Racial Equity Fund

Purpose: Provides financial support and technical assistance to BIPOC-led organizations through operational unrestricted grants designed to empower Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC)-led organizations to provide programs and projects that work toward eliminating racial disparities in pursuit of more equitable and just communities across Southeastern Michigan.

Funding Details

• Award Range: $10,000 - $50,000 flexible, unrestricted and general operating grants
• 2024 Funding Available: $200,000 total
• Geographic Scope: Washtenaw County (organizations must be based in and serve Washtenaw County residents)
• Focus Areas: Programs responding to and mitigating effects of racial inequities and/or building power and infrastructure in communities of color; includes work in mental health, developmental disabilities, community development and revitalization, education, land ownership, financial literacy, food insecurity, maternal health, housing

BIPOC Executive Leadership Definition

United Way for Southeastern Michigan takes a comprehensive approach assessing:

1. Identities of the organization leader
2. Extent to which key staff holding decision-making power identify as BIPOC
3. Extent to which board of directors/advisory council holding decision-making power identify as BIPOC

Eligibility Requirements

• Must have BIPOC executive leadership (as defined above)
• Must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in good standing with State of Michigan and IRS
• Required documentation: IRS designation letter, 990 form, W-9, and financial statements
• Geographic requirement: Based in Washtenaw County AND serve Washtenaw County residents
• Non-501(c)(3) organizations may apply via a fiduciary if applicable

Funding Restrictions

Organizations NOT eligible to apply:

• Currently funded by United Way for Southeastern Michigan
• Currently funded by United Way of Washtenaw County
• Previous Racial Equity Fund recipients

This restriction is intentional to increase diversity of organizations and programs supported and reach organizations often excluded from traditional funding ecosystem.

Spending Period

• January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024
• Organizations can retroactively charge eligible expenditures back to start of grant period since funding determinations announced early March

Fund Uses

Funding can be used as:

• Seed funding to support organization growth and scale
• Design of new, creative ideas
• Promotion or expansion of existing racial justice and equity work

Reporting Requirements

• Mid-contract report: July
• Final contract report: December
• Organizations design their own program success measurements
• No minimum number of clients required

Fund Disbursement

• 75% of grant funds: Dispersed within 2 weeks of fully executed contract
• Remaining 25%: Released in July after successful submission of mid-contract report

Fund History

• Created by diverse and inclusive workgroup of community members (Summer 2021)
• Development informed by Centering Community Voice Blueprint
• 49 organizations awarded over two years (2022-2024)
• Total investment since inception: $3.2 million

Contact

RacialEquityFund@UnitedWaySEM.org
(For questions about BIPOC executive leadership definition as applied to your organization)

Application Process

Application Submission:

• All applications must be submitted through SurveyMonkey Apply (United Way for Southeastern Michigan's grant management system)
• Phone-in applications are NOT available

For Technical Support:
Contact Community Investments team at SMA@UnitedWaySEM.org for questions or support related to accessing SurveyMonkey Apply

Questions/Eligibility Clarification:
Contact Ray Stoeser at RacialEquityFund@UnitedWaySEM.org if you have questions about how BIPOC executive leadership definition applies to your organization

Application Requirements (Based on FAQs):

• Demographic information about clients served
• Estimations/projections for reach across identified municipalities with large concentrations of ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed)
• Description of how funding will address racial inequities

Evaluation Process

• Review committee selected to review and score all proposals
• Each organization evaluated according to requirements and terms and conditions in RFP
• Diverse review committee incorporating lived experiences at all levels of grantmaking process