Donors of Color Action and Just Fund Invest $600K for BIPOC Voter Engagement To Help Fill Critical Funding Gaps
The funds will resource state-based groups that prioritize BIPOC voters and support solutions for racial equity, reproductive justice, community safety, climate change and more
New York, NY — Donors of Color Action (DOCA) – the 501(c)(4) organization affiliated with Donors of Color Network (DOCN), the first-ever cross-racial community of donors and movement leaders committed to building the collective power of people of color to achieve racial equity – today announced it’s investing $600k in partnership with JustFund in key battleground states to mobilize and prioritize voters of color and address critical funding gaps. These groups will be funded to support their ongoing work ahead of and after Election Day.
“In the past, BIPOC communities have been forgotten targets for political funding. This investment is a first step to help build a political future that puts BIPOC communities at the forefront,” said Vida Benavides, Political Director of Donors of Color Network and Donors of Color Action. “Every dollar will go to on-the-ground, community organizations who know their community members best to ensure funding impact is maximized toward BIPOC voter engagement.”
Voter disenfranchisement disproportionately impacts BIPOC communities. In last year’s legislative sessions, 440 voter suppression bills were proposed in 49 states and 33 voter suppression laws were passed into law in 19 states. Hate crimes also rose 44 percent in 2021 in 16 of the nation’s biggest cities. Moreover, political giving has long been dominated by white donors and their preferences.
The investments will combine DOCA’s network of BIPOC donors who have a unique opportunity to increase new dollars for political organizing at a critical moment for racial justice and political power building; with JustFund’s accessible grantmaking solution for funders to move money quickly to grantees and build relationships rooted in trust. The investments will go towards 23 grantees in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Texas including One Pennsylvania, Black Phoenix Organizing, Mothering Justice Action Fund, among others. These organizations are advancing equitable solutions for reproductive health, inclusive history, climate justice, voting rights and community safety.
“Democracy is at stake this November and, despite the fact that it was voters of color who helped secure a Democratic Trifecta in 2020, Democrats are failing to fund state-based BIPOC organizations at scale,” said Sharon Chen, Donors of Color Action Board Member. “BIPOC donors are less vulnerable to this myopia and so are in a position to make judicious investments in the civic engagement of communities based on math instead of bias.”
“Our goal is to remove barriers that prevent funders from efficiently funding organizations on the frontlines of social change. As we look to protect our democracy, our mission has never been more timely,” said Iara Peng of JustFund. “Just Fund is proud to partner with DOCA and DOCN to help supercharge investment in BIPOC voter engagement ahead of and beyond Election Day.”
DOCA remains committed to building political power for communities of color and fostering a homebase for political donors of color long this midterm cycle and beyond. For more on Donors of Color Network, please visit https://www.donorsofcolor.org/.
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ABOUT DONORS OF COLOR ACTION: Donors of Color Action is the campaign and advocacy arm of the Donors of Color Network. Our community of high-net-worth donors is committed to building the power of people of color communities to achieve systemic change that fosters racial equity. We work across race, national origin, and intersections of gender, sexual orientation, religion, and ability to achieve racial and gender equity, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and political power to transform social institutions to be more reflective and accountable to communities of color.