The Maine Justice Foundation is inviting proposals for the Racial Justice Fund 2021.

The Racial Justice Fund of the Maine Justice Foundation was formed by 23 founding donors in the summer of 2020. The first grants will be awarded in early 2021. The Fund supports education and advocacy aimed at achieving racial justice and eliminating racism. The Fund will support Black, Indigenous, and People of Color by forging social, systemic, and economic solutions to combat racism in Maine.

Goals

Grants from this fund will be made to qualified organizations for programs to advance racial justice throughout Maine. Specifically, grants will be made to:

• Implement programs, processes, education, and systems at every level of Maine society, including, but not limited to, the legal system, health care, education, the workplace, food insecurity, the courts and housing that address racism
• Identify interpersonal and systemic racism in organizations and systems and create solutions; and
• Assist in the creation of policies and organizational cultures devoid of racism.

Funding Information

In 2021, Grants from the Racial Justice Fund will be up to $10,000.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be Maine-based and must demonstrate the involvement and participation of Maine residents who are Black, Indigenous or People of Color.
• Applicants must be engaged in, and grant funds may only be expended for, charitable or educational work in Maine. Grants will not be made to annual fundraising appeals, political entities, capital campaigns or endowments, or for program expenses that have already been incurred.
• Grant recipients will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identification, sexual orientation, age, handicap or national origin against
  • any person applying for employment or employed by the applicant with respect to any personnel action proposed or taken concerning the applicant or employee; or
  • any person seeking participation in, or the benefits or proceeds of, the work supported in whole or part by this grant.

For more information, visit Maine Justice Foundation.