MARION – For a third consecutive year, Marion Community Foundation is offering the Racial Equity & Justice Grants Program.
“Racial equity and justice must be one of the core values of our community and Marion Community Foundation hopes this grant program will offer nonprofits a catalyst to take a step forward; a step towards what the Foundation envisions for our community – one that is generous, educated, healthy, collaborative, and vibrant,” said Dean Jacob, President and CEO.
The Racial Equity & Justice Grants Program has $50,000 available for this year. According to Jacob, this amount could be distributed in full to one organizational recipient or in several smaller grants to multiple organizations. The decisions on how much and to whom grants will be made are the work of a volunteer committee of Marion Community Foundation and its board of directors.
Any charitable non-profit 501(c)(3) organization or equivalent -- which includes churches, schools, and governmental entities -- looking to improve issues of equity and justice in Marion County is eligible to apply. Grants may be for new or existing programs. An application for this competitive community grant is available now on the Marion Community Foundation website, with a deadline of March 3, 2023, at Noon. It is anticipated the review process will be concluded in late April, with awards announced in May 2023.
“The goal of Marion Community Foundation with our Racial Equity and Justice grants is to foster innovative programs for leaders at every level to use their power, platforms, and resources to help people overcome challenges and build a better community,” said Jacob. “Moving forward takes small steps, is slow and continuous, and essential for a community that is working to value all people.”
The selection committee looks for applications which identify and detail a community need and offer a solution that clearly states an effective plan to meet that need. Racial Equity & Justice grants may be awarded to charitable, educational, governmental, and religious programs for the benefit of Marion County, Ohio, residents.
Awards are intended to increase the amount and effectiveness of resources to support Marion area nonprofits working to build capacity, strengthen education, and enhance collaboration in the fields of racial and social justice.
Additional information is available by contacting Marion Community Foundation’s Director of Programs, Julie Prettyman, at 740-387-9704 or by email at JuliePrettyman@MarionCommunityFoundation.org. The application can be found online by visiting www.MarionCommunityFoundation.org and clicking on the “Grants” tab.