Archive items for SJF.
Join Social Justice Fund NW (SJF) for Rise Seattle–a community mixer and fundraiser! Rise Seattle marks the culmination of SJF’s Rise Together series, connecting grassroots movements and community-driven support across our five state region. Together, we’ll celebrate the progress we’ve made, honor the people powering the movement, and raise funds for the progressive organizing shaping […]
Join Social Justice Fund NW (SJF) on Saturday, September 6 for Rise Boise–the latest event in our Rise Together series. On September 6, we’ll be in Boise for a community mixer and fundraiser to support progressive, social change! Come hang with the SJF team and shape the future of our work across Idaho. Registration for […]
SJF Giving Project Participants and Grant Panelists ~ You’re invited to our Grantmaking Alums Pride Happy Hour on June 7! Current Project Managers (and co-facilitators of Giving Projects) Adiza and Emily, as well as other SJF staff, will be at the Happy Hour and look forward to chatting and hanging out with you. Event Details […]
Members ~ You are invited to the Social Justice Fund (SJF) 2025 Member Meeting on Monday, June 9! This annual event is a great opportunity to learn about SJF’s recent initiatives, gain an in-depth look at our finances, preview our upcoming programs, and ask our leadership team your questions. Event Details Date: Monday, June 9, […]
Join Social Justice Fund NW (SJF) on Saturday, June 14 for Rise Casper–a fundraiser, community conversation, and grantee mixer that will bring together community members who want to take action in support of progressive social change. Come shape the future of SJF’s work across Wyoming and resource the progressive community organizing happening in your region! […]
Join Social Justice Fund NW (SJF) on Saturday, May 17 for Rise Missoula—a gathering of community members resourcing progressive social change across Montana. This fundraiser and community event is part of our Rise Together series, connecting grassroots movements across Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. Registration for this event is closed. Why Attend? Learn more […]
Thank you to everyone who attended Rise Portland! See photos and video of the event on Instagram. Did you miss Rise Portland? You can still consider making a donation today: www.bit.ly/risepdx Join Social Justice Fund NW (SJF) on Saturday, March 22 for Rise Portland—a powerful gathering of community, movement leaders, and changemakers. This fundraiser and community […]
Do you care about resourcing progress social justice movements? Are you a dedicated community changemaker? Are you excited about supporting SJF’s vision of a world that is just, equitable, and environmentally sustainable for all? Then you might be a great fit to join Social Justice Fund’s amazing Board of Directors! Attend our upcoming info session […]
Another year, another hybrid Member Meeting! Please join us for the SJF House Party + Member Meeting taking place on June 7th, 2024. As with every year, you can expect to learn more about SJF’s financial standing; hear about our challenges and accomplishments in the previous year, and get a sneak-peak for what’s unfolding in […]
(SJF staff photo from 2023, with Burke Stansbury & Alison Cheung) After 7 and a half years working at Social Justice Fund NW, February 22 will be my last day on staff. I can’t tell you how honored I’ve been to serve in this role. I was deeply committed to SJF when I came on […]
Check out Valériana’s speech at SJF’s 45th Birthday Party in October, 2023; her speech, which addresses many of the themes in this blog post, brought down the house! Content warning: this blog post references abuse, gender-based violence, death, and anti-Black violence. My name is Valériana Chikoti Bandua Estes. I am a deeply melanated Black woman […]
When asked to write about collective power, my initial thoughts take me back to how I experienced collective care during my childhood. When my mother became sick from cancer and was paralyzed on her left side, my grandparents and aunts from the Philippines came to live with my family here in the U.S. to take […]
You’re invited to SJF’s 45th Birthday Party on Saturday, October 7th! This will be another special hybrid event so whether you join us in-person in Seattle at the historic Washington Hall or attend virtually, we’re excited to build community with you. Because this is an extra special celebration, we’re shaking things up: this year we’ll […]
SJF is hosting a workshop for those who want to bring social justice values to the creation of a will. The workshop will include an overview from a progressive estate lawyer about creating a will and vehicles for “planned giving,” as well as a panel of people who have prepared wills and included bequests or […]
Social Justice Fund is excited to invite all of our Black (African American, African Immigrant, etc.) community members to join us for our Black August Community Kickback event on Saturday, August 19th at the Y-WE Office from 3:00-6:00 PM. This event is intended to center Black joy through delicious food, good music, and lively discussions. […]
Question: Who is as cool as an ocean breeze, luminous as the sun, and exciting as a wide open summer day? Answer: SJF’s amazing new staff members Join us in welcoming our four newest staffers, Adiza Ameh, Emily Chu, Muz Afzal, and Precious Arney! Based in Seattle and Portland, these staffers round out SJF’s Development, […]
This year the SJF Annual Member Meeting is a hybrid event in conjunction with our Summer Social. RSVP TO ATTEND Annual Member Meeting 4:30 PM PT HYBRID! Online via Zoom & at Coyote Central in Seattle, WA The SJF member meeting is an opportunity to learn more about the state of SJF, vote on new […]
Each year, we ask members of Social Justice Fund NW — who play a critical role within the organization — to take our member survey. (Review what it means to be a SJF member here). We do this because we want to learn more about our members, hear about how you currently engage with the […]
Can you believe that it’s been 45 years since Social Justice Fund NW (SJF) was established? Back in the day SJF was originally called A Territory Resource (ATR); we were founded in 1978 and have been distributing funds to grassroot progressive led organizations ever since. During its first year, ATR awarded $14,000 in grants to […]
Hi all! This is Amy Truax, and I’m the Data & Finances Coordinator at SJF. I started here just last year, in June of 2022, when we were in the midst of revamping our organizational values. It’s been delightful to see these values getting put into practice throughout our work over the past year, and […]
Join Social Justice Fund and Seeding Justice for a conversation on moving beyond DAF’s and imagining new ways of redistributing wealth. This workshop will happen over Zoom; the meeting link will be sent out closer to the event date. We’ll explore – What are Donor-Advised Fund (DAFs) and why are they important? – What are […]
SJF invites you to join us in Portland, Oregon on Friday, April 7th for a community happy hour! We’ll use this time to connect, build relationships, and have fun together. Location: Tropicale 2337 NE Glisan St. Portland, OR 97232 Space is limited so please register today.
How do we decide when, where and how much to give? How do our social and racial identities shape our relationships with money and giving? What does it look like to center the giving of money as part of our anti-racist practice? SJF (Social Justice Fund), CARW (Coalition of Anti-Racist Whites) and Plymouth Church have […]
Happy Black History/Futures/Liberation Month, folks! This is Marc Mazique, Operations Manager for SJF, offering up this perspective on our recently adopted organizational value of Black Liberation. This is the second in a series of blog posts we’ll be publishing over the next several months, providing reflections on each new value and how we understand it […]
Tacoma Arts Community Center 1102 S 11th St, Tacoma, WA 98405 Sponsored by Social Justice Fund NW. The Black Power movement is often associated with iconic spokespeople, but its momentum was due, in part, to the work of those with untold stories. UW-Bothell Professor and historian Dan Berger’s new book Stayed On Freedom: The Long […]
Hello world! This is Alison Cheung, Communications Manager at SJF coming at you with the first in a series of blog posts covering the development and thought process behind Social Justice Fund NW’s updated organizational values, officially launched in November of 2022. We’ll publish one post a month written by myself and SJF Operations Manager […]
Featuring grantee updates, games, food, drinks, and more! In-person: Seattle, Washington Hall 153 14th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122 Online via Zoom Time: 5:30 – 7:30 pm The SJF Winter Social will be a space to connect and have fun with other members of the SJF community while learning more about our recent programming (including the […]
Happy new year! Kick off your giving intentions for 2023 by joining our upcoming two-part Anti-Racist Giving Workshop in collaboration with CARW and Plymouth Church. In this interactive online workshop, we’ll discuss questions like… How do we decide when, where, and how much to give? How do our social and racial identities shape our relationships […]
The days are getting shorter, the leaves are putting on a show, and the rain is coming down — we’ve reached peak cozy season in the Pacific Northwest. It’s the perfect time to warmly usher in SJF’s newest board members, six radical, powerful, and visionary leaders who are deepening their commitment to SJF through leadership: […]
We can’t believe it happened and we’re blown away by your love and support — the SJF staff sends a huge THANK YOU to our community for turning out last Saturday at Ecosystems of Change: SJF’s 2022 Celebration! When we first started planning for this year’s event, we had no idea what to expect: would […]
Social Justice Fund, CARW, and Plymouth Church are back with our popular Anti-Racist Giving Workshop — but this time we’re going deeper by splitting it into two parts and putting the lessons in practice, together. Over two sessions on Monday, 9/12 and Monday, 9/15 from 5:30-7:30PM, we’ll explore questions like… How do we decide when, where, […]
We invite you to join us on Saturday, October 1, 2022 for SJF’s Annual Celebration — for the first time as a hybrid event! Join us in person at the beautiful Block 41 space in Seattle or tap in virtually for our interactive online option. Either way, we can’t wait to be in community with […]
We’re very excited to share our 2021 Annual Report with you. 2021 was a year of transition and transformation for SJF. We continued adjusting to a pandemic world, said goodbye to old staff, hello to new staff, had a record-breaking Giving Project, and began to re-write our internal policies from the ground up. Inside the […]
If you are a member of SJF (see member info below), you’re invited to join us on August 31. This year SJF is doing our annual Member Meeting in two parts! The first session on June 30 focused on recent internal transformations at SJF, new organizational values and a changing culture that centers wellness. This […]
We’re coming at you today with a very joyful post! Over the past four months a truly incredible group of people have joined the team at SJF, rounding out our organization with humor, data superpowers, deep community expertise, and fresh energy and perspectives. Some people have joined as full time staff; some are contractors, working […]
