The Racial Equity Fund will provide financial support and technical assistance to BIPOC-led organizations through operational unrestricted grants.
Donor Name: United Way for Southeastern Michigan
State: Michigan
County: Hillsdale County (MI), Ingham County (MI), Jackson County (MI), Lenawee County (MI), Livingston County (MI), Macomb County (MI), Monroe County (MI), Oakland County (MI), Washtenaw County (MI), Wayne County (MI)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 01/18/2024
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The fund is designed to empower BIPOC-led organizations to provide programs and projects that work toward eliminating racial disparities in pursuit of more equitable and just communities across Southeastern Michigan.
The fund’s objective is to empower Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) and people most harmed by systemic oppression. The efforts seek to ensure all people experience authentic inclusion and have equitable access to resources and opportunities to thrive and reach their full potential.
Focus Areas
- Basic Needs, Health and/or Crisis
- Examples:
- Living Wage
- Food Security
- Housing
- Racial Health Disparities
- Mass Incarceration
- Examples:
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- Examples:
- Rest, rejuvenation and healing for nonprofit leaders and staff
- DEI Skill-Building
- Examples:
- Economic Mobility
- Examples:
- Programing to support BIPOC-owned businesses
- Employment / Skilled Trade
- Examples:
- Environmental Justice
- Examples:
- Climate Change
- Pollution
- Clean Water, Food and Air.
- Examples:
Funding Information
This winter, $200,000 is available in grants ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 directly for organizations with BIPOC executive leadership.
Eligibility Criteria
- Organizations must have BIPOC executive leadership.
- BIPOC Executive Leadership is defined as: United Way for Southeastern Michigan takes a comprehensive approach to assess the identities of who holds decision-making power when determining whether an organization or group is BIPOC-led. This means that they not only collect information on the identities of the organization leader, but also assess:
- the extent to which key staff, who hold decision-making power, identify as BIPOC, and
- the extent to which the board of directors/advisory council, who also hold decision-making power, identify as BIPOC.
- BIPOC Executive Leadership is defined as: United Way for Southeastern Michigan takes a comprehensive approach to assess the identities of who holds decision-making power when determining whether an organization or group is BIPOC-led. This means that they not only collect information on the identities of the organization leader, but also assess:
- Organizations should propose programming for funding that responds to and mitigates the effects of racial inequities and/or builds power and infrastructure in communities of color across Washtenaw County.
- Organizations must be a 501(c)3 nonprofit. An organization must be in good standing with the State of Michigan and the Internal Revenue Service and will be required to upload a copy of their IRS designation letter, 990 form, W-9, and financial statements. For organizations that are not 501(c)3, they may apply via a fiduciary if applicable.
- The fund seeks to support organizations often excluded from the traditional funding ecosystem. To increase the diversity of organizations and programs supported, organizations that are currently funded by United Way for Southeastern Michigan, United Way of Washtenaw County, and/or a previous Racial Equity Fund recipient are not eligible to apply.
For more information, visit UWSM.
