One funder’s response to the COVID-19 crisis:
“Now is the critical time to support grassroots organizers and community leaders working to bring about systemic change for economic and racial equality. COVID-19 has amplified the divide between the haves and have-nots and this chasm will only intensify. We will see many changes in leadership, and new alliances must be formed. The future of organizing depends upon immediate support now.”
We encourage funders to honor all funding commitments, relax due dates for grantee reporting, offer training and technical assistance, collaborate with other funders, engage in response meetings, keep virtual office hours for calls, and advocate for more urgent general support including local mutual aid funds.
Elias has also contributed rapid response funds to:
Westchester Community Foundation COVID Response Fund
North Star Fund’s Future of Organizing Fund, earmarked for Hudson Valley organizations
Westchester Residential Opportunities
Communities United for Police Reform
Black Lives Matter Hudson Valley
Elias is also reaching out to our Fellows and most vulnerable grantees to see what additional help they might need. For example, Elias has forgiven the balance of an impact loan made to Building from Below.
In addition, Elias has granted immediate general support to four New Orleans criminal justice reform organizations that are focused on decarceration:
Families and Friends of Louisiana’s Incarcerated Children
Orleans Parish Prison Reform Coalition
Daughters Beyond Incarceration
Vietnamese-American Young Leaders' Association of New Orleans (VAYLA-NO)