Dear JustFund Community,

I planned to kick off 2023 with joy and celebration, yet the tragic events from the past three weeks are giving us much reason to pause and grieve already in this new year. We’ve barely had time to process the last major tragedy before another one takes place and leaves us with heartbreak, anger and grief. From the mass shooting in Half Moon Bay, CA, to the mass shooting on the Lunar New Year in Monterey Park, CA, to the police executions of environmentalist and abolitionist Tortuguita in Atlanta, GA, educator and father Keenan Anderson in Los Angeles, CA, and Tyre Nichols in Memphis, TN, we are once again left in a state of disbelief and deep sadness.

Our JustFund community is full of leaders and activists who are deeply heart-aligned with our mission; this work for each of us is personal. It’s why our team at JustFund loves the work we do. We know that in these moments, we must take time to care for ourselves and our communities. To quote audre lorde, “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”

So many of the organizations on the frontlines of today’s most critical issues are our most vulnerable communities that do not have the time, resources, or capacity to prioritize an ethic of care for themselves. They are working with small budgets, are up against incredible pressure from adversaries, and are constantly working to be able to address the emergent needs of their communities, especially in times of crisis. This reality is one of the main reasons we built JustFund and began this journey. 

Our communities are suffering and they don’t have to. We can change the way we give and in doing so ensure that our communities can thrive. 

We know that JustFund’s common app isn’t the golden ticket to solve all of the systemic inequities in philanthropy, but we know it’s a strong start. Our common app makes it easy for organizations to apply for funding and ensures when they apply to one fund, they can apply to many.

By giving organizations access to new funding opportunities through our common app and centralized submission process, JustFund has already saved thousands of organizations over 28 years of time they can better apply to mission-advancing work and for rest, wellness, and healing.

Our community of JustFunders has already moved $196 million through our equitable grantmaking solution – starting with the common app. Our goal is to run a hundred funds in 2023, ensuring that the 10,000 organizations on JustFund have ample and equitable opportunities to find funding partners like you. 

When we make it simple for our teams to manage grant cycles and source new organizations to fund and easy for organizations to apply for funding, we are revolutionizing the way we give.

Join us in helping you center equity in your giving, today. If you’re a grantmaker and have not yet explored the common app, set up a meeting with me and together we can change the way we give.

Warmly,

Iara Peng, Founder & CEO