Month: December 2016

Launching: The Emergent Fund

On December 20th, 2017, Solidaire and the Women Donors Network launched the Emergent Fund, a new rapid response vehicle structured to move financial resources quickly and nimbly to communities on the front-lines.

The 2016 election results present immediate threats to a wide range of communities who were belittled, criminalized, and attacked during the presidential campaign: immigrants, women, Muslim and Arab-American communities, Black people, LGBT communities, and all people of color. Hate crimes in America are on the rise dramatically, the people who are being recommended to lead in the new administration have a track record of extremism, and harmful policies and proposals are being floated daily.

We don’t know exactly what will come, but we must be prepared. We do know that there are strong leaders and organized movements on the ground in these communities, and we know that their work has been historically under-resourced. Now is the time for us to use our collective power to stand with them and support them in what they are doing, to listen to what they need, and to fund the new strategies that will emerge over the next 2-4 years. Now is the time to give big and bold. Organizations like Cosecha are looking for additional funds to exponentially increase their ability to organize sanctuary cities and sanctuary campuses. Groups like MPower Change are doing communications work around the unconstitutionality of a Muslim registry, and building bridges between Muslim, immigrant, and Black communities.

The Emergent Fund is being established as a partnership between Women Donors Network and Solidaire Network to provide a way for individuals at all levels to contribute their money strategically in this critical moment. The Fund is governed by an Advisory Council that includes donors and leaders from the communities most affected by the current moment, and will be informed by a large and diverse network of leaders, activists, and funders who will help feed nominations into the Fund.

Our goal is to raise at least $500,000 into the Fund between now and January 20, Inauguration Day, and to grant the money out to the field in the first 100 days of the new administration and beyond on a frequent and rolling basis. Women Donors Network and Solidaire Network have seeded the fund with $100,000 and invite all interested individuals to participate.