You’re invited! Save the date for our annual celebration — we are SO excited to announce that this year’s event will be online *and* person in Seattle! WHEN: Saturday, October 1, 2022 WHERE – IN PERSON: Block 41, 115 Bell St, Seattle, WA 98121 WHERE – ONLINE: Zoom, registration details to come Registration details soon […]
The SJF member meeting is an opportunity to learn more about the state of SJF, have the opportunity to vote on new board members, review and reflect on our programming for the year, and hear about some of our plans for what’s ahead. This year SJF is doing our annual Member Meeting in two parts! […]
Heads up organizers in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming! SJF has extended the deadline for the 2022 Rural Community Organizing Grant to Monday, June 20 by 10:59PM MT / 11:59PM PT. We’re hoping this extension can help get the word out even further and allow more time for those still working on applications to complete and […]
It’s been an agonizing last month — from the leaked Supreme Court opinion pointing to the end Roe v. Wade, to devastating mass shootings in Uvalde and Buffalo, the latter by an avowed white supremacist. We’ve seen the lack of change from powerful institutions and a frightening right-wing backlash. But when I shift my gaze […]
The next Anti-Racist Giving Workshop is coming up on June 2! Set your justice-centered giving intentions for the rest of the year in this interactive, cross-class virtual workshop. Developed in partnership with the Coalition of Anti-Racist Whites (CARW), this 2.5 hour workshop explores questions like… How do we decide when, where, and how much to […]
SJF is thrilled to announce our full slate of funding opportunities for the remainder of 2022! First and foremost, we want to thank our community of grantees, donor organizers, and supporters for informing our focus areas. Based on community feedback and organizational value priorities, our current and upcoming funding opportunities will center grassroots base building, […]
Join us for a free workshop open to people who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color on aligning your giving with social justice movement work on Saturday, May 14 from 2-4PM PST. From mutual aid to rising collectives to urgent fundraisers, many of us have upped our giving over the past few years. Giving […]
SJF has opened up our Communications Manager position. You can review the .pdf description of the role by clicking here. Communications Manager Fully remote, must be based in SJF 5-state region | $81-86,000 DOE | Applications due May 5th Working closely with the entire SJF staff, the Communications Manager will be responsible for ensuring clear […]
We’re happy to announce two staffing changes within SJF: the transitions of Essex Lordes from Project Manager to Grants Database Manager and Lady Anderson from Program Director to Director of Collective Capacity Building! Essex Lordes, Grants Database Manager Essex joined SJF in August of 2019 as a Project Manager, supporting curriculum development, facilitation, and grantmaking […]
At SJF, we try to send an email once a week. Besides the tactical considerations for engagement (yada yada), it genuinely feels essential for us, as a community-based foundation, to maintain relationship with you by sharing our excitement, our progress, the stories of our grantees and members, and the things we’re learning. But there are […]
We’re excited to introduce the Base Building Grant grantmaking panel, SJF community members who will review applications, meet with prospective Base Building Grant grantees, and democratically select the final awardees. We love how deep our panelist’s roots go: we’ve got representatives of grantee organizations, artists, educators, and organizers. Their expertise and perspectives are vital to […]
We’re kicking of 2022 with our popular Anti-Racist Giving Workshop on Tuesday, February 1! Set your justice-centered giving intentions for the year in this interactive, cross-class virtual workshop. Developed in partnership with the Coalition of Anti-Racist Whites (CARW), this 2.5 hour workshop explores questions like… How do we decide when, where, and how much to […]
Five years ago Social Justice Fund launched a new Rapid Response and Seed Grant program with the goal of supporting emerging organizations as well as more urgent, quick-turnaround grants. The program has been very successful; in 2021 we made 22 Rapid Response and Seed grants for a total of $86,000! We’ve set a goal to […]
I’m not going to lie: these last few years have been difficult for Social Justice Fund, as well as for many of our grantees and partners. It’s been a challenging time politically, with the right continuing to distort, sabotage, and manipulate power; the effects of climate change are becoming more apparent every day; and an […]
This one’s for you — for the donors, members, grantees, and community that support and sustain SJF, and for all the people who remind each other to rest and dance and eat good food. We’re holding our annual Community Appreciation Party to celebrate your joy and power on Wednesday, December 8 from 6-7:30pm PST. Come […]
Thank you for being on this journey with us. Sharing this inspiring series of events to celebrate the interconnected solidarity that forms our movement has been a true source of joy for me and SJF staff and board! An extra special thank you to those who came to our events and to those of you who gave. (You […]
Join us for an engaging panel conversation with current Social Justice Fund Grantees! It’s back! In 2020 we changed things up at our annual celebration by introducing the grantee panel: a space for grantees to speak on the beauty, challenges, and lessons of their grassroots movement work. As an organization, SJF is honored to lift […]
How do you even begin to sum up 2020? As it says on the opening page of SJF’s annual report, we are “grateful, encouraged and buoyed by the outpouring of love, support and trust we received in 2020.” It was a year of huge undertakings: our biggest year of grantmaking on the books with an […]
Social Justice Fund NW is hosting a workshop for those who want to bring social justice values to the creation of a will. The workshop will include an overview from an estate lawyer about creating a will and vehicles for “planned giving,” as well as a panel of people who have prepared wills and included […]
Note: the deadline has for submitting applications has passed. We are happy to announce that the application deadline for the 2021 Displaced Tenants Fund has been extended to Monday, August 23, 2021 at 5pm PST! Click here to view the application and begin your submission. We know this grant is pretty different than our usual […]
Thank you for your interest in being a Table Captain at SJF’s 2021 Annual Celebration! This year, we’ll be using the “Group” feature on Eventbrite to help Table Captains invite, manage, and communicate with their guests. “Groups” and “Tables” are the same thing. Be sure to email Andriana ([email protected]) to let us know you’re […]
If you are a member of SJF (see member info below), you’re invited to join us at our 2021 member meeting. The SJF member meeting is an opportunity to learn more about the state of SJF, have the opportunity to vote on new board members, review and reflect on our programming for the year, and […]
Social Justice Fund is a community foundation; the identity of our organization is inextricable from the community around us and the people who offer us their time, treasures, and talents — especially our staff. In the past few months, SJF has said goodbye to three amazing staff members: Akoth Ombaka, Operations Director; Magan Do, Grantmaking […]
Join Social Justice Fund NW and friends for a virtual evening of community and fundraising to celebrate the solidarity that forms the constellation of our movement. Hear from SJF staff and grantees, local artists, and an exciting keynote speaker as we reflect on the power of solidarity to connect our struggles and bring us closer […]
SJF believes that giving to social justice movement work, especially work led by Black, Indigenous, and people of color, is necessary to confront the full spectrum of white supremacy, hate, and inequality and build momentum towards a better, more just world in our region and beyond. One way to do that is by making a […]
How do you decide when, where and how much to give? How do social and racial identities shape relationships with money and giving? What does it look like to center the giving of money as part of an anti-racist practice? SJF and CARW (Coalition of Anti-Racist Whites) have teamed up to present this interactive workshop […]
Social Justice Fund has two upcoming opportunities for prospective grantees to connect with us, learn about our grantmaking process and eligibility requirements, and ask any questions you need to feel confident applying. We’re excited to connect with you! Prospective Grantee Webinar – Wednesday, February 17, 4-5:30pm PST Register here Designed for prospective grantees, this webinar […]
The first few weeks of 2021 have demonstrated with intense clarity the very real and very well resourced threat of white supremacy. We believe that giving to social justice movement work, especially work led by Black, Indigenous, and people of color, is necessary to confront the full spectrum of white supremacy, hate, and inequality. Momentum […]
One of the things we’re proudest of in our last five years is the Rapid Response & Seed program. Started in 2016, these grants allow us to respond quickly to the political climate, attacks, and opportunities, and to support new and emerging groups. In 2020 we’ve seen recipients of this grant do some seriously incredible […]
We’re excited to share our 2019 Annual Report! As we get ready for the new year around the corner, we’re reflecting back on the ways 2019 laid the groundwork for SJF in 2020. Click here to read the 2019 Annual Report We want to give a special shout out to the grantee organizations profiled within: Heartspark […]
Join SJF for a celebration of our accomplishments in 2020 and a look ahead to next year and beyond. December 3, 2020 — 6 to 7:30 pm Online (RSVP and you’ll receive additional details & a Zoom link the week before the event) We want to thank you — SJF members and donors — for […]
To get right to the point, our annual fundraiser was a huge success! We set a goal that felt considerable given the state of the world, $50,000, and you all showed up by helping us raise over $92,000! But let’s also talk about how we got here. We originally planned on an in-person event, […]
Recording of the Voices from the Frontlines grantee panel on Wednesday, September 16 2020, the first event in SJF’s 2020 week of celebration. We heard from four grantees of the Fund 4 the Frontlines, all Black, Indigenous, and People of Color led organizations doing powerful basebuilding in their communities. Featured panelists: Sierra Parsons, Washington Building […]
We premiered this video at SJF’s 2020 week of celebration to mark the public launch of the final phase of Fund 4 the Frontlines. Giant thanks to everyone involved — our amazing Fund 4 the Frontlines committee members, staff, and SJF’s beautiful community for helping us celebrate the campaign. Featured: Allister Byrd Carolanne Sanders Margo […]
