40 Years of Building Power in the NW

2017

Over $1.2 Million granted through Giving Projects

December, 2017
Over $1.2 Million granted through Giving Projects

With 120 participants in our Giving Projects and 1,300 donors, SJF granted over 1.2 million dollars to the most effective, inspiring and transformative organizations in the Northwest

2017

Charlottesville and Fighting the Right

August, 2017
Charlottesville and Fighting the Right

A white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, VA — dubbed Unite the Right — leads to violence and the death of counter protester Heather Heyer. In SJF’s region, militia groups and white supremacists are also becoming more prominent. Grantees like Rural Organizing Project (ROP) and Montana Human Rights Network (MHRN) step up their efforts to “Fight the Right.”

2016

Alternatives to Youth Incarceration Project Grants $500K

December, 2016
Alternatives to Youth Incarceration Project Grants $500K

The EPIC Alternatives to Youth Incarceration project makes 14 grants totaling $500,000 to organizations in the Seattle area. The money was allocated by the Seattle City Council after a campaign by Ending the Prison Industrial Complex (EPIC) for zero youth detention. SJF facilitated a special giving project to grant the funds.

2016

Election of Trump breeds Resistance

November, 2016
Election of Trump breeds Resistance

Donald Trump wins the presidential election, sparking massive protests and resistance, including large Women’s Marches around the country the day before Trump’s inauguration. SJF resurrects its Rapid Response Granting (and also adds a Seed Grant program) in recognition of the political situation and the urgency of grantees fighting back against right-wing policies.

2016

Expanded Immigrant Rights Organizing

August, 2016
Expanded Immigrant Rights Organizing

The WA Immigrant Solidarity Network is created, comprised of several working groups, the Network is focused on developing community response teams and reporting tools to galvanize support and mobilize resources in response to ICE activity in the NW. Several SJF Grantees are a part of this coalition.

2016

Standing Rock

May, 2016
Standing Rock

The Standing Rock Sioux tribe takes a stand against the Dakota Access Pipeline and draws international support, including caravans of activists from the NW traveling to the encampment at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in South Dakota.

2015

Giving Project Learning Community

October, 2015
Giving Project Learning Community

SJF co-founds a national Learning Community, for all funds using the Giving Project model to learn together

2015

First Momentum Giving Project

April, 2015
First Momentum Giving Project

SJF does its first ever Momentum Giving Project and ultimately make grants to 8 organizations doing work around police accountability. The Momentum Giving Projects are designed to be responsive to the “movement moment” that is happening at the time. Subsequent Momentum Projects include Black-led organizing, Fight the Far Right, Housing Justice, and Native-led organizing.

2014

Giving Project National Replication

September, 2014
Giving Project National Replication

Giving Project model is replicated by Headwaters Foundation for Justice, and then by four other funds over the next three years

2014

Ferguson Uprisings

August, 2014
Ferguson Uprisings

Michael Brown is murdered by police in Ferguson, MO sparking Black Lives Matter protests and uprisings around the country, including in the NW.

2013

Founding of #BlackLivesMatter

July, 2013
Founding of #BlackLivesMatter

#BlackLivesMatter is started by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi after George Zimmerman is aquitted of murdering Trayvon Martin. BLM chapters are formed around the country. SJF is inspired to do a Momentum Giving Project to support black-led organizing in 2015.

2012

First Portland Giving Project

July, 2012

SJF expands Giving Projects to Portland

2012

Idle No More and Indigenous Sovereignty

March, 2012
Idle No More and Indigenous Sovereignty

The Idle No More protest movement erupts in Canada and spreads to the NW, with First Nations and Native American groups fighting back against resource extraction, oil pipelines, environmental destruction and the violation of indigenous sovereignty. SJF continues to support organizing on reservations and in Native communities, including grants to Indian People’s Action, Native Action and Native Youth Leadership Alliance.

2010

First SJF Giving Project

May, 2010
First SJF Giving Project

SJF launches its first Giving Project as a collaboration with the Seattle Resource Generation chapter. The Next Generation Giving Project brings together 18 people who raise over $135,000 and makes 12 grants to grassroots groups in the region.

2009

Civic Action Grants

May, 2009

SJF launches a new Civic Action granting initiative in partnership with the Western States Center’s VOTE program. The initiative supported groups capable of translating electoral victories into substantial policy change that benefit people in historically marginalized communities. Grantees include the Rural Organizing Project in Oregon and the Equality State Poverty Center in Wyoming.

