FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 30, 2019
CONTACT: Kawana Lloyd, kawana@megaphonestrategies.com, 240-472-2860
Emergent Fund Honored with 2019 NCRP “Get Up, Stand Up” Impact Award for Rapid Response
The Fund bucks philanthropy’s restrictions by releasing quick turnaround ‘no strings attached’ funds to communities of color in times of need and during direct actions
Washington, DC –This week, the Emergent Fund was announced as the winner of the “Get Up, Stand Up Award” from the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP) 2019 IMPACT Awards. The Fund was established immediately after the 2016 election to provide rapid response to marginalized and attacked communities — immigrants, women, Muslims and Arab-Americans, Black and Indigenous people, and the members of the LGBTQ community — negatively impacted by federal policies and priorities. The Emergent Fund is one of four recipients that will be recognized in Seattle during the CHANGE Unity Summit on Wednesday, November 20.
Emergent was specifically honored for its new, non-bureaucratic telephone application process for rapid response direct action support as well as its intentional efforts to fund communities of color and reduce barriers to entry for grassroots groups. This innovative process emerged out of Emergent Fund’s work with organizations fighting the White House’s family separation practices.
The Emergent Fund supports organizations that promote women’s justice, racial justice, and climate justice to develop innovative strategies to transform our country. Some grantees include the Climate Justice Alliance, United We Dream, Transgender Law Center, Ultraviolet, Justice for Muslims Collective, Food Chain Workers Alliance, the Campaign for Southern Equality, Familia: Trans Queer Liberation Movement and the Million Hoodies Movement for Justice.
“When we trust the vision and leadership of the people most harmed by these issues, we create solutions that are intersectional and don’t leave anyone behind,” said Emergent Fund’s DC-based Director, Alicia Sanchez Gill. “We dedicate the Get Up, Stand Up award to our grantee partners, and encourage fellow funders to understand that people of color and frontline communities are already doing this work with so few resources — investing in them is not a risk, it’s effective grantmaking.”
Key Milestones include:
- Since 2017, Emergent Fund’s Advisory Council has approved over $3 million in grants to more than 180 groups across the country, and will continue to make grants to the field on a rolling basis.
- Proposals can be captured via phone and transcribed, and are just one page. The burden of proof is on Emergent Fund to find and research frontline organizations.
- Funds can be released within a week when organizations need them most versus the typical philanthropic practice which involves a months-long lag between the receipt of a proposal and funds being awarded.
- The Emergent Fund’s grantmaking supported efforts by El Pueblo Immigration Legal Services during the Mississippi immigration raid that left hundreds of children without their parents, resistance against abortion bans by reproductive justice organizations across the country and the fight to help Native Hawaiians protest the construction of a controversial, 30-meter telescope that would destroy the sacred mountain of Mauna Kea.
“In just a few short years, the Emergent Fund has emerged as an important partner to the climate warriors of Indian country,” added Donald M. Ragona, Director of Development and House Counsel, Native American Rights Fund, NCRP board member and member of 2019 NCRP Impact Awards Selection Committee. “Their work to reframe climate change through Indigenous voices and ability to quickly get funding where it’s needed without making grantees jump through hoops has been invaluable in the current political climate.”
The Emergent Fund is a partnership between Women Donors Network, Solidaire Network and the Democracy Alliance to provide a way for individuals at all levels to contribute their money strategically in this critical moment.
*** To coordinate an advance interview with Alicia Sanchez Gill, Director of The Emergent Fund or one of their grantees, please contact kawana@megaphonestrategies.com. ***
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About The Emergent Fund
The Emergent Fund was established immediately after the 2016 election to help move quick resources with no strings attached to communities that were and continue to be under attack by federal policies and priorities – immigrants, women, Muslim and Arab-American communities, Black people, Indigenous communities, LGBTQ communities and all people of color. A full list of their grantees is available online at www.emergentfund.net/grantees.
About NCRP
The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy amplifies the voice of nonprofits and the communities they serve in the philanthropic sector. Through research and advocacy, it works to ensure that grantmakers and donors contribute to the creation of a fair, just and equitable world.
Since 2013, NCRP has awarded 19 Impact Awards to grantmakers in recognition of support, leadership, and partnership with grassroots organizations and community leaders around LGBTQ rights, minimum wage, environmental justice, health equity and other critical issues. A full list of past NCRP Impact Awardees is available on www.ncrp.org.
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