Grants to combat systemic racism
TULSA, OK – Grant applications are now open for the inaugural funding cycle of the Commemoration Fund, a fund that was established in June 2020 and is run by and for Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and People of Color in Tulsa. Applications will be accepted through Friday, Feb 12. This year, the grants will be announced in May to honor the 100th anniversary of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.
“It has been a whirlwind of work since the Commemoration Fund was launched,” said Clarence Boyd, who was hired as the program officer for the Commemoration Fund in November. “The board and I have had the pleasure of disrupting the traditional philanthropic narrative by focusing on grantmaking that will be determined by people of color – we are able to draw on the resources, knowledge and data of the Zarrow Foundation, but the board has the authority to determine the grantmaking agenda and select the grants that support our important mission.”
The Commemoration Fund mission is to support bold and innovative efforts to correct social, political, and economic injustices that impact Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and People of Color in our community. Grantmaking will address disparities rooted in white supremacy and systemic racism with sustainable, collaborative solutions.
Nonprofits doing innovative work correcting social, cultural, political, or economic injustices impacting Black, Indigenous, Latinx, or other People of Color in the Tulsa region are encouraged to apply. The fund has special interest in justice, education enrichment, advocacy and leadership development.
“We’ve got an opportunity to fund programs, organizations and initiatives that can create real, long-term change for people of color,” said Glenda Love, who was named president of the Commemoration Fund advisory board in September. “To be the stewards of this fund is an opportunity I hadn’t even dreamed of and I look forward to seeing the impact we can create.”
Applications can be found online at www.zarrow.org/commemorationfund. Applicants can request $3,000 to $100,000 for single year support and up to $250,000 for 3 to 5-year programs. Grants will be considered for general operations, specific programs, equipment, consulting, research or other efforts aiming to address disparities rooted in systemic racism.
Applications will be accepted through Friday, Feb. 12 and will be reviewed by the Commemoration Fund board which, in addition to Love, includes Eunice Tarver, Provost, Tulsa Community College Northeast Campus; Moises Echeverria, President, Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice; Frank Haith, Head Basketball Coach, The University of Tulsa; Hannibal B. Johnson, Author, Attorney & Consultant; Ashley Philippsen, Senior Director of Engagement and Advocacy at Impacttulsa.; and Wilson Pipestem, Partner, Pipestem Law.
“We are excited to see and meet the people who are already doing great work in our community to provide equity and equality for people of color,” said Boyd, “This job is a responsibility, this fund is an opportunity, and we are excited to get to work.”