The New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund announced Tuesday it awarded $3 million in grants to over 100 nonprofits in the state that uplift marginalized communities.
A little more than 80% of the leaders in this year’s funding cycle are “Black or Brown” and more than 60% are women or non-binary people, the New Commonwealth Fund said in a statement. In regards to grantees in the criminal justice reform space, more than 60% of the organizations are led by “returning citizens.”
The grants represent organizations aligned with the fund’s pillars of change, which include economic empowerment, health equity, identity and culture narrative, policing and criminal justice reform and youth development, the organization said.
Big names such as James “Jimmy” Hills from the popular “Java with Jimmy” talk show; the Bay State Banner, an African-American newspaper; and The Teacher’s Lounge, a nonprofit aimed to increase the number of educators of color, are just some of this year’s grantees.
In a statement, Makeeba McCreary, the president of The New Commonwealth Fund, said she was honored to invest in these organizations that work to close gaps in the Bay State’s health, economic and justice systems.
“As we experience a disturbing national backlash against racial equity, these leaders give us hope that our Commonwealth can stand as a counterpoint and show why diverse perspectives make us stronger,” she added.
“Through our giving, we hope to intentionally disrupt the philanthropic sector, lift up the leaders of these organizations, take their guidance, celebrate their brilliance, and treat them as experts,” McCreary continued. “It is this model – which we call Respect-Based Philanthropy – that we hope will serve as a model for others.”
The New Commonwealth Fund said it also reached out to organizations in Gateway Cities such as Springfield, Worcester and Brockton. This year, more than 64% of the grant money went to organizations in these cities.
One of these organizations was the LGBT Asylum Task Force, a Worcester nonprofit that houses queer people who are fleeing violence in other countries because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
