The Central New York Community Foundation announced it is committing an additional $1 million to its Black Equity & Excellence Fund (BE&E). Since its inception in 2020, BE&E has distributed 95 grants totaling more than $1.6 million, and it has welcomed nearly 200 first-time applicants to the Community Foundation. To date, 234 grant applications have been received.
BE&E is designed to support community-based projects that promote self-sufficiency and address the physical and economic conditions that impact the quality of life for Black residents. This includes fostering dialogue that strengthens race-related matters and supports social and educational growth within the community.
“Through our continued commitment to BE&E, we are setting out to reverse patterns of historic underinvestment and build the momentum needed to create lasting social change,” said Melanie Littlejohn, president & CEO of the Community Foundation.
Initially launched with a $1 million commitment in 2020, the BE&E Fund has since surpassed this amount, thanks to additional contributions from generous donors. The initiative was designed after an extensive listening tour with Black community members, residents, and leaders to ensure that it truly reflects the needs and priorities of the community.
To further shift power dynamics within the institution, the BE&E Fund is guided by an all-Black Advisory Council, which is fully empowered to make decisions on the grantmaking process and the final grants awarded. The application process is streamlined to provide easier access, shifting the workload onto staff and away from applicants. This allows for more creative grant application submissions, including options for audio, video, PowerPoint, and written narratives.
People interested in applying for a grant or donating to the BE&E Fund can visit cnycf.org/equity.
