Second round of grants ups total awarded by BFF to almost $3.5 million
The Cleveland Foundation and its partners today announced $1,575,000 to 43 organizations in the second round of grantmaking from the Cleveland Black Futures Fund (full list of recipients below). The Fund has amassed nearly $4.6 million since its inception in late 2020 to support the capacity of Cleveland-based nonprofit organizations that are both Black-led and Black-serving. The Fund awarded $1.89 million to 49 organizations in the first round of grantmaking in June of 2021.
New this round was the addition of fellowships that will help organizations build their capacity through one of four focus areas: fund development, leadership development, long-term/strategic planning, and marketing & communications. Approximately 15 organizations — some of whom also received a grant in the second round – will participate in each focus area; these groups are designed to foster peer learning among like-minded nonprofits. The foundation is committing additional funding to this effort, including $3,000 stipends to each organization for their participation as well as an outside facilitator in each discipline. The fellowships are expected to launch in late spring/early summer 2022 and run for six months.
“Efforts like the Cleveland Black Futures Fund are increasingly urgent to break down institutional barriers and to serve the community as a whole,” said India Pierce Lee, Cleveland Foundation senior vice president for program. “By supporting this fund, we can build relationships with new organizations and continue to support the vital work of nonprofits in Greater Cleveland.”
The overarching goal of the Cleveland Black Futures Fund is to strengthen the ecosystem of black leaders and black-serving organizations in Greater Cleveland by providing intentional resources to help grow organizational infrastructure and capacity. Long term, the foundation aims to deepen the field of leaders working to dismantle systemic racism and advance the community towards racial equity.
The foundation received more than 140 submissions during the round-two application period, which was open to both new applicants and organizations that were declined during the first round. Multiple review teams forwarded recommendations to a seven-person committee comprised of community leaders and foundation representatives, who worked to select the final recipients.
A third round of grants will take place later this year. For more information or to donate to the Cleveland Black Futures Fund, visit ClevelandFoundation.org/Futures.
Cleveland Black Futures Fund Recipients – Round 2
1000 Ties ($25,000)
ABC Read ($25,000)
Ashbury Community Services Inc. ($25,000)
Beat the Streets Cleveland ($50,000)
Bessie's Angels Inc. ($25,000)
Best Community Resource Center ($25,000)
Black Environmental Leaders Association ($25,000)
Black Professionals Association Charitable Foundation, Inc. ($50,000)
Broken Connections Inc. ($50,000)
Collaboration Station ($50,000)
Collinwood and Nottingham Village Development Corporation ($25,000)
Contractors Assistance Association ($25,000)
Daughters of Hadassah House ($25,000)
David's Challenge Incorporated Young Achievers Program ($50,000)
Enlightened Solutions ($50,000)
Feed the Soul ($25,000)
Greater Cleveland Association of Black Journalists ($25,000)
Greater Cleveland Neighborhood Centers Association ($25,000)
Greater Cleveland Urban Film Foundation ($50,000)
Inner City Baseball Academy of Greater Cleveland ($25,000)
Leading Ladies, Inc. ($25,000)
Learning for Life Youth Program ($25,000)
Life Exchange Center ($50,000)
Little Giants Youth Fitness Academy ($50,000)
Mojuba! Dance Collective ($25,000)
National Basketball Retired Players Association Cleveland Chapter ($25,000)
New Life Community Development Corporation ($25,000)
Organic Connects, Inc. ($25,000)
Out-of-School Time Collaborative ($100,000)
Project LIFT Behavioral Health Services ($75,000)
Raising Our Kids Inc. ($25,000)
Renounce Denounce Gang Intervention Program Corporation ($25,000)
Sevynteenth Foundation ($25,000)
SOS Initiatives, Stewards of Strong Initiatives Inc. ($50,000)
SOS Strengthening Our Students ($50,000)
Spirit of Excellence Inc. ($50,000)
Take Ch9rge ($25,000)
Teen Excellence Non Profit Organization ($25,000)
Thea Bowman Center ($50,000)
Victory Center For Youth ($25,000)
Village of Healing ($50,000)
Ward Wide Education ($50,000)
Youth Empowering Society ($25,000)
RELATED :
Cleveland Black Futures Fund announces nearly $2 million in grants [Round 1, June 2021]
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