#Case4Reparations - 2022

Background

Decolonizing Wealth Project is an Indigenous and Black-led racial justice organization that envisions a world where racial equity has become a societal norm – where new systems ensure everyone can live their best lives, thrive in their cultures, and heal from generations of colonial trauma. Our work aims to disrupt the existing systems of moving and controlling capital by offering truth, reconciliation, and healing from the ails of colonization through education, radical reparative giving, and narrative change.

Last year, through our fund, Liberated Capital, we announced the redistribution of $1.7M to our inaugural cohort of 23 #Case4Reparations grantee partners to support movement-building & advocacy efforts to advance reparations in the U.S. This first-of-its-kind funding initiative aims to fuel and amplify movement building & campaigns efforts to achieve reparations where wealth (money or land) can be redistributed by institutions and/or governments to Black & Native American communities in the U.S.

#Case4Reparations is a multi-year, multi-million dollar initiative, and we are excited to announce an additional $2 million funding opportunity for both current #Case4Reparations grantee partners and new organizations, supporting systemic and policy change efforts in service of reparations.

Why Reparations?

The United States was built on a history and practice of enslavement, genocide, and extraction of and from Indigenous peoples and African descendants - resulting in more than 400 years of policies and procedures that fueled economic extraction and systemic violence in Indigenous and Black communities.

In 2020, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) reintroduced legislation to fund the first commission to study and develop proposals for providing reparations to African Americans. The bill was reintroduced in 2021 (as it has been at every congressional session since 1989) and is gaining traction with national support from leaders. This year, the momentum has continued with the legislation nearing the required House votes to pass through to the Senate and pressure building for President Biden to sign an Executive Order. There are also a number of reparative efforts underway to address the historical and ongoing theft and control of land that has led to the extreme concentration of wealth among a small group of people that exists today.

Because of the effectiveness of social movements over the past few years – coupled with the successful philanthropic organizing of Decolonizing Wealth Project – we are seeing new opportunities to unearth, support, and scale efforts to actualize reparations for Black and Indigenous peoples.

To support this progress, Liberated Capital will provide untethered resources to support organizing and advocacy for community-driven reparations efforts that will help build the case for local, regional, and national policy opportunities that will inform ways wealth can be redistributed by institutions and/or governments.

This funding opportunity aims to source both the spaces and places where reparations campaigns are taking hold, provide vital funding to fuel their efforts, and utilize our platform as a reparations fund and field disruptor to document and share this reparations movement ecosystem with our network of national philanthropic institutions and donors. The spirit of reparations is that those who hold the bulk of ill-gotten resources and influence (including philanthropy) must hold responsibility for repairing the harms done.

Eligibility

  • Priority is given to organizations and/or coalitions led by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color).
  • We will also prioritize current grantee partners engaged in active reparations campaigns and policy work.
  • Grant dollars must be paid to a 501c3 nonprofit organization or Tribe, and we accept applications from fiscal sponsors. Individuals are not eligible.
  • Applicants must be based in the United States.
  • Coalitions and organizations working on advocacy campaigns to shift policies and systems that result in the payback of money or land from governments or institutions in the United States to Black and Indigenous peoples. This does not include subsidies for direct services, such as affordable housing.
  • Funding must be used for a charitable purpose (no direct lobbying).
  • Approximately 25-30 organizations will be selected for funding and grant awards will average $50,000. Proposals will be evaluated by an advisory committee of Black and Indigenous leaders.

Key Dates

  • Proposal Deadline: May 24, 2022 at 5:00 PM Pacific Time
  • Decisions Announced: July 2022

How to Apply

The Case for Reparations is accepting applications on JustFund:

  • Visit www.justfund.us to log in or register for an account.
  • Please note that registrations require 48 business hours for approval. We encourage applicants to register as early as possible.
  • For questions about how to submit your proposal, please refer to JustFund’s How to Apply video, Help Center or contact [email protected].

JustFund's Common Proposal Narrative Questions (Required)

  • Proposal Summary (Max 140 characters): Think of this like a tweet. Please tell us about the mission of this proposal in a couple of sentences.
  • Proposal Description (Recommended 2500 - 3500 characters): Tell us about your proposal.
  • Team Description (Recommended 1250 - 2500 characters): Tell us about who comprises the team.
  • Financial Need (Recommended 1250 - 2500 characters): Please describe what you will use the funding for.

Supplemental Questions (Required)

  • What specific reparations policy or institution are seeking to change and what movement building strategies are you employing (e.g. base building, communications, networking building, policy, etc.)?
  • What partners/coalitions are actively engaged in your campaign? Who are your targets?
  • What's your communications strategy? How are you engaging media?

Attachments (Required)

  • Campaign Plans: Attach any document clearly outlining specific campaign goals
  • Budget: Include campaign budget, organization's budget size & any secured funds
  • Leadership: List with information on your leaderships race/ethnicity & gender

Contact Information