January 30, 2024
Solidaire Network Moves $2.1 Million to Progressive Antiwar and Racial Justice Organizations for Sustainable Peace in Israel-Palestine
The newly launched Unity & Power Fund supports the movement for a permanent ceasefire and against Islamophobia and antisemitism
Solidaire Network, a community of donor organizers, recently distributed $2.1 million in grants to progressive antiwar and racial justice organizations working for just and sustainable peace in Israel-Palestine. Their newest fund, Unity & Power, uplifts human rights organizing that is rooted in solidarity and mutual liberation, and that works toward a permanent ceasefire and against Islamophobia and antisemitism.
“We are witnessing historic mass mobilizations as people of all faiths and political tendencies across the globe call for a ceasefire,”
– Rajasvini Bhansali, Solidaire Network
“We are witnessing historic mass mobilizations as people of all faiths and political tendencies across the globe call for a ceasefire,” Rajasvini Bhansali, executive director of Solidaire Network. “Our members are demonstrating deep solidarity with this global movement for peace and justice by learning together, engaging in dialogue with movement formations, raising funds, and entrusting our staff team to vet groups and distribute funds. Donor networks like Solidaire play a crucial role in movements for justice because we have the flexibility to move money quickly and responsively support calls to action from movement builders.”
Through the Unity & Power Fund, Solidaire partners with grassroots groups working toward movement building, safety and protection for organizers, and urgent aid to those on the ground in Palestine. The majority of Unity & Power Fund movement partners are based in the United States and include Palestinian-, Arab- Muslim- and Jewish-led groups. Five of the partners are trusted social justice funds and intermediaries and received a combined $450,000 in support of urgent aid for Palestinians on the ground and progressive organizing in Israel.
Unity & Power Fund movement partners focus on direct action, legal advocacy, narrative shift, coalition building, and cross-movement solidarity while drawing from the traditions of feminism, queer liberation, immigrant justice, and worker rights. These groups face intensive backlash, stymied funding, and threats to security and safety.
“We need more philanthropic partners to show up during these flashpoints, and we also need their longer-term support to grow and sustain our work beyond this crisis moment. We are only able to do this work because of the multi-year funding we have received through committed partners like Solidaire Network.”
– Stacey Krueger, Palestine Legal
“As support for Palestinian freedom reaches new heights, we are witnessing an unprecedented surge in backlash against those speaking out,” said Stacey Krueger of Palestine Legal, a movement partner in the Unity & Power Fund. “Palestine Legal is working hard to defend Palestinians and their allies facing harassment, discrimination, employment consequences, physical assaults, severe doxing and criminalization for refusing to be silent about the genocide. We need more philanthropic partners to show up during these flashpoints, and we also need their longer-term support to grow and sustain our work beyond this crisis moment. We are only able to do this work because of the multi-year funding we have received through committed partners like Solidaire Network.” Solidaire has partnered with Palestine Legal for past three years in the Movement Infrastructure Fund.
Solidaire’s sister organization, Solidaire Action, has moved $240,000 to three organizations that are working to build political power for peace. Among them is Jewish Voice for Peace Action, which has mobilized over 300,000 calls and emails to Congress and helped organize thousands of Jewish activists and allies in mass mobilizations and sit-ins at congressional offices.
“We have no choice but to fight through the grief and keep calling for a ceasefire. As Jewish people, we cannot allow genocide against the Palestinian people to happen in our name.”
– Ari Solomon, Jewish Voice for Peace Action
“Like our Jewish relatives across the country, many of us are grieving Israeli loved ones who were killed on October 7, while also grieving Palestinian loved ones devastated by the brutal retaliation of the Israeli military,” said Ari Solomon, director of development for Jewish Voice for Peace Action. “We have no choice but to fight through the grief and keep calling for a ceasefire. As Jewish people, we cannot allow genocide against the Palestinian people to happen in our name.”
“As a Jewish person, as a person working in philanthropy and as a human being witnessing a decades-long genocide, I feel called to work with others to support, speak out and bear witness to what is going on,” said Sam Vinal, a board member of Solidaire Network and the Radical Imagination Family Foundation. “At Solidaire, we believe there is ample peace, justice and safety for both Israelis and Palestinians. We know this requires domestic and international grassroots organizing to achieve a lasting solution. We hope that our allies in philanthropy will join us in providing sustainable funding to movements working toward lasting peace and justice.”
“At Solidaire, we believe there is ample peace, justice and safety for both Israelis and Palestinians… We hope that our allies in philanthropy will join us in providing sustainable funding to movements working toward lasting peace and justice.”
– Sam Vinal, Solidaire Network
