Racial Justice Grantmaking

Racial Justice Grantmaking is sponsored by The Kresge Foundation. The Kresge Foundation has committed $30 million to support racial justice organizations working in cities across the United States. This includes both national organizations and community-led organizations in Detroit, New Orleans, Memphis, and Fresno, with a focus on general operating support for groups led by and serving people of color.

Racial Justice Grantmaking - Kresge Foundation Our Story at 100 Promoting human progress since 1924, expanding equity and opportunity today Our Staff Our work is made possible by a staff of mission-driven professionals Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Central to how we operate and fund, we center DEI in all we do Careers Check for new openings and learn about working at The Kresge Foundation Board of Trustees Leaders who provide governance, expertise and support to our work Press Room Resources and information for commnunications professional American Cities Effective, inclusive community development in U.S. cities Arts & Culture Positioning culture and creativity as drivers of more just communities Detroit Expanding long-term, equitable opportunity in our hometown Education Addressing postsecondary attainment and closing equity gaps Environment Helping cities with equitable climate resilience strategies Health Building equity-focused systems of health to achieve well-being Human Services Increasing social-economic mobility for people with low incomes Social Investment Practice Unlocking capital for community development Strategic Learning, Research & Evaluation Building a culture of learning across the organization and support community learning priorities Initiatives Our time-bound funding programs can bring multiple Kresge teams together to co-create strategies Grants & Social Investments Grants Awarded A database of grants dating back to 2009 Social Investments Made A database of PRIs, guarantees and other investments How to Apply Details on eligibility, FAQs, Fluxx guidance and more For Current Grantees FAQs for partners, communicating about your work and more Social Investment Practice Racial Justice Grantmaking Behind a $30 million grant commitment in 2020, Kresge doubled down on long-standing racial justice work and supported dozens of new partners across the nation and in the cities of Detroit, Fresno, Memphis and New Orleans.

Supporting front-line racial justice organizations Fortifying resident-led change Strengthening neighborhood economies Integrating community systems and supports In a sweeping pledge to advance its long-term commitment to equity and opportunity, The Kresge Foundation announced in November of 2020 a $30 million grant commitment to support racial justice organizations working in cities across the United States.

With initial investments in nearly 60 local and national nonprofits, Kresge seeks both to support national organizations working to advance racial justice and to strengthen the ability of community-led organizations in Detroit, New Orleans, Memphis and Fresno to confront racial inequities in-place.

This commitment to racial justice is enduring, and we at Kresge are standing with racial justice organizations as they translate mobilizing, marching and messaging into tangible progress. These new grants and social investments seek to ensure that racial justice activists and leaders have sufficient resources to make the lasting changes needed both nationally and in communities across the country.

The scale and scope of this grantmaking suite underscore Kresge’s belief that the Foundation’s efforts to fulfill its mandate – expanding opportunity in American cities – requires directly addressing longstanding and insidiously persistent systemic racism and inequality.

By adding to the Foundation’s existing portfolio of anti-racism efforts, these grants represent a sharpened focus and intensification of the Foundation’s longstanding racial justice and racial equity grantmaking work. Staff from across the foundation collaborated to bring this work forward.

A group of people with criminal records listen to instructions on how they're going to turn their records into new paper as part of a workshop with Detroit Justice Center and the People's Paper Co-op. Participants used the new paper to write essays about what their lives would be like without their records.

A group of Detroit Justice Center and The Bail Project staff and Interns celebrates Father's Day with our clients who had been bailed out so far that year through the Detroit Bail Fund. Civic engagement and voter registration are important tools for striving towards racial justice.

Recognizing the power of the CEO-to-CEO format to boost growth, in 2020, Good Work Network launched The GatHERing, a CEO roundtable for women entrepreneurs focused on growth. CAIR Central California stands with local community members to demand that Black Lives Matter! As Muslims, we demand justice for Black communities and are committed to work for policies and systems change that support racial justice and equity.

Hmong Innovating Politics volunteers get ready to canvass neighborhoods in Fresno and speak with community members about important issues. VAYLA staff convening on Election Day to conduct exit polling of Asian American voters in New Orleans East.

Participants of SEARAC's 20th annual Leadership and Advocacy Training learned how to harness the power of their lived experiences and effectively advocate for change in their communities in meetings with their elected officials. To date, LAT has graduated more than 1,200 advocates.

Grantee by Program: All Funding Areas American Cities Arts and Culture Ecosystem Coordinated Investments and Technical Assistance Detroit Education Environment Equitable Community Development Fresno, Memphis & New Orleans Health Nonprofit Capacity Building and Leadership Development Social Investment Practice All Racial Justice Grantmaking Grantees 2020 annual report report on Kresge’s racial justice grantmaking available now Racial Justice Grantmaking News & Views Rapson: Racial justice commitment represents a pivotal milestone for Kresge Q&A: REED partners share the power in holding space for rest, healing, collective learning In recalling 1982 murder of Vincent Chin, hopes for a recommitment to justice Kennedy: HBCU professors made me feel seen and supported, an experience every Black student deserves All Racial Justice Grantmaking News & Views Racial Justice Grantmaking Resources Kresge Foundation Annual Reports All Racial Justice Grantmaking Resources