By Jim Rendon, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, July 1, 2021
A wide array of grant makers have signed an open letter calling for foundations and wealthy donors who do not already have relationships with grassroots groups to direct more of their racial-justice giving to funds with close ties to communities of color rather than only trying to support grassroots racial-justice groups themselves.
The past year has brought vast attention to organizations led by people from marginalized groups, and there has been an outpouring of billions of dollars in pledges to help groups fight for racial justice. The Groundswell Fund, which supports reproductive and social-justice groups led by women of color and transgender people, and other funds like it have spent years developing close relationships with grassroots groups that are part of the communities most affected by systemic racism. Yet these funds and the groups they support have not received the bulk of funding, says Vanessa Daniel, Groundswell’s executive director.
Daniel is one of 31 CEOs of color leading funds who published the letter. She and Gloria Walton of the Solutions Project organized the effort together. It has been signed by 385 foundation executives and individuals, including officials from large and well-known grant makers such as the Ford Foundation, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the California Endowment.
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