Community Events and Resources

New Funding to Help State Alliances Advocate for a Transparent, Equitable and Accountable Recovery of Federal Stimulus Dollars

The Open Society Institute has announced new funding to support state-based alliances that advocate for greater transparency, equity, and accountability in the allocation of federal recovery (stimulus) dollars at the state level.

Proposals will be accepted from 6 states: California, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin. OSI will consider grants of up to $500,000 per state to be distributed over two years but is unlikely to fund in every state. Proposals are due August 28, 2009.

Grants will support alliances that

   · Advocate for greater transparency and public participation in processes governing the allocation of recovery dollars;
   · Promote a more equitable distribution of recovery dollars;
   · Include strong representation of people of color, women, immigrants, youth, and low-income communities, and bring together expertise in grassroots organizing, policy research and analysis, use of innovative technologies, and advocacy; and
   · Spotlight the role of decision makers in the success or failure of economic recovery programs and policies.

Funds will not support

   · Direct Services
   · Staff activities unrelated to the grant program
   · Ongoing support after the grant term
   · Either direct or grassroots lobbying

Please contact Helena Huang at staterfp@sorosny.org with any questions.

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation has announced a new grant opportunity as part of its commitment to becoming an effective, anti-racist organization that promotes racial equity.

This grant opportunity seeks to strengthen and bolster community-based approaches for racial healing and equity efforts targeting vulnerable and marginalized children. The foundation defines racial healing as “group efforts to acknowledge the wrongs and group suffering of the past while trying to address the cumulative and current consequences of the past injustices.”

The foundation seeks proposals from community-based organizations that foster racial healing. To be considered for funding, the organization must be working to promote racial healing within and between racial and ethnic groups within specific geographic areas. National programs that have projects within local communities may also be considered.

The Kellogg Foundation anticipates awarding grants of up to $400,000 each.

The complete Request for Proposals, including examples of eligible projects, is available here.

Sadie Nash is currently seeking applications for the 2009-2010 ELLA Fellowship Program!

ELLA is a unique program at Sadie Nash – it is a PAID fellowship for young women to design an implement a social justice project within their communities. It is open to young women ages 16-22, who have prior leadership experience and can commit to attending monthly retreats in the NYC area and to working on their projects for the 9 months of the fellowship program. For more information, visit their website.