How do we decide when, where and how much to give? How do our social and racial identities shape our relationships with money and giving? What does it look like to center the giving of money as part of our anti-racist practice? SJF (Social Justice Fund) and CARW (Coalition of Anti-Racist Whites) have teamed up […]
There is no liberation without Black liberation. How do we transform anti-Black resourcing in BIPOC spaces? Join Seattle Donors of Color for webinar discussion on anti-Black resource distribution and liberatory strategies in BIPOC spaces. We’ll dig into how fundraising looks different for Black people, apply intersectional analysis, and engage in how we as Black, Indigenous, and People of […]
At SJF’s 2020 Member Meeting in August we were excited to vote in four new board members! Here are their profiles so that you can get to know them: Aaron Oravillo Aaron was raised between Seattle and the Bay Area in California. He currently works at Nia Tero, a nonprofit with the mission of “Securing […]
NOTE: This event is open specifically to descendants of the African diaspora (Black, African, African-American, Afro-Caribbean etc) —— Black Liberation is the future. Is there a place for philanthropy in it? Though philanthropy is largely a white dominated sector, many grassroots movements were funded by Black people and continue to be resourced by folks working […]
If you are a member of SJF (see member info below), you’re invited to join us at our 2020 member meeting. The SJF Member Meeting is our annual check-in with members on the state of SJF. As part of the SJF Member meeting on August 18 you’ll have the opportunity to vote on new board […]
COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter uprising have swept the country, revealing with increased clarity all of the ways in which our government and society are failing Black, Indigenous, and people of color. Momentum to defund and abolish the police and build a better and more just world is mounting in our region, led by […]
In May of this year, our beloved Interim Program Director, Karen Toering, retired after 8+ years with Social Justice Fund. Her brilliance, spirit, and expertise has been a guiding light for SJF over the years. From developing and leading Giving Projects in their early iterations to current form to karaoke outings with staff, Karen’s influence […]
Things are looking a little different this year, but we can’t wait to party with you! We’ve expanded our annual celebration to include three events: Voices from the Frontlines Grantee Panel, Wednesday 9/18, 6-8PM Our centerpiece Annual (Virtual) Dinner, Saturday 9/26, 7-8:30PM Virtual Dance Party + Fund 4 the Frontlines Campaign Launch, Sunday 9/27, 1-2:30PM We’ve decided […]
In early March, as the COVID-19 pandemic set in, Social Justice Fund NW went into action the way we know best: rapidly moving money to grassroots organizations, and, as the crisis wore on, raising more funds from our community for emergency grantmaking. In a month we raised over a half million dollars and made 100 […]
COVID-19 has swept the country, revealing with increased clarity all of the gaps to resources we need to survive this crisis together. The impacts of this pandemic will become even more apparent in the coming weeks, especially for the most vulnerable in our communities. That’s why it’s time to step up our solidarity by giving […]
You’re invited to a special party introducing SJF’s Fund 4 the Frontlines campaign — an opportunity to build a stronger base for social justice movements through multi-year grants that are much larger than any we’ve ever made before. The public launch will include grantee presentations, organizers perspective on base-building strategies, SJF’s vision for the future […]
How do you put your social justice values into action? How do you give money without reinforcing oppressive dynamics? What does a good plan look like? This interactive, cross-class workshop will help you to think through these questions and get you on the path of a giving plan that challenges you while aligning with your […]
At Social Justice Fund NW we believe in activating donors and funding progressive movements. This process would not be possible without change. For many, the New Year is a time of reflection, change and new beginnings. At SJF we will embark on a new chapter in 2020 as our Executive Director, Mijo Lee, has decided […]
2019 marked our third full year of Rapid Response and Seed Grants since launching the program in late 2016. These grants allow us to respond quickly to the political climate and to support new and emerging groups, helping communities respond to fast-moving attacks and opportunities. We’ve set a goal to raise $20,000 before the end […]
You’re invited to the Social Justice Fund NW year-end Donor Appreciation Event! We want to thank you — SJF members and donors — for helping make our grantmaking and donor organizing work successful in 2019. The event is not a fundraiser but an opportunity for us to share accomplishments, see familiar faces, meet new people, […]
In March, our Seattle-based Rural & Small Town Organizing Giving Project set out to support community organizing in our region, specifically outside of Seattle and Portland. We came together to learn about strategic organizing outside of the two biggest cities in our region (where wealth is concentrated). We focused on rural communities, small towns, smaller […]
On October 5th, the Social Justice Fund community celebrated together during our annual dinner “The Change We’re Making.” We had a joyous time making new friends and reconnecting with each other, celebrating the work of our grantees, the success of our Giving Projects, and the social change and movement building we’re helping to create throughout […]
Social Justice Fund Northwest is proud to announce the second round of grants from the Displaced Tenants Fund, a partnership between the Displaced Tenants for Accountability & Transparency (DTAT) and SJF. In September, 2019 the Fund granted over $2.4 million to six organizations working to increase high quality, affordable, accessible, environmentally sustainable, and community-controlled housing […]
SJF is thrilled to announce our recent staff additions! Sewheat Asfaha Program Associate Sewheat was born and raised in the Seattle area, and has experience in youth development, college access, and nonprofit development/admin support. She is passionate about grassroots organizing and came to SJF as a member of the Black Led Organizing giving project. She […]
SJF’s Annual Dinner is sold out! We are thrilled to have Edgar Villanueva, author of “Decolonizing Wealth,” as our 2019 keynote speaker. Edgar Villanueva weaves a provocative analysis of the dysfunctional colonial dynamics at play in philanthropy and finance and offers a prescription for restoring balance and healing our divides using the guidance of indigenous […]
In this challenging political climate, many of us are ready to support those on the front lines of the fight for progressive change. We know that donating to grassroots, social justice organizations is one way to engage. But how do we decide when, where, and how much to give? Should the urgency of the current […]
If you are a member of SJF (see member info below), you’re invited to join us at our 2019 member meeting. The SJF Member Meeting is our annual check-in with members on the state of SJF. As part of the SJF Member meeting on August 14 you’ll have the opportunity to vote on new board […]
Join recent Giving Project alumni and other Social Justice Fund NW members for a summer gathering in Seward Park. Enjoy snacks and cold drinks, jump in the lake, bring kids for fun on the nearby playground, and bask in the sun or shade of a midsummer afternoon in Seattle. RSVP The Summer Social is a […]
We are excited to share Social Justice Fund NW’s 2018 Annual Report, which highlights the work of our Giving Project members to raise over $1.1 million in grants to support grassroots organizing in the Northwest. This work comes at a critical time for not just the Northwest but U.S. and the world at large. SJF’s […]
You’re invited to the Social Justice Fund NW Donor of Color Happy Hour! Come spend time with us and other Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) to have casual conversations about giving, moving resources, and supporting our own liberation. We’ll talk more about networking as an organizing strategy Thursday, June 13 from 5:30-7:30pm. Because space […]
The Black Led Organizing Giving Project is a groundbreaking project for SJF and consisted of 18 amazing community members living in Seattle. The all-Black Giving Project raised $324,528 from 240 donors to fund organizations led by and organizing Black communities in the Northwest. This all-Black Giving Project was unprecedented for Social Justice Fund NW, the […]
Social Justice Fund NW invites you to our Portland Cookout on Sun, Aug. 11, to fund our movements, to connect with one another and to celebrate our grantees’ work building power for lasting change. Tickets include food (vegan, vegetarian and meat options) as well as beverages (beer and non-alcohol options). Join us because you know […]
Social Justice Fund NW is excited to share the fundraising and grants that resulted from the work of 67 Giving Project members across three Giving Projects: the Black Led Organizing Giving Project, the Environmental Justice Giving Project and the Gender Justice Giving Project. These three projects combined were able to raise nearly $1 million funding […]
In this challenging political climate, many of us are ready to support those on the front lines of the fight for progressive change. We know that donating to grassroots, social justice organizations is one way to engage. But how do we decide when, where, and how much to give? Should the urgency of the current […]
Building collective power, raising money, and leveraging those funds to sustain movements is crucial to liberatory work. However, there are many systemic barriers to economic access for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)*. Whether you’re new to fundraising, experienced but need a reboot or refresher, or are in the middle of a fundraising campaign right […]
Announcement Date: March 25, 2019 The Displaced Tenants Fund for Housing Justice and Affordability is now accepting applications for the 2019 grant cycle! The Displaced Tenants Fund, a donor advised fund of Social Justice Fund NW, seeks to increase high quality, affordable, accessible, environmentally sustainable, and community-controlled housing for low-income tenants in the city of […]
You’re invited! Let’s spend time together with good people and good food.Please join us on March 26 in Seattle for an evening to enjoy good food, learn about upcoming events, share ideas, see old friends, and meet new people of color! There will be a brief agenda but mainly we want to hang out with you.When: Tuesday, March […]
Join us Wednesday for an evening workshop on political giving for people of color, hosted by Progress Alliance and Social Justice Fund. We’ll explore how people of color are giving, and why politics is one part of a multi-faceted strategy for your giving. Hear from Kirsten Harris-Talley, Program Director of Progress Alliance and former interim […]
KAREN TOERING Interim Program Director Interim Program Director, Karen Toering, previously spent seven years leading Giving Projects as an SJF Senior Project Manager and Project Manager. She is a grassroots organizer, cultural worker, and consultant for non-profit arts and social justice organizations. Her work includes base-building and collaboration on media justice and media policy initiatives […]
