Racial Equity
Frank Ridzi, vice president, community investment, reflects on how nonprofits can measure how effectively their programs are improving equity in our community.
The Community Foundation recently distributed a new round of grants from its Black Equity & Excellence Fund. Grants from the fund support Black-led nonprofit organizations and projects that counteract systemic racism. Fourteen grants were distributed, totaling $248,000. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Black Equity & Excellence Fund allowed for optimization of UrbanTsyr online content with professionally enhanced videos and marketing of various initiatives.
Through the generous support of the Community Foundation’s Black Equity & Excellence Fund we produced, in April and July, two high-quality, main stage productions that were recorded and streamed.
Knowing that initiatives such as the BE&E Fund believes in your vision helps wounds become assets and lessens the ability for scars to become triggers.
I want Central New York to look like a place that exemplifies an overwhelming love of humans; that we honor one another’s suffering even if we don’t understand it.
"Philanthropy can address many of the issues and problems hindering our march toward forming a more perfect union."
"Philanthropy is not just about giving out handouts (although that most certainly has its place); but is also about teaching the fish how to swim in, so to speak, to effect generational upward socioeconomic mobility."
A policy paper outlines our rationale for investing intentionally and publicly in the support and celebration of Black members of our community.
We provided The MOST with $17,250 to launch Future Innovators, an after-school program that brings together local Black STEM professionals and CNY youth.