Promoting Racial Equity and Inclusion in Milwaukee
The Greater Milwaukee Foundation is seeking proposals that promote racial equity and inclusion and are designed to improve the quality of life for people of color in Milwaukee. This special grant cycle was created to support organizations working to address the significant challenges facing communities of color in the city.
Background
On many measures racial disparity in the metro Milwaukee area is more pronounced than anywhere else in the nation. Recently, the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s “KIDS COUNT” report identified Wisconsin as the worst state for African-American children based on a dozen key indicators.
The Foundation’s “Vital Signs: Benchmarking Metro Milwaukee” report, a benchmarking study comparing greater Milwaukee’s four-county area to 15 other metro areas on more than 150 quality of life indicators(and supplemental data) echoes this assessment. (Visit www.greatermilwaukeefoundation.org for a copy of the fully report.)
A few examples:
- Milwaukee has the greatest black/white and Hispanic/white residential segregation among the 16 regions studied (Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Denver, Detroit, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Louisville, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Nashville, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis)
- Only 12.3 percent of Milwaukee’s businesses are minority-owned
- Wisconsin incarcerates a higher percentage of African-American men than any other state.
- On the National Assessment of Education Progress, the nation’s benchmark reading and math test, the gap between black and white students in Wisconsin was the widest in the nation
- 8 percent of Milwaukee’s whites live below the poverty level; 38.8 percent of blacks, and 29.3% of Hispanics live below the poverty level
Eligibility Criteria
With this RFP the Foundation seeks to reach groups and organizations that will place the voices of persons who are traditionally left out of community decision-making at the center of the planning, implementation and results of the proposed project. Proposals may include programs, planning, research, collaborations, community organizing, or initiatives addressing root causes of disparities. Grant amounts may range from $5,000 to $100,000. Multi-year requests will be considered.
Organizations must be considered charitable organizations as determined by the IRS internal revenue code 501(c)(3). Please note: Organizations that do not have this designation may use a fiscal sponsor (organization recognized as a 501(c)(3) charitable entity) to serve as the recipient and manager of the grant. Eligible nonprofits are required to have board membership that is at least 10 percent people of color. The term “people of color” refers to all persons who are not categorized as white by the U.S. Census.
Proposal Requirements
Proposals should address the following: (please limit response to no more than 6 pages – 5 pages of narrative and 1 page budget)
- Describe the social change that is the goal of the proposal, what will be done and how change will be measured
- Demonstrate an understanding of the issues the proposal seeks to address
- Provide a summary of experience working with the community or system that is the focus of the proposal
- Describe the role of partners
- Include a budget that supports the activities of the project
- Include a copy of organization’s or fiscal sponsor’s IRS determination letter
Proposals are due Monday, June 29. Please submit by email to Janel Hines, director of grant programs, at jhines@greatermilwaukeefoundation.org. If you have questions, contact Janel Hines by e-mail or by phone at (414) 336-7039. Not all proposals will be funded. Funding awards will be announced in early September. Award letters will include approved grant amounts and reporting requirements. Grant recipients will form a learning community and meet periodically as a group.
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