2007

People of Color in Philanthropy Network

November, 2007
People of Color in Philanthropy Network

SJF helps found the People of Color in Philanthropy Network

2007

First US Social Forum

July, 2007
First US Social Forum

The first US Social Forum takes place in Atlanta, Georgia. SJF grantees participate along with thousands of other organizations from around the country.

2007

Revolution Will Not be Funded

February, 2007
Revolution Will Not be Funded

The anthology “The Revolution Will Not Be Funded: Beyond the Non-Profit Industrial Complex” is published, a potent critique of traditional philanthropy and its relationship to non-profits.

2006

Massive Immigrant Rights Marches

May, 2006
Massive Immigrant Rights Marches

Hundreds of thousands take part in immigrant rights demonstrations throughout the country to protest draconian anti-immigrant laws proposed in Congress. In Washington, Oregon, Montana and Idado SJF grantees help organize large marches, including on April 10 and May Day. Grantees doing immigrant rights work include CAUSA and Latinos Unidos Siempre in OR and El Comite Pro-Amnistia General Y Justicia Social in WA.

2005

ATR Becomes Social Justice Fund NW

May, 2005
ATR Becomes Social Justice Fund NW

ATR officially changes its name to Social Justice Fund NW; the organization increases membership to include 40% people of color

2003

25TH Anniversary

November, 2003

During its first 25 years of funding real democracy, ATR has grown to an organization of 400+ members that has contributed over $11 million to over 600 grantees.

2003

Changing Membership

September, 2003
Changing Membership

Continuing the effort to make the ATR community more democratic, ATR revised its membership definition in 2003 to attract individuals across boundaries of class. ATR membership now starts at $20 per month ($240 annually).

2002

Protesting the Iraq War

October, 2002
Protesting the Iraq War

Massive anti-war protests take place regionally, nationally and internationally in the lead up to the Iraq war. Grassroots groups in the NW participate in anti-war organizing, including ATR grantees like the Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane and the Jeannette Rankin Peace Center in Missoula.

2002

Founding of Potlatch Fund

September, 2002
Founding of Potlatch Fund

ATR members and staff participate in founding of Potlatch Fund, to provide grants and technical assistance throughout Northwest Indian Country.

2001

Hate Free Zone created in response to anti-Muslim backlash

September, 2001
Hate Free Zone created in response to anti-Muslim backlash

The September 11 terrorist attack leads to hate crimes against Muslims around the country and to the passing of the Patriot Act. In the Northwest, groups like Hate Free Zone (later OneAmerica) working to combat anti-Muslim violence receive grants from ATR.

2001

First World Social Forum

May, 2001
First World Social Forum

The first World Social Forum held in Porto Alegre, Brazil in 2001; the forum was focused on gathering anti-globalization activists from all over the world to talk and organize among one another.

2000

Dismantling Racism Trainings

October, 2000

ATR introduces dismantling racism (DR) training for its leaders and members to identify and remove barriers to participation and to integrate DR practices and goals into its committee structure.

2000

Color of Violence Conference

October, 2000
Color of Violence Conference

“The Color of Violence” conference takes place in California leading to the formation of INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence. ATR grantees like Communities Against Rape and Abuse (CARA) are part of the national network

1999

Organizing to stop the WTO

November, 1999
Organizing to stop the WTO

Anti-WTO Mobilizations bring together organizations from throughout the region, country and world to protest unjust economic policies of the World Trade Organization. ATR grantees like the Northwest Labor and Employment Law Office (LELO), the WA Alliance for Immigrant & Refugee Justice and the Seattle Young People’s Project anchor the local coalition organizing against the WTO meetings.

1998

ATR 20TH Anniversary

October, 1998
ATR 20TH Anniversary

ATR changes membership definition to either contribution of $1,000 or more annually or 1% or more of annual income . $946,435 in grants is awarded to 161 organizations.

1997

3 Year Grants

February, 1997

ATR launches a revised multi-year Major Grant program that offers 3-Year Support Grants to encourage organizational stability and impact, and 3-Year Capacity Building Grants to develop stronger, more effectively managed organizations with greater impact and increased size.

1995

First Rapid Response Grant Program Launched

July, 1995

ATR initiates a Rapid Response Grant Fund to provide organizations with resources to respond quickly to legislative or policy attacks, or other unexpected events or issues.

1994

Democracy Under Siege Conference

September, 1994

ATR and Western States Center co-sponsor Democracy Under Siege, a conference of 250 activists from 8 states.

1993

15th Anniversary

November, 1993
15th Anniversary

ATR celebrates its 15th Anniversary with an event at Daybreak StarCenter in Seattle.