By Magan Do Social Justice Fund NW has always funded coalitions as part of our strategy for funding community organizing in the Pacific and Mountain West, but last year, we made a deliberate decision to dedicate two Giving Projects to funding only coalitions and alliances. Partially we made this decision because we heard from grantees […]
On November 1, Social Justice Fund was honored as the 2018 Outstanding Philanthropic Organization at the National Philanthropy Day event in downtown Seattle. More than 600 people were on hand, and SJF Executive Director Mijo Lee spoke to the crowd about the importance of taking risks, and how what we in philanthropy call “risk” pales […]
In early December, the executive director of OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon, Huy Ong, came to Seattle and spoke at SJF’s annual Donor Appreciation event. Huy talked about the election victories in Oregon, and about OPAL’s strategic vision for continuing to build on those victories. In particular, OPAL and other SJF grantees based in Portland were […]
Edgar Franks is the Civic Engagement Program Coordinator at Community to Community Development (C2C), an SJF Grantee based in Bellingham, Wash. Edgar and C2C were early members in Front and Centered, a coalition of people-of-color led environmental justice organizations in Washington, which played a crucial role in the recent campaign for the clean energy initiative […]
In this challenging political climate many of us are ready to support those on the front lines of the fight for progressive change. We know that donating to grassroots, social justice organizations is one way to engage. But how do we decide when, where and how much to give? Should the urgency of the current […]
SJF is looking for participants for Social Justice Fund NW’s 2019 Rural & Small Town Organizing Giving Project! This project will meet in Seattle and welcomes people living in rural areas or in Seattle. We’ll be funding grassroots organizing that builds power in ANY cities outside of Seattle and Portland, with priority given to organizations in […]
In 2019 Social Justice Fund will lead over 100 people through a process of learning, community building, fundraising, and grantmaking for social change through our 2019 Giving Projects . We’re excited to offer the following Giving Projects in Seattle and Portland to support and guide the program of grants below. Our Giving Project model continues to be […]
In this challenging political climate many of us are ready to support those on the front lines of the fight for progressive change. We know that donating to grassroots, social justice organizations is one way to engage. But how do we decide when, where and how much to give? Should the urgency of the current […]
In late 2016, Social Justice Fund NW launched a new Rapid Response and Seed Grant program to respond quickly to the political climate and to support new and emerging groups. We’re excited to say that it has been hugely successful: our second full year of grants bolstered urgent work in the region and brought new, […]
Click below to download our 2018 Fall Progress Report
Open Grants 2025 Emerging Justice Fund – 1 year grant, 10k total Deadline: Rolling throughout 2025, decisions made every other month starting in February The Emerging Justice Fund will move unrestricted funds to resource grassroots organizing for communities that have been and continue to be targeted by Federal, State and Local policies. Subscribe to […]
SJF is thrilled to announce two staff additions and a staff promotion. We are delighted to welcome Marc Mazique, as the Operations Associate, and Rahel Gaguro, as the Finance Associate. Marc and Rahel are both accomplished community members are we are excited to welcome them to the team. We are also happy to share that […]
It’s been nearly two weeks since the 2018 midterm elections and he results have now crystallized into a significant defeat for the right. But they also show that our country continues to be deeply divided: in many places and in some key races the Trump agenda was thoroughly rebuked; in other ways, the right was […]
It’s been nearly two weeks since the 2018 midterm elections, and the results have now crystallized into a significant defeat for the right. But they also show that our country continues to be deeply divided: in many places and in some key races the Trump agenda was thoroughly rebuked; in other ways, the right was […]
Please join us to celebrate a year of exciting growth for SJF in Portland–including our first year of being featured in the Willamette Week Give!Guide. You’re invited to reconnect or to meet us for the first time at our upcoming Happy Hour gathering at The Oregon Public House. SJF events are always a fun time and […]
In this challenging political climate many of us are ready to support those on the front lines of the fight for progressive change. We know that donating to grassroots, social justice organizations is one way to engage. But how do we decide when, where and how much to give? Should the urgency of the current […]
In challenging moments – and indeed, the last few weeks have been tough for all who care about and fight for social justice – what we need most is to come together as a community: to be inspired by leaders on the front lines of that fight, to share joy and laugh with others, […]
About six months ago, our Portland and Seattle-based Coalitions and Alliances Social Justice Fund NW Giving Projects embarked on a social justice philanthropy journey centered around coalitions and alliances. We came together to learn about the strategic nature of these organizing models (especially in today’s political climate), how they exist in a variety of ways, […]
UPDATE: Deadline extended to Sept. 21 for Black Led Organizing grants Social Justice Fund provides essential resources to organizations in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming to strengthen grassroots efforts in the broad-based movement for progressive, systemic social change. We have three exciting grant opportunities coming up with deadlines in August and September. Please help […]
Check out the 2018 summer edition of SJF’s newsletter Justice Notes. Inside, you will find stories about grantee work on immigrant rights, staff updates, and a look at SJF’s 40th anniversary celebration. 2018 SJF Summer Newsletter
By Palmira Figueroa In May, the Trump administration introduced its “zero-tolerance” immigration policy, calling for the prosecution of all individuals who cross the border into the United States without documentation. This policy had the immediate effect of separating thousands of parents from their children when they enter the country together, because parents are referred for […]
In mid-August, SJF held our 2018 annual member meeting. A stalwart group of members and donors participated in the meeting and heard reports on our member survey, progress on program and Giving Projects, as well as financials and the strategic plan. The group also voted in our three newest board members. Thanks to everyone who […]
On Jan. 29, 2018, 21 members of Social Justice Fund NW’s 2018 Criminal Justice Giving Project convened for the first time. Together, we embarked on a transformational six-month journey in building a collective understanding of how race, class, gender, sexuality, and other axes of oppression intersect with the criminal justice system. Galvanized by this framework […]
In this challenging political climate many of us are ready to support those on the front lines of the fight for progressive change. We know that donating to grassroots, social justice organizations is one way to engage. But how do we decide when, where and how much to give? Should the urgency of the current […]
Social Justice Fund NW invites you to a BBQ in Portland on Sun, Aug. 12, to fund our movements, to connect with one another and to celebrate FOUR decades of building power for lasting change. Tickets include food (meat, vegetarian and vegan options) as well beverages (beer and non-alcohol options). Join us because you know SJF […]
The past few weeks have been disheartening to say the least. The steady barrage of news – on immigration and family separations, the Supreme Court vacancy and court decisions that will affect generations – can feel overwhelming. But as distressing as these events have been, our communities are fighting back. Every day for the last […]
By Victoria Kaplan If you are intrigued by SJF, and want a clearer understanding of the challenges and opportunities of building a base for substantive change, the best thing you can do is attend a grantee summit. I met SJF when it was still ATR, at a time of transition from its groundbreaking beginning with […]
The 2017 SJF Annual Report is out and we are excited to share that in 2017, we granted $1 million to grassroots orgs in the Northwest, as Executive Director Mijo Lee said, “For 40 years we’ve been building [our] strength and we are on track to do even more. In 2017 we granted over $1 […]
SJF’s Annual Dinner and Dance Party (SOLD OUT) Oct. 6, 2018, 6-11 pm Block 41, 115 Bell Street, Seattle, WA, 98121 Our dinner is SOLD OUT. If you already purchased tickets and have questions email [email protected] This year, we are thrilled to feature three incredible speakers and artists: Daniel Pak Monserrat Padilla DJ SassyBlack MONSERRAT […]
We know how crucial it is to build collective power, raise money, and leverage those funds into our own communities. We also know there are many systemic barriers to economic access for people of color. Whether you’re new to fundraising, experienced but need a reboot or refresher, or are in the middle of a fundraising […]
by Callie Lambarth & Melody Martinez On a warm and sunshiny Saturday in Portland, the SJF Grantee Summit in Portland filled the house of the Curious Comedy Theater. On April 21, about 85 grantees, community members and organizations, SJF staff, board members, and Giving Project members and alums showed up to share part of the […]
In this challenging political climate many of us are ready to support those on the front lines of the fight for progressive change. We know that donating to grassroots, social justice organizations is one way to engage. But how do we decide when, where and how much to give? Should the urgency of the current […]
We are thrilled to announce the recent Economic Justice grants made by the Seattle and Portland 2017-2018 Economic Justice Giving Projects. Here’s a little about both groups: The Portland Economic Justice Giving Project is a small but mighty group of 12 volunteers including nonprofit workers, urban farmers, social workers, public health workers, data analysts, parents, […]
Dear SJF friends and comrades, What an amazing experience it has been to serve as SJF’s Program Director the past three years. It’s been truly inspiring work and such a privilege to work with so many dedicated and courageous grantees and donor organizers. So it’s with bittersweet feelings, that I’m writing to let you know […]
You’re invited to join us for our upcoming Eastside Tech Happy Hour. On Thursday, April 23, Social Justice Fund NW will gather people from the tech industry on the Eastside interested in innovative, sustainable, and impactful ways of funding grassroots work, and have like minded people network while building strategies on investing toward social good. […]
Join Social Justice Fund NW in celebrating 40 years of building power for lasting change. Go here for details and to get involved. Go here to purchase your tickets today.
