Seattle Foundation grants $425,000 to address unexpected, emerging challenges in our region.
Seattle Foundation is proudly announcing $425,000 in grants to 23 community-based organizations through our 2021 Resilience Fund. Selected organizations will use the funding to provide critical resources to communities that are negatively impacted by federal policy decisions, the national political climate, and anti-Black racism.
Among the selected organizations is Hip Hop is Green, which provides project-based platforms for youth to learn and apply knowledge towards health, wellness and climate change issues. Inarguably, climate change is one of the biggest challenges the country is facing, and particularly, its disproportionate impact on communities of color. Keith Tucker, Executive Director of Hip Hop is Green, says the funding will go towards their Youth Excellence Program.
“These funds will directly help make life changing moments for young people,” shared Tucker. “We are now able to achieve our goal of training new leaders in climate change – and expose young people to new career pathways in food and agriculture tech as well as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.”
Since 2017, Resilience Fund Grants have been made to community-based organizations facing increased needs for support, legal guidance, organizing, and advocacy to address threats and discrimination. Organizations can receive up to $20,000, and we’ve proudly distributed 186 grants for a total of more than $3.1 million in funding thus far. This responsive grantmaking program has been a lifeline to many smaller, BIPOC-led and serving organizations responding to ongoing crises within the communities they serve.
“This fund will greatly benefit MMIP families most impacted by this senseless crisis rooted in racism, systematic oppression, violence against native men, boys, women, trans women and two spirit people,” said Roxanne White, Founder and Executive Director of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People and Families. “MMIP and Families will have the resources to continue to amplify healing, justice, and culture for our families and communities.”
The Resilience Fund provides flexible funding to King County nonprofits to address the challenges that marginalized communities face, including those at the center of anti-Black racism. Therefore, many of the 2021 Resilience Fund Grant recipients are Black-led or -serving organizations. This is directly aligned with our REPAIR framework, which is committed to advancing and supporting Black-led community leadership. Additionally, we’re proud that each of the elected grantees’ scope of work also directly aligns with the Blueprint for Impact, which is our path towards a thriving region.
“All of the selected grantees are doing amazing things for our community,” said Jonathan Cunningham, Senior Program Officer. “With the Resilience Grant Fund, Seattle Foundation is doing our part to ensure that these organizations have the resources they need to continue making systemic change – for the better – in the Greater Seattle region.”
For the full list of grantees, view the list below:
Resilience Funds applications are reviewed and granted on an annual basis. The 2022 grant cycle opens in the fall. Please email Jonathan Cunningham with any questions. Up-to-date deadlines are on the Resilience Fund section of our grant opportunities page.
Read more about all the grants made from the Resilience Fund:
The first round of the Resilience Fund in the spring of 2017 awarded $565,000 to 33 organizations.
The 2017 fall cycle of the Resilience Fund awarded $371,000 to 24 organizations.
The 2018 spring cycle of Resilience Fund awarded $327,000 to 22 organizations.
The 2018 winter cycle of Resilience Fund awarded $365,000 to 23 organizations.
The 2019 cycle of Resilience Fund awarded $550,000 to 31 organizations.
The 2020 cycle of Resilience Fund granted out $550,000 to 30 organizations.