Black Resilience in Colorado (BRIC) Fund, the first Black-focused community fund in the state, announced that nearly $500,000 in grants have been awarded to 39 Black-led and serving nonprofits in Metro Denver. BRIC was established to address systemic racism and inequities that negatively impact Black communities. BRIC provides valuable resources and programs to strengthen the capacity and increase the impact of Black-led and serving nonprofits --to shift from surviving to thriving. The BRIC Fund raised more than $2 million and granted over $1.5 million to 98 nonprofit organizations in just a little over a year.
“We are proud to invest in and support the work of these deserving organizations who exemplify resilience in their drive to strengthen the communities they serve,” explained LaDawn Sullivan, BRIC Fund director and visionary. “Community empowering community is how we bridge the gaps, break down systemic barriers to progress, build a leadership pipeline and strengthen organizations for thriving communities to grow.”
Grants were awarded following an extensive review of the 60 submitted applications led by the BRIC Advisory Committee, made up of diverse Black community leaders. The BRIC Grants Program priorities are determined by community input from Black community leaders and feedback from Black-led nonprofit partners/grantees.
BRIC Fund 2021 Fall Cycle Grant Recipients:
5th Element Center for Dance Another Life Foundation
Apprentice of Peace Youth Organization
Athletics & Beyond
Black American West Museum & Heritage Center
Boss Generation
Cleo Parker Robinson Dance
Colorado Beautillion, Inc
Curls on the Block
Denver Kappa Alpha Psi Scholarship Foundation
Denver Sisters Circle
Edu Ctr
Ethiopian Community Television
Financial Education & Economic Transformation (FEET)
Center Foundation for Black Entrepreneurship
From The Heart Foundation
GIVING BACK 303 INC
Heavy Hands Heavy Hearts Foundation
HOPE Center
Institute for Racial Equity and Excellence
Issues of Life Church Ministries
Aurora Kids
Above Everything
Make a Chess Move (MACM)
Project VOYCE RISE
5280 SCD Enrichment Program
Seasoned with Grace Unboxed
Second Chance Center, Inc.
Show and Tell Corporation
Sisterhood of Philanthropists Impacting Needs - SPIN
Soul 2 Soul Sisters
The Caregivers’ Guardian, LLC
The Crowley Foundation, Inc.
The DROP
Thelma’s Dream
Urban League Young Professionals of Metro Denver
Yoruba Ni Colorado
Young African Americans for Social & Political Activism
Youth Seen
Organizations interested in applying for funding can find the grant requirements and application portal online at www.bricfund.org. The next BRIC grant cycle will open on February 14, 2022 and close on April 1, 2022 at 5pm.
About Black Resilience in Colorado (BRIC) Fund
Black Resilience in Colorado (BRIC) Fund is the first Black-focused community fund established in Colorado, explicitly providing financial resources and support to Black-led and serving organizations. Established on Juneteenth (June 19, 2020), BRIC is More Than a Fund…It is A Movement Forward for change to address systemic racism and inequities that negatively impact Black communities throughout the seven-county Metro Denver area and beyond. BRIC is an inclusive entity that welcomes and empowers diverse support from organizations and individuals who seek to invest in the sustained growth of Black-led and serving nonprofits. Through BRIC, organizations can leverage community assets, build capacity, and secure emergency relief resources during times of crisis. Together with donors, emerging philanthropists, community networks, partners, and national peers, BRIC provides valuable resources and programs that strive to dismantle systemic racism while reinforcing the resilience of Black-led and serving organizations and their work in community - BRIC by BRIC. For more information about BRIC, please visit www.bricfund.org.
About The Denver Foundation
The Denver Foundation is a community foundation that inspires people and mobilizes resources to improve life in Metro Denver. In 2020, the Foundation and its donors awarded $111 million in grants. The Denver Foundation has three roles: stewarding an endowment to meet current and future needs for Metro Denver, working with community leaders to address the core challenges that face the community and managing more than 1,000 charitable funds on behalf of individuals, families and businesses. To learn more about The Denver Foundation, visit www.denverfoundation.org.
*Article originally published January 11, 2022 via Five Points Atlas
LaDawn Sullivan
LaDawn Sullivan is an influencer, innovator and coalition builder. For over 24 years, she has strengthened and expanded the pipeline of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) leadership, addressed social injustice, and created racially equitable and inclusive practices and policies. She is the creator and director of the Black Resilience in Colorado (BRIC) Fund.
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