In 2021, York County Community Foundation (YCCF) launched the Racial Equity Fund (REF) grant program which focuses on shifting the paradigm of equitable opportunities. The REF seeks to support projects that address issues of racism and inequity in our community to ensure everyone has an opportunity to thrive.
The Racial Equity Fund Grant program was designed by the Racial Equity Fund Committee – a group comprised of community leaders of color.
The Racial Equity Fund will offer grants of up to $15,000 each for projects that seek to address issues of racism and inequity within communities of color in the following areas:
- Education and job readiness
- Criminal justice system
- Community leadership and development
- Income and wealth creation
- Racial and cultural education
- Health and wellness
To qualify for a grant, nonprofits or individuals must be working directly with people of color, with a preference for projects that are led by people of color.
To download and print an application or to view materials from the virtual information session, including the presentation, click HERE and scroll to the Racial Equity Fund section toward the bottom of the page.
The York County Community Foundation (YCCF) is dedicated to taking the necessary steps toward advancing racial equity in our community and one step is the creation of a grant fund dedicated to support meaningful, positive action to advance racial equity.
YCCF used $125,000 of its unrestricted dollars to establish a racial equity fund that will have an initial pool of resources to make grants now as well as a permanently endowed fund that will generate annual grants for racial equity initiatives year after year. Decisions for this fund will be in the hands of a new advisory committee of volunteer community members. This new committee will determine the purpose, parameters, process for grant selections and will evaluate and select grant recipients.
Important Dates for 2023 Racial Equity Grant Cycles
First Grant Cycle Opens: March 1, 2023
First Grant Cycle Closes: March 22, 2023
First Grant Cycle Awards Announced: June 2, 2023
*Program start date for first grant cycle must be June 1 or later.*
Second Grant Cycle Opens: August 1, 2023
Second Grant Cycle Closes: August 22, 2023
Second Grant Cycle Awards Announced: October 20, 2023
*Program start date for second grant cycle must be November 1 or later.*
For more information on applying for a grant from the Racial Equity Fund, visit https://yccf.org/for-grant-seekers/grant-programs/racial-equity-fund-grant-program/.
Prior to submitting a Racial Equity Fund grant application, all potential grantees must contact Chawna Griffith-Myers, Grants Administrative Assistant, to schedule a meeting about the grant proposal to ensure it meets the funding source requirements.
Contact Chawna Griffith-Myers by email: cgriffith@yccf.org or by phone: 717.848.3733
Applications will be reviewed and recommended by the Racial Equity Fund Committee. YCCF staff are available to answer questions and will assist applicants with the application process.
If you have technical questions, such as how to access the application, or how to create an account, please contact Jason Andrews, Grants Program Manager at jandrews@yccf.org
Committee Members:
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Lisa Kennedy – Family Peer Support Specialist, York County Department of Human Services and York City School Board Director |
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Timothy Warfield – Chairman, PA Community Development & Finance Corp.; member of the YCCF Board of Directors; and retired from the National Association for State Community Services Programs. |
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Natalee C. Gunderson – VP of Human Resources, York Water Company |
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Jamiel Alexander – CEO of E5 Enterprises and Aspen Institute: Forum For Community Solutions Youth Led Change Program Manager |
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José Santiago – Director, YMCA New American Welcome Center |
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Kim Brister – Vice President, Chief Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Officer |
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Delores Penn – Educational Consultant; retired from the School District of the City of York |
YCCF created the Racial Equity Fund in 2020 to establish a dedicated grant program to support meaningful, positive action towards addressing racial inequities in our community. Additional contributions are being sought to sustain an endowment so that meaningful grants are distributed every year.
For more information on the Racial Equity Fund including how to donate, please visit: https://yccf.org/racial-equity-fund/
