San Diego City Wire

San Diego County News Center, May 1, 2024 - Ten local small grassroots organizations have been selected to receive support grants through the County’s Equity Impact Grant (EIG) Program, a partnership between the County’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice (OERJ) and The Nonprofit Institute at the University of San Diego. Each grantee organization will receive $100,000 in general operating support grants, along with capacity-building coaching provided by NPI.

"This program is a critical first step to support our small nonprofit organizations," said Andrew Strong, Director of the Office of Equity and Racial Justice. "We are excited to see the outcomes of this first round, yet we know we still have a lot of work to do."

OERJ and NPI developed the program in response to community feedback about the challenges that small and grassroots organizations experience when applying for government contracts and philanthropic funding. The EIG program supports organizations led by people with lived experiences that represent the communities they seek to help.

"This is only the beginning," said Dr. Novien Yarber, Senior Research Associate, Nonprofit Institute. "My hope is that this process not only positively impacts the awardees but has a transformative impact on everyone involved."

"The number of applications shows the significant need for support for small and BIPOC–led nonprofits," added Andrew Strong.

The first cycle of the program received 325 applications, indicating a strong demand for such support. Organizations that were not selected during the first cycle have been encouraged to reapply for the upcoming cycles. Applications for the second grant cycle will open later this year, and a link to apply will be available on the Equity Impact Grant Program website.

The recipients of the Equity Impact Grant Program have been announced, and they include various grassroots organizations working towards community betterment. The program aims to provide essential support to these organizations and facilitate positive impacts on the communities they serve.