Welcome New SJF board Co-chairs Kim and Molly SJF is excited to officially welcome Kim Powe and Molly Chidsey as the co-chairs of our Board of Directors. Molly Chidsey Molly is currently the Community Partnerships Project Manager for Metro regional government in Portland, where she leads efforts to incorporate racial equity into the regional garbage […]
Members of the Immigration Justice Giving Project with leaders of Mujeres Luchadores Progresistas. By Shardé Nabors Early one Sunday morning, I led a group of volunteers to visit SJF grantee Mujeres Luchadoras Progresistas (MLP) in Woodburn, Oregon. MLP recently received a grant from the Immigration Justice Giving Project, but as a potential grantee for our […]
By Palmira Figueroa Ubax Gardheere is the Equity Strategies Manager for the City of Seattle by day. She is a fierce fighter for justice by heart who exemplifies all of what Social Justice Fund NW is about. Ubax is also SJF’s outgoing Board co-chair. This month we are honoring Ubax and and her outstanding job […]
From the Spring 2018 “Justice Notes” newsletter. Photo: Members of the 2018 Criminal Justice Giving Project in Seattle. SJF’s innovative Giving Projects model has been embraced by a group of six participating funders called the Giving Project Learning Community, transforming the philanthropic approach of the community’s members. In an article published in the most recent edition […]
The SJF Grantee Summit in Seattle brings together grassroots leaders from across our five-state region for discussions on gender justice, environmental justice, racial justice, mass incarceration, native-led and black-led organizing, rural organizing, movement strategy, and more. The summit is a fantastic space to hear organizers, radical thinkers, and leaders share their work and ideas on […]
You’re invited to register for Social Justice Fund NW’s Grantee Summit in Portland! The Grantee Summit brings together grassroots leaders from across our five-state region for discussions on gender justice, environmental justice, racial justice, mass incarceration, Native-led and Black-led organizing, rural organizing, movement strategy, and more. Spend an afternoon in social justice community learning about […]
The 2017-2018 Immigration Justice Giving Project brought together 22 activists, cultural workers, students, mothers, musicians, nonprofit administrators, plant lovers, counselors, and more. Many are immigrants. Among their loved ones are refugees, green card holders, DACA recipients, U.S. citizens, and people without U.S. documents. Meet two of the members of the Immigrant Justice Giving Project: Jose Vazquez, […]
Because of popular demand Social Justice Fund is holding another Funding Our Own Liberation, a fundraising workshop specifically for people of color on Sunday, April 15. Especially today we know how crucial it is to building collective power, raise money, and leverage those funds into our own communities. We also know there are many systemic […]
You’re invited to join us for an interactive and educational event on alternatives to big philanthropy! Speakers will include representatives of CAGJ, Social Justice Fund NW, Resource Generation and Thousand Currents. Who Profits From Philanthropy? SPEAKERS: Burke Stansbury – Social Justice Fund NW Simone Adler – Community Alliance for Global Justice AGRA Watch Ruth Sawyer […]
We are thrilled to launch SJF’s new website! We wanted to create a mobile-friendly, intuitive, improved website experience to better serve the needs of our grantees, Giving Project members, donors, and SJF members. Some key features of the new website: Grantee Directory: Through the grantee directory, you can see all the organizations who have received […]
From the Rainier Valley Corps website: “In our final installment of this series, we are bringing you a different style of post. We interviewed over 12 fundraisers, working in the Seattle area. We asked them to share their experiences of working in this field. Thank you to everyone who was apart of this series! Click […]
Washington Building Leaders of Change (WA-BLOC) seeks to disrupt educationally embedded systemic racism and dismantle the school to prison pipeline.
Momentum Alliance is a Portland-based youth-led non-profit, with experienced coaches, whose mission is to inspire youth to realize their power individually and collectively and to mentor future social justice leaders. Momentum Alliance works to create a regional network of young leaders who act as a collective force to advance individual, institutional, and systemic change for […]
Western Native Voice’s culturally tailored community organizing model ensures Native Americans in Montana are engaged in decision that affect their lives through community organizing and citizen education.
Part of why I felt so proud of our grant from SJF is to know that people went through a process to understand racial and economic justice … Even though a dollar is a dollar, I know that this money came from a good place.
Red Lodge Transition Services’ primary objective is reducing mass incarceration of Native Americans.
This kind of funding model is what dignity is about. Fearless.
Social Justice Fund’s investment has allowed us to make considerable strides in work on issues of criminal justice that affect day laborers and the immigrant community in Portland. It is not easy to find partners that believe in this type of work, which seeks to strike problems at the root and enact systemic change in the pursuit of justice.
Join Social Justice Fund NW in Celebrating 40 Years of Building Power for Lasting Change at our Anniversary Celebration! Tickets on sale NOW! Celebrate 40 years of engaging members in a participatory process of grassroots fundraising to support community-based organizations that use community organizing to achieve their goals for social change. Questions? Contact [email protected] or […]
On Nov. 29, Social Justice Fund NW lost a dear friend and member of our family. Alan Rabinowitz was one of the earliest members of Social Justice Fund NW (then called A Territory Resource). It’s no exaggeration to say our organization would not exist today without his support and leadership. Much more than a donor […]
We are pleased to announce our 2018 grant cycles and funding opportunities. The Criminal Justice Grant application is due on February 1st and is now available through our online grant portal. Criminal Justice Grant (Due Feb. 1, 2018 5:00pm PST) Two-year grant of $10,000 per year. This grant will support community organizing work that addresses the intersections of […]
We are pleased to announce our 2018 grant cycles and funding opportunities. The Criminal Justice Grant application is due on February 1 and is now available through our online grant portal. Criminal Justice Grant (Due Feb. 1, 2018 5:00pm PST) Two-year grant of $10,000 per year. This grant will support community organizing work that addresses […]
In 2018 Social Justice Fund will lead over 100 people through a process of learning, community building, fundraising and grantmaking for social change through our 2018 Giving Projects. We’re excited to offer the following Giving Projects in Seattle and Portland. Our Giving Project model continues to be incredibly successful in developing leadership and moving money […]
We are honored to present the grants awarded from our 2017 Intergenerational Giving Project cohorts (Portland and Seattle). The two giving projects supported organizations that intentionally build leaders through their organizing work and use leadership development as part of a larger movement strategy. Combined, including a $40,000 match from the Satterberg Foundation, the groups gave and fundraised $303,324 for a […]
You’ve seen the news. I’m guessing you feel the same way I do — 2017 has been a difficult year. The extent of human suffering we’ve witnessed this year is heartbreaking. Every week, you’ve seen the Trump Administration waging another brutal attack on immigrants, LGBTQ communities, Medicaid recipients, or working families. You’ve also seen unprecedented […]
What a night! With the help of our supporter and sponsors, we were able to build a stronger social justice movement for the Northwest by raising over $97,000 , surpassing our goal of $85,000! The brilliance and passion of the speakers, musicians, and our grantee organizations made the night especially inspiring. Representatives from 16 SJF funded organizations […]
It is with mixed emotions we share that our beloved Oregon Director Dianne Riley has taken a new position with the City of Portland. Dianne, over the past four years, built a dynamic and thriving Social Justice Fund NW community in Oregon. With her commitment to the work and to people, Dianne grew the organization's […]
On Aug. 8-9, Social Justice Fund NW was honored to host representatives from the six funds that make up the Giving Project Learning Community, plus a new fund in Detroit exploring the Giving Project model. Over the past two years, the six participating funds have formed a learning community to spread the Giving Project model […]
Giving Projects have gone national! At our August 7 member meeting, participants had the opportunity to hear how SJF has helped donor organizing grow into a national model through the Giving Project Learning Community. Representatives from Crossroads Fund in Chicago, Headwaters Foundation for Justice in Minneapolis and Bread & Roses Community Fund in Philadelphia, shared […]
October 7, 2017 You're invited to our annual dinner & dance party. It's a community celebration of your hard work and vital support as Social Justice Fund NW friends, members, and grantees! Reserve tickets here! Block 41, 115 Bell St, Seattle, WA 98121 Evening Program 5:30 pm – Doors open – Grantee Fair and Cocktail Hour 7:00 pm – Dinner and Program […]
Social Justice Fund NW awards Rapid Response grants to U.T.O.P.I.A. Seattle, Portland Rising Tide / Base Camp NW, Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition/Technical Advisory Group; awards first Seed Grant to Naakw Dancers. Seed Grant Naakw Dancers in Seatac, WA, $2,000 Seed grant Náakw (Medicine) is a Tlingit dance group that meets weekly to celebrate ancestry, community empowerment and proper protocols […]
Social Justice Fund is pleased to share the 2017 Momentum Giving Project’s Native Led Organizing grant awards! These grants were made possible by a small but mighty group of Giving Project alumni who worked very hard over just a few short months to reach their fundraising goal. In total, they raised $73,870 from 110 donors. In addition […]
