Equity Impact Grant Winners Announced

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Ten local, small non-profit organizations are celebrating after winning $100,000 each in equity impact grants and a year's worth of custom coaching designed to further their missions, advancing equity and belonging throughout the region.

The winners were announced by the County's Office of Equity and Racial Justice (OERJ) on Wednesday.

The recipients applied for the grants through the County's Equity Impact Grant (EIG) Program.

The County and the Nonprofit Institute at the University of San Diego (NPI) developed the program last year. Through this partnership, the County provides the grant funding and NPI provides coaching on leadership, nonprofit governance, organizational resiliency and more.

The program was created after community feedback described how small organizations led by people of color encounter difficulties in obtaining government contracts and philanthropic funding. For example, complex grant applications that require significant time and grant writing experience to complete or a lack of grants that would serve their organization.

"These grants will significantly benefit small organizations and the people they serve," said Interim OERJ Director Taryell Simmons. "By awarding these grants, we acknowledge the challenges small nonprofits face. We are proud to support them in building capacity, enabling them to serve even more people who need their services."

This is the second round of funding and coaching for the program. The first group received grants in May.

To be considered for the grant program, applying organizations had to have fewer than five employees and/or operate on $500,000 or less. The non-profits also had to show how they are addressing local inequities in one of the areas below:

• Education and youth empowerment (early childhood through higher/continuing education).
• Civic engagement and movement building.
• Arts, narrative change, and culture.
• Housing and community development.
• Restorative justice and alternatives to incarceration.
• Health and healing.
• Wealth building, workforce, and economic development.
• Food systems and environmental justice.

The 10 recipients to win funding in this round are:

Better Cuts Mental Health Alliance : Combining the art of barbering with the science of mental health to uplift, connect and transform the lives of men of color, Better Cuts Mental Health Alliance envisions a world where every man of color has access to culturally appropriate mental health services.

Club FBS (Fitteds, Books & Sneakers): A book club and mentorship program for Black male middle and high school students that seeks to improve the grade-level reading rates of Black males while elevating their social-emotional well-being through character-building and positive masculinity models.

Dreams+Ducats: This educational nonprofit works with students, teachers, schools and school districts to connect classrooms and curriculum more meaningfully to community, culture, careers and the local economy. Greater than Tech< /a>: The organization integrates STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and business principles to help young people in underserved areas learn more about the opportunities these fields can offer the students now and in the future. Lived Experience Advisors (LEA): LEA works with people who have experienced homelessness to help advocate for positive changes in homelessness service systems.

Mano a Mano Foundation : Creator of the region's first Spanish language educational program about the fentanyl crisis, Mano a Mano works with the Latino community to provide educational services and comprehensive support to families in culturally appropriate ways, including on topics like substance abuse, gangs, domestic violence, mental health, and supporting children inside and outside of the classroom.

Our Genetic Legac y: This organization helps young people in the Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) community tell the stories of their ancestral history in a variety of ways, including a drone program designed to record sites important in BIPOC history, a virtual museum and a history textbook that will be published in 2025.

RISE San Die go: RISE San Diego provides training and support for resident leaders to increase their capacity to make meaningful community change. RISE's vision is for thriving, resident-led urban neighborhoods that provide safe and healthy opportunities for youth and families to live, work and play.

San Diego International Birthing Proj ect: This volunteer organization supports women of color through their pregnancy, baby's birth and motherhood. The San Diego International Birthing Project helps women obtain prenatal care and provides one-on-one support throughout pregnancy. It also offers parenting and life skills for mothers and fathers, mental health referrals, health education and more.

The Foundation for Care Integra tion: The foundation provides financial aid for at-risk older adults and families, including BIPOC communities and individuals with disabilities who cannot bridge the financial gap between their insurance and their health needs. Through home modifications, caregiver support and access to essential medical care, Foundation for Care Integration empowers individuals to live independently and with dignity in their own homes.

For more information about OERJ, visit their website.

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