What is the Fund for Racial Equity?
ACT for Alexandria is bringing donors and community members together to fight against generations of racial injustice in Alexandria. The Fund for Racial Equity has been created for a single goal: to provide a sustainable source of funding dedicated to supporting efforts that dismantle systemic racism and advance racial equity in Alexandria. The fund itself is community-driven, guided by the experiences and insights of the people living in Alexandria. We are focused on community decision-making, centering the voices and perspectives of those most impacted by systemic racism. A Community Advisory Board establishes the fund’s priorities and leads decision-making. We are seeking committed donors to join us in making a meaningful financial commitment to support this goal.
The Alexandria City Council in Resolution No. 2974, adopted in January 2021, declared that “People who live, work and visit in Alexandria today continue to experience bias, discrimination, and unequal outcomes and/or treatment in every field and sector including but not limited to government, housing, employment, environment, wealth healthcare, education, transportation, [and] the legal system…” It is well established that racial disparities are the greatest roadblock to achieving social and economic opportunity and health and well-being for all residents. By fighting against racial injustice, we create a better city for all Alexandrians. Please join us as the Fund for Racial Equity at ACT aims to:
» Activate Alexandrians to advance racial equity in Alexandria
» Drive Agency for those most impacted by systemic racism
» Educate about the history and impact of racism to better combat it
» Support innovative and creative work tackling current and long term needs
Summer 2024 Grant Awardees Announced!
We are pleased to announce the first grant awardees supported by the Fund for Racial Equity at ACT for Alexandria! Designed and led by the Community Advisory Board, and with matchmaking dollars provided by the Greater Washington Community Foundation, inaugural grant making emphasizes racial equity gains in Health, Education, Housing and Child Welfare. Click below to learn more about the awardees and grant process.
What do we need?
The Fund for Racial Equity needs to be creative, nimble, and it needs you to help make that happen. There is no single silver bullet to ending systemic racism. We need donors to work alongside community members who have the wisdom and lived experience that will guide us toward a better, more equitable tomorrow. We need partners who are willing to support emergent and complicated work, tackling both immediate and long-term needs in Alexandria.
Join us in our vision of a thriving Alexandria where all residents have the opportunities and resources to live healthy, fulfilling lives free of racism, discrimination, poverty, violence, and other systems of marginalization.
CLICK HERE TO GET INVOLVED
Donate to the Fund!
Meet the Community Advisory Board
The Board is comprised of 10 people who live and/or work in Alexandria, who will guide the grantmaking process for the Fund.
Previous Grant Opportunity Materials
Summer 2024 Grant Opportunity
In-person application support will be available at the ACT for Alexandria office (201 N. Union St., Suite 110, Alexandria, Virginia 22314) from 3:00-5:00pm July 29th through August 2nd, August 13th-16th, and August 20th-21st. Questions about the application may be submitted via email at grants@actforalexandria.org or phone (703.739.7778, extension 6). Language access support is available.