Grant of $2,000 to Verde, Portland, OR Verde serves communities by building environmental wealth through Social Enterprise, Outreach and Advocacy in Portland’s Cully neighborhood. Verde operates Outreach and Advocacy programs, including the Living Cully collaboration of four nonprofit organizations that focus on the low-income, diverse Cully neighborhood of NE Portland. Verde’s Rapid Response grant request Verde requests […]
Photo: Portland MAX station memorial, photo courtesy of Jacob Simmons. We at Social Justice Fund NW were horrified to learn of the deaths on Friday of two men and the injury of another after they tried to intervene against racist and Islamophobic attacks on two young women on a Portland TriMet train. Their attacker had a long […]
After six years of phenomenal growth, the Seattle Foundation is changing its approach to GiveBIG. Your generosity during GiveBIG in the past few years has made a BIG difference in Social Justice Fund NW’s ability to support our grantees. As the number of GiveBIG participating organizations dramatically increased, the value of the “stretch pool” decreased, and […]
The Rapid Response Grant screening committee awarded a grant of $2,000 to Voz Workers' Rights Education Project (Portland, OR) and a $1,500 grant to Portland Jobs With Justice. Voz Workers' Rights Education Project SJF is awarding a Rapid Response grant of $2,000 to Voz Workers' Rights Education Project in Portland, OR. VOZ is a worker-led organization that empowers diverse day laborers […]
The Rapid Response Grant screening committee awarded a grant of $2,000 to OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon (Portland, OR). OPAL's mission is to "build power for environmental justice and Civil Rights in our communities: the places where we live, work, learn, play and pray. We advocate for a just transportation system, inclusive housing and investment without […]
The Giving Project experience is different for every person. But to find out what it was like for one member of the Gender Justice Giving Project, read Jasmine Fleenor’s story. Why did you sign up for the Gender Justice Giving Project? Was there anything about gender justice in particular that prompted you to join? I […]
Social Justice Fund is proud to announce that the Gender Justice Giving Project broke a Giving Project record for giving and fundraising: they brought in $223,149 from 355 donors, which added to a $68,500 Satterberg Foundation match for a total of $297,781. Included in that giving and fundraising total is the hard work of 15 […]
April 12 Seattle Social Justice Giving Plan Workshop "Creating a Social Justice Giving Plan During Turbulent Times" is an interactive, cross-class workshop to think through how to get started with creating a giving plan that aligns with your values. LEARN MORE April 19 Social Justice Giving Plan webinar w/Resource Generation This webinar, co-presented by Resource Generation, is an interactive […]
Social Justice Fund NW is proud to announce the launch of two new funding opportunities for social justice organizations doing critical organizing work in the greater Northwest. Applications are now available for our NEW Rapid Response & Seed Grants. The Rapid Response Grant will provide fast, small grants of up to $2,000 to help local communities respond […]
Register here In this challenging political climate many of us are ready to support those on the front lines of the fight for progressive change. One way to engage is by donating to grassroots, social justice organizations. But how do you decide how much and to who? Should the urgency of the current moment change […]
When a community organizing campaign wins monetary resources, what do they do with it? How can they allocate those resources back to the communities most impacted in an accountable and democratic way? For nearly 40 years, Social Justice Fund NW (SJF) has organized donor activists to give strategically and fund community organizations in Idaho, Montana, […]
In the wake of the President Trump’s inauguration, it was tempting to fall into a feeling of despair or helplessness. But Social Justice Fund grantees took the opposite approach, using the moment to galvanize and mobilize their members in opposition to the administration’s policies and to advance their vision for social justice.
Social Justice Fund is excited to welcome Naomi Ishisaka as the organization’s first Communications Director. Naomi comes to the organization after a number of years as communications director for the SEIU 775 Benefits Group and SJF grantee OneAmerica. Naomi is a longtime member and supporter of Social Justice Fund after first learning of the organization as the editor of ColorsNW Magazine, a magazine about communities of color in the Northwest. She is passionate about advancing racial and social justice through storytelling, photography and design. We are looking forward to continuing to share the powerful stories of our grantees and members through our communications.
Imagine…you’ve just learned white nationalists are planning a rally in your town. You can’t sit back and watch this happen. With just a couple weeks notice, you and your neighbors decide to organize a counter-protest. You need buses to bring in community supporters along with food, child care, translators, and the list goes on. Just $500 would […]
Last week, I started as the Development Director here at Social Justice Fund NW. It’s an extraordinary political moment to be stepping into this movement role, the perfect culmination of the organizing work I’ve done over the past 15 years.
Dear SJF Community, I am happy to say that I, along with 16 other participants, just completed the 2016 Criminal Justice Giving Project that began in May. Together, we raised $213,245 for community organizing groups working on criminal justice issues in the Northwest. You can see the full list of organizations we funded here. As someone who grew […]
Dear Social Justice Fund community, I’m honored to share with you the work that our Rural Justice Giving Project did together over the past six months. With an ambitious team of 14 people, we exceeded our fundraising goal and got to fund an incredible group of grantees. Over the last six months, we committed to […]
Social Justice Fund Northwest is proud to present the party of the year – our annual Dinner & Dance Party on Saturday, October 29th, from 5:30-11pm. This event is a celebration of the work of Social Justice Fund members and grantees and a gathering that brings 300 leaders, organizers, activists and philanthropists together from across the region. […]
We're looking for a fall start program support intern! If you're looking for a temporary part-time position and have interests in philanthropy, community organizing, and/or social justice, please consider applying. You don't have to be a student, but if you are, we will partner with you to ensure that you receive educational credits. Please see […]
Are you an Portland-based individual who has a passion for organizing with a gender and identity-based analysis? Perhaps you're a seasoned organizer but would like to learn more about organizing around these issues in the region? Or maybe you're curious about SJF's model of philanthropy and want to know more? If any of these descriptions fit you […]
Social Justice Fund NW would like to invite YOU – yes, you – to one of our favorite events of the year: our Annual Grantee Summit. The Grantee Summit brings together grassroots leaders from across the region for discussions on gender justice, criminal justice, rural justice, housing justice, building movements across identities, reporting back on […]
The 2016 Momentum Giving Project focusing on Housing Justice raised $127,662 to help fund organizations addressing root causes of displacement, renter exploitation, gentrification, and much more in the region. This amount included a public screening of My Brooklyn in conjunction with Northwest Film Forum, which raised over $11,000 in a single night. Housing Justice Giving Project members Mano da […]
Social Justice Fund is proud to announce the release of a new grant cycle created by a donor advised fund known as the Displaced Tenants Fund for Housing Justice & Affordability. The purpose of this fund is to disburse $450,000 to support community organizing, education and outreach, and non-profit housing development that preserves and advances truly […]
Social Justice Fund is hiring for two positions, a full-time Development Associate and a part-time Operations Assistant. We need your help finding the right people! We envision our staff as a fully collaborative team in service to our mission. The Development Associate and Operations Assistant are integral parts of serving our members and grantees. The Operations Assistant is a […]
We leverage the resources of our members to foster significant, long-term social justice solutions throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Member Funded In 2015, Social Justice Fund engaged 1,900 donors at all giving levels to fund movements for progressive social change. Social Justice Fund Northwest relies on the support of our community to achieve […]
We leverage the resources of our members to foster significant, long-term social justice solutions throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Member Funded In 2015, Social Justice Fund engaged 1,900 donors at all giving levels to fund movements for progressive social change. Social Justice Fund Northwest relies on the support of our community to achieve […]
Congratulations to Emiko Badillo! Emiko will be receiving the Hunter-Pious Award, given to a Social Justice Fund member who has devoted long-term service to Social Justice Fund and its work.
Congratualtions to Michaelynn Hawk! We will be presenting Michaelynn with the Jeannette Rankin Award for her longtime activism and extraordinary service to the Social Justice Fund region of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Oregon and Washington.
Being part of two Social Justice Giving Projects has helped Brittany and me understand our best role as organizers and activists: we are part of this movement as engaged donors.
When we joined our first Giving Project with Social Justice Fund, it was within our first year of living in Seattle. I was fresh out of college, and we were encouraged to join by people in our community doing social justice work. Being part of the identity-based LGBTQ Giving Project was an intense, challenging, and rewarding way to start our donor activism.
