The Fund for Racial Justice and Equity (FRJE), powered by United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley (UWLHV), is a grant program designed to transform people and communities by investing in Black and Brown leaders and organizations. This aligns with UWLHV's mission to promote trust and integrity, support risk-taking and innovation, and ultimately invest in people and Black and Brown leadership. The fund is guided by a team of Black and Brown community leaders who developed a strategic framework and investment process to expand opportunity and access to equitable funding by removing barriers currently faced by leaders of color.
The primary target beneficiaries of FRJE are Lehigh Valley nonprofit organizations led by and explicitly serving Black, Indigenous and People of of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQ+, and disability communities, or the intersections of these identities. These organizations must provide programming in areas such as leadership development, economic advancement, health and wellness, and/or stories of Black and Brown excellence and success. The program's impact goals are centered on ensuring that resources are available to support programs, people, and services that prioritize the voices and experiences of those most affected by racism, with a commitment to equitable funding practices throughout the application, review, and distribution processes.
The FRJE focuses on supporting Black and Brown leadership, investing in individuals, promoting risk-taking and innovation, and fostering trust and integrity within the community. The grants, ranging from $10,000 to $50,000, are specifically for programming in Lehigh, Northampton, and Carbon Counties, and will fund agencies and programs for one year, from January 2025 to December 2025. The general qualifications emphasize organizations led by and explicitly serving BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and disability communities, providing health and human services programming, holding 501(c)(3) status for at least one year or having a fiscal sponsor, and non-discriminatory practices.
The expected outcomes and measurable results include increased access to equitable funding for organizations led by and serving marginalized communities, enhanced leadership development and economic advancement within these communities, improved health and wellness outcomes, and the amplification of stories of Black and Brown excellence and success. The theory of change posits that by directly investing in and empowering Black and Brown leaders and organizations through an equitable funding process, FRJE can dismantle systemic barriers, foster innovation, and create sustainable positive change for people and communities disproportionately affected by racism.
