What is Justice Philanthropy?
We appreciate the following definition from Resource Generation: “Social justice philanthropy focuses on the root causes of social, racial, economic and environmental injustices. It strives to include the people who are impacted by those injustices as decision-makers. It also aims to make the field of philanthropy more accessible and diverse. In social justice philanthropy, foundations are accountable, transparent and responsive in their grantmaking. Donors and foundations act as allies to social justice movements by contributing not only monetary resources but their time, knowledge, skills and access. Social justice philanthropy is also sometimes called social change philanthropy, social movement philanthropy, and community-based philanthropy.”
Why Justice Philanthropy?
We know firsthand that Justice Philanthropy is important to ensure that Racial Equity and Racial Justice work can be resourced for the long-haul. According to “Derailed: Rising Attacks and Retreating Resources for Racial Justice,” a report from Philanthropy Initiative for Racial Equity, only 6.8 percent of philanthropic dollars supported communities of color and only 1 percent supported Racial Justice work in 2023. The report authors observed that “Institutional philanthropy’s support for the entire racial justice movement barely equals the annual budget of a single midsized university.”
Black and brown-led organizations and initiatives like Forward Through Ferguson cannot operate on budgets that are dependent on reactionary giving that arises from recent tragedy and fades along with media attention.
How does Forward Through Ferguson’s work align with Justice Philanthropy?
What if people most impacted by racial inequities were fully resourced and equipped to design and implement transformative solutions? We at Forward Through Ferguson believe that we are uniquely positioned to design and facilitate community-led funding models that challenge donors and funders to prioritize community needs for healing and justice.
Forward Through Ferguson (FTF) advances Justice Philanthropy by serving as the sole administrator of the Racial Healing + Justice Fund, facilitating selection, meetings, convener and facilitator of the Community Governance Board (CGB) of the Fund, and advocating for a $10 million endowment for the RH + JF. FTF also provides Build Racial Equity Capacity offerings to organizations in the philanthropy sector.
What is the Racial Healing + Justice Fund?
The St. Louis Regional Racial Healing + Justice Fund (RH + JF) is a community-centered fund dedicated to resourcing community-led healing and systems change efforts in the Greater St. Louis and East St. Louis region. Following a successful pilot partnership from 2020 to 2023 between Forward Through Ferguson (FTF), Deaconess Foundation, and the Missouri Foundation for Health, the RH + JF is now fully administered by Forward Through Ferguson (FTF).
