The Community Foundation recently awarded a second round of grants from its new Black Equity & Excellence Fund. Grants from the fund support Black-led nonprofit organizations and projects that counteract systemic racism. Fifteen grants were distributed, totaling $252,194:
411 Publishing & Media (Fiscal Sponsor: OnPoint for College) received $11,000 to create the Syracuse Black Expo Business Online Directory that will serve as one location for people to access multiple Black-owned businesses online.
Black Cub Productions (Fiscal Sponsor: 100 Black Men of Syracuse, Inc.) received $25,000 to host a 10-week program for 7th-12th grade students that focuses on video production and creative skills around storytelling.
Fearless Queens (Fiscal Sponsor: Syracuse Community Connections) received $4,600 for its Queens Level Up Initiative, a virtual/in-person workshop master class series targeted to Black women.
God’s Temple of Faith received $7,000 for its Second Hand Closet initiative, which provides wardrobe, styling, and career enhancement services to potential job candidates.
Jubilee Homes of Syracuse received $50,000 for its Build to Work workforce development programming, which helps bridge the gap between “employers’ wants and workers’ needs” through hands-on case management.
Salat Ali (Fiscal Sponsor: HopePrint) received $10,000 to create a documentary that depicts and brings attention to the experiences of being a Black, Refugee, and Muslim identified person in America.
NRJ Consulting, LLC (Fiscal Sponsor: It Takes a Village, Inc.) received $10,000 for its online training series to help Black business owners increase awareness about their services and products.
Option Zero (Fiscal Sponsor: Fight for Hearts) received $10,000 to renovate its youth recreational facility where students are provided with tutoring, emotional and physical training and life skills.
Paul Robeson Performing Arts Company received $15,000 to establish Preserve and Grow, a legacy and succession planning project.
Powerful Voices App (Fiscal Sponsor: YWCA) received $41,873 to expand the Powerful Voices, a phone application that will serve as a civic engagement tool.
Street Addiction Institute received $18,300 for First T.E.A.M., a prevention program that provides support to Black youth living in high gunshot cluster neighborhoods.
The Joe Family Foundation for Disability Advocacy received $12,131 for Healing through Art Therapy, an arts-based program used to counteract trauma for Black youth.
The William Herbert Johnson Bar Association of Central New York received $18,290 to host educational forums, events and panels for its Black Legal Association, which is the only minority bar association in Central New York.
UrbanTsyr (Fiscal Sponsor: Near Westside Initiative) received $8,000 to create a digital information repository for social, cultural and education events, activities and programming for Black people and people of color.
Women of PEARLS (Fiscal Sponsor: 100 Black Men of Syracuse) received $11,000 for its Black Women empowerment programming, which addresses the economic, professional, and health disparities faced by African-American women.
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The Central New York Community Foundation is a public charity established in 1927 that collects contributions from donors, manages them to grow over time and then distributes funding to local charities to help them thrive. It is the largest charitable foundation in Central New York with assets of nearly $260 million and has invested more than $200 million in community improvement projects since its inception. As a grantmaker, civic leader, convener and sponsor of strategic initiatives, the Community Foundation strives to strengthen local nonprofits, encourage better understanding of the region and address the most critical issues of our time.
Black Equity & Excellence Fund
The Community Foundation’s Black Equity & Excellence Fund was launched in June 2020 in response to the tragedies and ensuing national conversation on race that has brought to light a common truth – that anti-Black racism is still woven into the fabric of the country. The Fund supports community-based projects for the Black community of Central New York that promote and encourage self-sufficiency and improve the physical and economic conditions that affect quality of life. It also encourages dialogue that will strengthen collaborative engagement on race-related matters and support social and educational growth in the community. Since June 2020, the fund has disseminated more than $500,000 in grants. Learn more at cnycf.org/equity