I am the child of Thai immigrants, born and raised in Washington, passionate about social justice and community building, and someone who finds joy in dance, food, and a nice pot of tea.
Last year I was working someplace that had nothing to do with social justice and I was looking for a way to feed my social justice needs, so I joined Social Justice Fund’s Gender Justice Giving Project. Being part of a Giving Project allowed me to learn and build analysis and gave me a clear way to take action on some of the struggles and injustices in our communities.
I joined with 23 other Social Justice Fund members who had a similar desire to change the world. I’ve made some really great friends.
In one word, my experience was “awesome!”
Dear Friends and Partners, On behalf of the Board of Directors of Social Justice Fund NW, I am writing to let you know that Zeke Spier has decided to transition out of the role of Executive Director at the end of December. We are excited to announce that the Board has selected Associate Director Mijo […]
The Fall Momentum grant will focus on Black-led Organizing: Building Capacity for Organizing Led by Black People (deadline September 10th at 11:59pm). In the past 18 months, the drumbeat of “Black Lives Matter” has been growing steadily as Black people and Black communities across the US rise up and demand "a world where Black lives are no […]
One of our grantees, Marcia Shanor of Equality State Policy Center says, “In Wyoming, we often feel like we are out in the hinterlands and we are alone in our progressive work. So to be a part of this community…is energy building.” Hearing Marcia’s interview about Equality State Policy Center’s work in Wyoming reminds us of […]
Ramon Ramirez is President of Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN), Oregon’s farmworkers union and one of Social Justice Fund’s grantees. Ramon was a panelist at our 2015 Grantee Summit in Seattle last month where he shared both victories and challenges. He also shared how important Social Justice Fund’s support is to PCUN’s work. This support is […]
Krista Bustamante is the Organizing Director at Idaho Community Action Network, one of Social Justice Fund’s grantees. Krista was a panelist at our 2015 Grantee Summit in Seattle earlier this month where she shared her community organizing work with Social Justice Fund members. More interviews from grantees coming soon…
Join the 2015 Environmental Justice Learning Group with the Social Justice Fund NW! The focus of this Learning Group will be Climate Justice & Communities of Color. This group is open to all and there is no minimum experience or knowledge of the issue required. Through readings, videos, and group discussion we will engage ideas […]
The 2014 Economic Justice Giving Project was comprised of 17 amazing members who raised $106,300 from 263 of their friends and family! Find out who our Economic Justice Grant Awardees. Social Justice Fund's first ever Movement Building Giving Project raised over $125,000 with just 9 participants! Find out who received these two-year grants.
We are excited to announce six grant cycles open in 2015 (including three two-year grants!). Click here for all grant descriptions, deadlines, and eligibility criteria, and to begin your application. Please contact us with any questions. Want to get involved? Check out our programs!
In 2015 Social Justice Fund will lead over 200 people through a process of learning, community building, fundraising and grantmaking for social change through our 2015 Giving Projects and learning groups.
The following grants are result of a six month process led by the members of our 2014 Environmental Justice Giving Project. Take a moment to read about our newest slate of grantees and the incredible work being done in the Northwest.
We’re proud of the integrity and work put into the grantmaking process, and we’re incredibly proud to support these organizations through our region-wide general grants. Please take a moment to learn about their work.
We're incredibly proud to announce our newest grantees from our first-ever Gender Justice Giving Project!
Don't miss Social Justice Fund's biggest event of the year. Tickets go quick! RSVP here
Members of the Criminal Justice Giving Project made history by being the first Giving Project to accomplish multi-year fundraising, and setting a record high of the most raised by a single Project!
Powerful organizing happening in Montana. Read more about our recent grants to Montana based organizations.
Executive Director, Zeke Spier shares the story of Social Justice Fund and the transformation that led to our incredible growth.
Social Justice Fund’s Giving Project model has helped us grow from 300 to 1,800 donors in 3 years. We are seeking a Development Director to help us strengthen our fundraising infrastructure to sustain this larger base and set us up for further growth. We have a strong culture of fundraising and every one of our current staff of 10 contributes to building our donor base. The Development Director works in our Seattle office, reports to the Executive Director and supervises the Communications and Membership Manager.
Take a group of strangers, put them in one car, then travel over 700 miles across three states. Under most circumstances this is a recipe for disaster, but for those who are part of Social Justice Fund, these epic road trips are one of the best parts of being a member.
Raphaela, a member and two-time Giving Project alumnus, reflects on the Grantee Summit she just attended, and shares what she loves most about being part of the Social Justice Fund community.
While almost half of the country passed Medicaid expansion last year, 20 states did not. Among the states that did not, is Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho; home to two of our grantees Equality State Policy Center, and Montana Women Vote. The fight for Medicaid expansion is far from over. Read more about how they're organizing to expand Medicaid, and helping thousands of people within their state.
March 5, 2014 – Mayor Mike McGinn has joined the Board of Directors of Social Justice Fund NW to continue working for progressive social change. McGinn says, "I'm excited about Social Justice Fund's innovative process that engages people from all backgrounds as philanthropists and grantmakers.” Social Justice Fund NW is a member-funded foundation that supports […]
Our Gender Justice Giving Project will allow our grantees to frame their work in a more holistic way and will help us deepen our understanding of how transformative, cross-identity movements are built. Learn more about the Gender Justice Giving Project here
We have 6 funding opportunties open for application! We have 6 grant cycles open to groups and organizations looking for funding. Read more about what we fund, and the application process.
Last month, Social Justice Fund NW celebrated 35 years of social justice philanthropy at our Annual Dinner Celebration “The Change We’re Making” where 300 activists, organizers, and social justice philanthropists across Oregon, Washington, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming came together to honor the work of our grantees and to recognize our role in building a sustainable movement […]
This year has presented a significant opportunity for the immigrant rights movement. The national conversation on Comprehesive Immigration Reform shed a spotlight on immigrant rights and the momentum of the movement has grown stronger. To respond to the opportunity and to continue our commitment, Social Justice Fund NW added two Giving Projects into this year; the winter Immigration Reform Giving Project and the […]
Last week, our general grant cycle came to a close with 13 new grants totaling over $134,000 in more funding for community organizing and base building in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. We’re proud to announce the newest set of grants from our general grant cycle. Take a moment to read about some of the […]
From our work bringing rural Latino leaders into the movement, to bringing visibility to the stories and humanity of Oregon’s immigrant population, to working directly with law enforcement to make communities safer for immigrants, we are proud of our successes this year. Thank you for believing in us. Thank you for being part of the movement. ~Amanda Aguilar Shank Organizer & Associate Director, Rural Organizing Project
Engaging in conversations about race and class can be challenging. Engaging in fundraising from friends, and family can be equally difficult. For Burke and Michael Stansbury, combining the two opened up a door that helped deepen the connection between their values and their giving.
We're breaking records with each Giving Project! The Criminal Justice Giving Project engaged 312 donors (an all-time high) and raised $135,483 for 12 grants to community organizations building leadership and working towards justice in our systems. We are incredibly proud of this group! And we're also incredibly honored to support these organizations!
We have another set of impressive grantees! These grants are coming from the Economic Justice Giving Project. A group of incredibly motivated volunteers who spent five months learning and engaging others in a dialogue about race, class, and its impact on economic justice. They activated their own communities and raised $115,589 from 220 donors resulting in 10 new grants to organizations working to address structural issues of wealth inequality.
The LGBTQ Giving Project wrapped up late last week by delivering five grants to some amazing organizations around the Northwest. These organizations are doing important movement building work in the LGBTQ community. Work that is often overlooked by mainstream funders but critical in moving us forward. We’re extremely proud to announce our 2013 LGBTQ Giving Project grantees..
The Environmental Justice Giving Project ended last week by delivering seven grants to seven amazing organizations. This group of 12 courageous people engaged over 200 donors in meaningful conversations and raised $82,511 to support organizations around the Northwest dedicated to moving the environmental justice movement forward. Our newest grantees of the year are (drum roll….)
We are excited to announce our second Immigration Reform Grant Cycle this year, funding in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. The grant application deadline is August 30th.
Seth Otto, recent Masters of Social Work graduate and former Social Justice Fund Intern, shares his experience participating in the winter Immigration Reform Giving Project. The Immigration Reform Giving Project is an abbreviated version of a Giving Project which focuses on supporting organizations committed to immigrant rights and helping move Comprehensive Immigration Reform forward during […]
We are excited to announce our second round of site visits for 2013 from the Economic Justice, Environmental Justice, Criminal Justice and LGBTQ Giving Projects. Site visits will start next week and will run until the end of July. As a member of Social Justice Fund NW, not only are you absolutely welcome to join us on […]
Over 100 community members from around the Northwest came to Seattle to hear directly from Social Justice Grantees about organizing work happening on the ground and the challenges that organizers face. For those of you who missed the Community Summit, don’t worry! We plan on bringing the Summit back next year. For now, we have a couple clips from the LGBTQ panel discussion and the Criminal Justice panel. These brief videos capture discussion around the power of organizing with those most impacted by the issues and building unlikely alliances that help strengthen movements.
