climate
• Increased support for Regional Artist Project Grants, now called Artist Support Grants
• Aligned ASC supported education programs with key opportunity measures (PreK readiness, 3rd grade reading, middle school transition, high school
graduation) as defined by community priorities
• Expanded opportunities for local/regional artists to receive Public Art commissions
• Focused workshops & training opportunities around issues of diversity, equity and inclusion
• Approved a Cultural Equity Statement that guides ASC’s work and provides a framework to set organizational policies and practices

Read the full report here.