The Forward Fund
GROWING GRASSROOTS
The Forward Fund was established in Fall 2020 to support BIPOC-led grassroots organizations providing direct service and working on base-building efforts, with a focus on historically marginalized communities targeted by the federal voting process and aftermath.
The fund has evolved to support organizations responding to heightened moments of racialized injustice. In the last round of distributions, grants responded to the collective re-traumatizing that communities of color were experiencing in the wake of the Chauvin trial, compounded by the killings of Daunte Wright, Adam Toledo, and Ma’Khia Bryan, as well as the video involving Lt. Caron Nazario.
2021 FORWARD FUND GRANTEES
GROWING GRASSROOTS
1. Alternatives for Community Environment
2. Amplify Latinx
3. Asian American Resource Workshop
4. Beantown Society
5. Blackyard
6. Boston Plan for Excellence for Greater Boston Leadership Study Circles
7. Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation
8. Community for Us by Us
9. CSIO- Center to Support Immigrant Organizing
10. DARRC Coalition
11. Design Studio for Social Intervention/ Social Emergency Response Center
12. Dorchester Art Project
13. Eastie Anti-Racism Community Coalition
14. ECCO - Essex County Community Organization
15. Elevated Thought - Lawrence
16. Families for Justice as Healing
17. Front Porch Arts Collection
18. I have A Future
19. Louis D. Brown Peace Institute
20. Massachusetts Democracy and Civic Education Fund
21. Maverick Landing Community Services
GROWING GRASSROOTS
22. Mijente Boston Asamblea
23. MIRA
24. Muslim Justice League
25. Neighborhood Network Center
26. North America India Center of Boston
27. North Shore Juneteenth Association Inc.
28. NUBE
29. Preservation Circle
30. Print Ain’t Dead
31. Right to the City Boston
32. Roxbury Cultural District
33. Sisters Unchained
34. Stinging Nettle Brujx Healing Collective
35. The City School
36. Twelfth Baptist Church
37. UnBound Bodies
38. Unity Circles
39. Urban Revival Inc d.b.a. City Life Vida Urbana
40. UTEC
41. Violence in Boston
42. We Are Better Together
43. Worcester Interfaith
44. Youth Justice and Power Union
45. YWCA
INDIVIDUALS
46. Tracy Pendergrass Beard
47. Rachael Anne Devaney
48. Sean Ellis
49. Neenah Estrella-Luna
50. Yolanda Mea Johnson
FORWARD EVER
PRESS
COVERAGE
Foundations Prepare to Help Grantees Respond to Election-Related Chaos
In the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Alex Daniels highlights the Forward Fund as one of the important efforts across the country to prepare for issues that might arise in the aftermath of the 2020 election.
READ MORE
TAKE ACTION
Embrace Boston works to honor a bold and enduring vision of justice, equity, and equality. The gravity and urgency of realizing this just and equitable future has never been laid so bare in the face of what communities of color are experiencing amid this public health crisis and current civil rights moment.
Please consider a donation to The Forward Fund.
DONATE
FOUNDING
PARTNERS
Embrace Boston manages the Forward Fund along with an Advisory Committee of the following organizations:
ACLU Massachusetts, Barr Foundation, The Base, The Boston Foundation, Dentaquest, Change Agency, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, Hyams Foundation, The Klarman Family Foundation, Latino Equity Fund, Lenny Zakim Fund, MassBudget and Policy, MassHousing, Mass League of Community Health Centers, New Commonwealth Fund, New England Blacks in Philanthropy, State Street, Twelfth Baptist Church, and Wagner Foundation.
We are currently seeking additional funding partners for this critical initiative. Please check back for updates.