Social Justice Fund Grantees Voz Workers' Rights Education Project, Causa Oregon, and Jobs with Justice work collectively to fight for immigrant rights.
We're proud to announce our first ever Immigration Reform Giving Project Grants! The Immigration Reform Giving Project was a group of 14 members, several being first generation immigrants, who worked together and supported each other in this 10 week Giving Project. We are inspired by your energy and commitment to Immigrant Rights and community organizing. Through the teams' leadership and donor activism they engaged 149 donors from their personal networks and raised $34,362. We're honored to support these organization in their effort to move Comprehensive Immigration Reform forward.
One week ago, thousands across the Northwest marched in solidarity for immigrant and worker rights.
We’re excited to announce six grant cycles open for organizers working with Environmental Justice, Economic Justice, LGBTQ, Criminal Justice, and community organizing in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. All grant cycles will provide general operating support for community organizing led by the people most directly impacted by injustice and inequality. Please read about our eligibility requirements, […]
We're excited to announce our first round of site visits for 2013 Immigration Reform Giving Project! Remember, if you are a member of Social Justice Fund, you are welcome to join any site visit. Over the next few weeks, we will be hosting web based site visits to…
We are excited to announce our Immigration Reform Grant (the first of two this year). Please note that proposals are due March 4. We apologize for the unusually short turnaround. In an effort to quickly distribute funding and make an impact on the current campaign for Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR), we have shortened our usual timeline for applicants. […]
Social Justice Fund will be hosting our 2013 Member Meeting on Sunday, January 27th from 1-3pm at Washington Hall (153 14th Avenue) in Seattle, Washington. This is a great opportunity for all members to connect with one another, hear about our successes from 2012, learn what we've got planned for 2013, and help guide the future of this organization.
It is with deep gratitude, an abundance of caution, and a whole lot of excitement that we have decided to open up 3 new positions to begin in the New Year!
Social change is a long term and gradual proposition, but sometimes we take a clear step forward. Last Tuesday was one of those days. Across the country we reaffirmed basic progressive values while reelecting our first Black president, a former community organizer.
We know that an election will not bring justice and equality and that real change comes from below. Still, in spite of the many progressive critiques of Obama, we now have four years ahead of us to go on the offensive on the issues we care about.
We are proud to announce our Social Justice Giving Project based in Portland Grants going to Idaho Community Action Network, Latino Unidos Siempre and Right 2 Survive in Portland. CONGRATULATIONS to the Grantees and to the first 15 Giving Project members in Portland who raised over 28,000 to support Community Organizing in the NorthWest.
We are proud to announce our 2012 Next Generation Giving Project Grants going to Community to Community Development, Center Pole, Montana Human Rights Network, Partnership for Safety and Justice, Seattle Young People's Project, Umatilla Morrow Alternatives and Voz Hispana Causa Chavista. Congratulations to the grantees AND to the 12 hardworking members of the Next Generation Giving Project, who raised over $77,000 to support community organizing in the Northwest!
We are proud to announce our 2012 Montana Giving Project Grants going to Indian People's Action and Native Action. Congratulations to the grantees AND to the 5 hardworking members of the Montana Giving Project, who raised over $18,000 to support progressive community organizing in Montana!
We are proud to announce our 2012 Economic Justice Grants going to Got Green, Indian People’s Action, Pineros y Compensinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN), and VOZ Workers’ Rights Education Project. Congratulations to the grantees AND to the 12 dedicated members of the Economic Justice Giving Project, who raised over $44,000 to support community organizing for […]
With all the talk of corporate bailouts and Super PAC-funded political campaigns, it’s nice to know that someone is actually looking out for the rest of us. Especially when that someone is a 35,000 member advocacy organization, and the rest of us is, well, all of us.
Washington CAN! is a grassroots organization that engages Washington State residents in the democratic process. Through member education, skills building, and a whole lot of active listening, they empower local residents to influence both political and corporate entities to enact policies that reinforce racial, social and economic justice in Washington State.
We are proud to announce our 2012 Environmental Justice Grants going to Got Green, Hilltop Urban Gardens, Native Youth Leadership Alliance, Nickelsville, OPAL, Powder River Basin Resource Council, and the Tenants Union of Washington. Congratulations to the grantees AND to the 12 hardworking members of the Environmental Justice Giving Project, who raised over $82,000 to […]
We are excited to announce our second round of site visits for 2012, from the Economic Justice and Environmental Justice Giving Projects. Remember, if you are a member of Social Justice Fund, you are welcome to join any site visit. Call or email Magan (206.624.4081 x108 / magan[at]socialjusticefund.org) to find out how. Over the next […]
We are proud to announce our first grants of 2012, thanks to the hard work of the Criminal Justice Giving Project and the LGBTQ Giving Project! Collectively, the 28 volunteers in these projects raised over $165,00 from 272 donors and made 10 exciting grants. Click through to see who we're funding!
Announcing Social Justice Fund's final grant cycle for 2012: The General Grant will support community organizing for structural change, with no specialized issue focus, throughout ID, MT, OR, WA, and WY. All application information and materials can be found here: Apply For A Grant. Applications are due on July 13th This grant will be funded and […]
We are excited to announce another grant cycle today! Apply here. The Montana Grant will fund community organizing for social change in Montana only. Applications are due June 29. In addition, the Economic Justice and Environmental Justice Grants are both still open; applications for those grants are due next Friday, June 8. All application materials […]
We are excited to announce two more grant cycles today! Apply here. The Economic Justice Grant will fund work that addresses the root causes of economic inequity using community led solutions to build power among its members to advocate for and create thriving communities. The Environmental Justice Grant will fund organizations that strive for equitable […]
Today marks the start of a unique opportunity for you to double the impact of your contribution to SJF. From April 17th-26th, Kellogg Foundation’s Cultures of Giving Program has offered to match all online contributions to SJF up to $20,000, with additional prizes possible if we exceed that goal, up to $100,000!
This is a huge opportunity for us to leverage support from a national funder, and one more great reason to make a gift to SJF today! Only online donations through this link will be matched–click here to support SJF.
Our first two grant cycles of the year are now open! Apply here. The Criminal Justice Grant will fund organizations and projects addressing the systems that criminalize the lives of people of color and poor people). The LGBTQ Grant will fund LGBTQ organizations and organizations and organizations whose leadership includes LGBTQ-identified people, and whose work […]
When it comes to community organizing, it doesn't get much more grassroots than Got Green. Based in Seattle, WA, Got Green mobilizes members of the community around public policy advocacy and job training to ensure that low income communities of color are able to benefit from the burgeoning “green economy.”
Calling all members!! If you would like to participate in our upcoming Member Meeting but will be unable to attend in person, feel free to click the link below and vote online! Last day to vote is Friday, January 27th!
The Member Meeting will be a great chance for SJF members to meet one another, participate in thoughtful discussion of social justice issues, make decisions that guide the future of this organization, and vote on our new board members. It’s going to be fun, and we’d love to see you there!
I want to share an opportunity with you to be inspired, and to play a meaningful role in bringing justice, equality, and sustainability to our world. This year has been a whirlwind of community building, fundraising, and grantmaking for social change. I am in awe of the incredible people that have invested their time, energy, ideas, and money into this vision of better philanthropy and a better world, and proud of what we’ve achieved together.
Please take the time to participate in our 2011 member survey and mark your calendar for Sunday, January 22nd for Social Justice Fund’s Member Meeting!
Like many of you, I have been watching the rise of the Occupy Wall Street movement with both excitement and lots of questions. I imagine that seeing so much passion and action from all the people participating nationwide (and worldwide) has lifted the spirits of all of us that work for justice and equality. It’s much more difficult to know what the long-term impact will be on the larger ongoing movement for change.
Gail Small, Executive Director of Native Action, a Social Justice Fund Grantee and former Social Justice Fund NW Board Member, shared her story with attendees of the Social Justice Fund 2011 Annual Dinner on September 17, 2011.
Dean Jackson, a 2011 LGBTQ Giving Project Member and founder of Hilltop Urban Gardens, a Social Justice Fund grantee, shared his story with the guests at Social Justice Fund's Annual Dinner on September 17, 2011… "Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, tree hugger was a term given to the mostly white folk environmentalists that received regular mainstream media coverage."
Victor Chudnovsky, a 2011 Next Generation Giving Project Member, shared his story with the guests at Social Justice Fund’s Annual Dinner on September 17, 2011. “As with many other people, my awareness of social unfairness began at home. My parents pointed out and lamented the injustices that plague the lives of the poor—both individuals and societies…”
SJF grantee Got Green’s Women in the Green Economy Project calls for more money to access healthy foods… “You can’t open a newspaper or turn on the radio these days without hearing about the healthy food crisis in America. Children –especially children from low income families – are too fat, we’re told, and who are we told is to blame? Poor moms and moms of color who are making poor food choices, if you believe what you hear…
But which group of people? Scot Nakagawa discusses the right and left in the debt ceiling debate.
Over the last few months Civic Action Giving Project participants have come together to share stories with one another, build an understanding of the interaction of community organizing, racial justice and civic engagement, and pledge their financial support of progressive social change work. This grant cycle is a partnership between SJF and the Win/Win Network and will fund work in Washington State.