1993

Advocacy to impact people affected by HIV/AIDS

July, 1993
Advocacy to impact people affected by HIV/AIDS

ATR funds various groups throughout the region supporting and empowering people affected by HIV/AIDS, including the People of Color Against AIDS Network, the Cascade AIDS Project and the North Idaho AIDS Coalition.

1993

ATR Builds an Endowment

February, 1993

ATR launches its Endowment for the 21st Century to permit a higher level of stability, increase ATR’s effectiveness and power as a foundation, build reserves for the future, and encourage donors to make substantial gifts to ATR.

1992

Oregon Coalition Defeats Measure 9

November, 1992
Oregon Coalition Defeats Measure 9

ATR grantees come together as part of a coalition in Oregon that successfully defeats Measure 9, an initiative that would have declared homosexuality “abnormal, wrong, unnatural, and perverse.” Overall, ATR increases funding to LGBTQ organizations in the 90s, including groups like the Lesbian Community Project in Oregon, United Gays and Lesbians of Wyoming, and PRIDE! in Montana.

1991

Environmental Justice principles established

November, 1991
Environmental Justice principles established

The People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit drafts and adopts the 17 principles of Environmental Justice. The principles become the centerpiece for many grassroots people-of-color led environmental groups, including ATR grantees founded in the 90s like the Community Coalition for Environmenal Justice (CCEJ) in Seattle and the Environmenal Justice Action group in Portland.

1991

Funding Community Organizing

August, 1991

ATR begins funding a number of grassroots community organizations throughout the region affiliated with the national Citizens Action network, including Washington Citizens Action (later Washington CAN), Montana People’s Action, Idaho Citizen’s Network (later ICAN) and Oregon Fair Share (later Oregon Action/ Unite Oregon).

1991

Farmworkers strike in Oregon

May, 1991
Farmworkers strike in Oregon

ATR Grantee Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN) helps organize the first farmworker strike in Oregon since 1971 when cucumber pickers at Kraemer Farms demand a raise in pay. The company retaliates against former strikers, and PCUN declares a boycott of NORPAC Foods, a co-owner of Kraemer Farms. The boycott lasts for nearly 10 years and helps raise awareness around the country of farmworker exploitation.

1989

Fighting back against White Supremacists

October, 1989

As white supremacist groups gain ground in the Northwest, ATR begins funding anti-hate groups like the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment, the Coalition for Human Dignity, and Montana Human Rights Network (MHRN).

1988

ATR 10th Anniversary

April, 1988

$163,000 in grants is awarded to 50 organizations. ATR also initiates a Cultural Grant program to support community-based organizations using cultural work/art to promote social justice.

1987

Sponsoring Nuclear Safety Campaign

November, 1987
Sponsoring Nuclear Safety Campaign

ATR sponsors the start of the Nuclear Safety Campaign that assists in closing the Purex plant at the Hanford nuclear reservation.

1987

Western States Center established

May, 1987
Western States Center established

Western States Center, our sister organization is established to help strengthen and further develop the progressive movement in the West.

1985

Funding anti-poverty groups during Reagan

January, 1985

In the face of continued public service cuts by the Reagan Administration ATR funds organizing and social service organizations addressing issues of increased poverty and homelessness, including groups like Montana Low Income Coalition, Idaho Fair Share, and the South End Seattle Community Organization (SESCO).

1984

ATR Growth

January, 1984

ATR doubles in size – awards $175,000 annually

1982

Supporting Anti-nuclear organizing

February, 1982
Supporting Anti-nuclear organizing

The anti-nuclear movement grows strength in the Northwest and nationwide, culminating in a million person protest in New York. ATR funds various anti-nuclear groups in the region, including Puget Sound SANE and the Hanford Education Action League.

1980

First ATR Summer Meeting

August, 1980

ATR holds first summer meeting at Bridger Mountain in Montana.

1979

Fighting mining in the Mountain West

January, 1979
Fighting mining in the Mountain West

The threat of massive strip mining of coal in the interior West to feed the growing energy needs of the rapidly urbanizing coastal states was one of the most contentious issues of the time and a motivating factor in creating ATR.

1978

Founding of A Territory Resource

November, 1978
Founding of A Territory Resource

ATR is founded by six individuals wanting to maximize the impact of their giving to support progressive causes in the Northwest and Northern Rockies. Funds are distributed via two cycles of Basic Grants, in Spring and Fall, for general support or project-specific needs. During the first year of operation, ATR awards $14,000 in grants to 7 organizations.