The New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund employs a three-pronged approach involving respect-based grantmaking, culturally relevant capacity building, and fostering an ecosystem to support robust racial equity and social justice outcomes for nonprofit and foundation leaders.
The grant program focuses on five key pillars: Economic Empowerment, Policing & Criminal Justice Reform, Health Equity, Youth Development, and Identity and Culture Narrative. It aims to support Black and Brown coalitions, organizations, and individuals through strategic, responsive, and innovative investments. These include large-scale multi-year support, smaller scale off-cycle support for immediate needs with investments not exceeding $10,000, and special projects involving funder coalitions and collaborative efforts between multiple organizations.
Applications are open to local chapters of national organizations, with a preference for those based in Massachusetts. Priority will be given to organizations that demonstrate a clear commitment to addressing and dismantling systemic racism in their work.