Client News:

The California Black Freedom Fund announced its second round of grant awards. Launched in February 2021, the first-of-its-kind fund, co-created with Black leaders and organizers, invested nearly $9 million in general operating grants to 74 groups across California as part of its commitment to resource, connect, and strengthen Black-led power-building organizations in the state. Black Enterprise. KPVI. 

Thanks to all who joined the California Black Freedom Fund for a virtual event on Tuesday to celebrate these organizations, and hear from funder and grantee partners shedding light on the critical work happening in different corners of the state. 

Lateefah Simon, president of the Akonadi Foundation, Cathy Cha, president and CEO of the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund and Nicole Taylor, president and CEO of Silicon Valley Community Foundation, all partners in the fund, wrote this piece for Inside Philanthropy about how the California Black Freedom Fund “will drive our state as a whole toward systemic transformation” by increasing the capacity and effectiveness of Black-led organizations on the front lines.

Be sure to follow along with the California Black Freedom Fund as its partners strive to reach their goal of raising $100 million over the next five years to make sure locally rooted, Black-led organizing efforts have the resources they need to eradicate systemic and institutional racism. More information at cablackfreedomfund.org. 

The final 2021-22 California State Budget now includes funding to begin implementation of the Food4All proposal, expanding the California Food Assistance Program to help meet the nutrition needs of immigrants who do not qualify for food assistance due to their immigration status. KQED.

Food4All includes $30 million over the next two years to automate a targeted implementation of an expansion of the California Food Assistance Program to all regardless of immigration status and over $200 million in aid to California food banks. California is now poised to lead the way by advancing bold policy solutions like Food4All that reject racism and xenophobia by creating an equitable nutrition safety net. Congratulations to the Food4All Coalition for this momentous win! More information at nourischca.org. 

Last week, the Biden-Harris administration announced “a comprehensive strategy to combat gun violence and other violent crime” drawing on funds from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) to implement community violence interventions. The Community Violence Intervention (CVI) collaborative will be supported by a sizable group of philanthropic funders anchored by Hyphen, whose mission is “to methodically engage the Biden-Harris Administration in building public-philanthropic partnerships that benefit marginalized children, families and communities.” Inside Philanthropy.