The Weingart Foundation is proud to announce our December 2024 round of funding which awarded $10.7 million to 43 organizations and initiatives that embody the pillars of our racial justice framework: building strong and healthy communities, fostering civic and economic power, and transforming inequitable systems. With 98% of the latest grants going to organizations led by people of color and nearly a quarter awarded to first-time grantees, we are supporting intersectional and cross-racial collaboratives and organizations advancing racial justice.
“At the Weingart Foundation, we are committed to supporting community-driven approaches that address the root causes of inequality across Southern California,” said Joanna S. Jackson, President and C.E.O. of the Weingart Foundation. “This funding reflects our belief that cross-racial solidarity and intersectional strategies are essential to building a just future for all. As we support organizations working on issues ranging from immigrant justice to reparations and economic justice, we know that the challenges our communities face are interconnected, and our solutions must be as well. By investing in these partnerships, we are amplifying the voices and leadership of those most impacted, fostering collaboration that can drive transformative change and healing for generations to come.”
A priority issue for the Weingart Foundation is dismantling anti-Black racism and we continues to support initiatives centered on healing, power building, economic justice and narrative change that uplifts Black communities. Recent grants include support for the Equal Justice Society, which provides essential legal expertise to the reparations movement, and the Alliance for Boys and Men of Color, which builds leadership and capacity for cross-racial coalitions. These investments bolster the backbone infrastructure of local and statewide efforts to advance racial justice and reparations movements.
“Understanding and advancing the legal framework for reparations is vital to achieving the justice and healing necessary to repair the harm of systemic racism,” said Lisa Holder, President of the Equal Justice Society. “The Weingart Foundation’s partnership ensures this work remains a priority, especially at a time when efforts that foster cross-racial movement building face unprecedented threats. Together, we are fortifying the path toward a just and equitable future for all communities.”
(Left to right) Weingart Foundation Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships Crystal Crawford, E.J.S. Legal Director Mona Tawatao, and E.J.S. President Lisa Holder at a Western Center event on October 23, 2024, honoring Tawatao with the organization’s 2024 Mary Burdick Advocates’ Award. (Photo provided by E.J.S.)
“At Just San Bernardino, we recognize the power of racial solidarity and coalition building to advance a community-centered economy that truly benefits the most vulnerable communities we serve,” said Miriam Nieto, Just San Bernardino Co-Director. “The Weingart Foundation’s continued investment in our intersectional work fosters deeper collaboration and strengthens our movement for a just and inclusive San Bernardino.”
Just San Bernardino co-Director Carolina Sanchez at a housing justice event, informing the community on the organization’s initiatives. Photo Credit: Gilbert Gonzalez
Additionally, the Weingart Foundation also invests in immigrant justice and emphasizes the importance of centering diverse immigrant experiences within the broader inclusion movement. For example, the Weingart Foundation provided grants to the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI) and Pars Equality Center, which provide service to Black, and Middle Eastern and South Asian refugees and migrants respectively. Immigrant justice represents nearly 40% of the Foundation’s latest grant docket, including a $3 million capital grant to The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) for its Welcome & Empowerment Center, underscoring a holistic approach to building equitable and just systems for immigrants.
Jackson added: “We understand that the transformative power of racial justice lies in the strength of intersectional movements that unite communities across races. By investing in these collaborations, we are not only dismantling systemic inequities but also building a resilient foundation for a truly inclusive Southern California.”
For more information about the Foundation’s December 2024 grant docket and its racial justice initiatives, please click here.