Advancing Advocacy and Justice with Communities of Color (US)

Deadline: 15-Oct-21

The Colorado Health Foundation’s Advancing Advocacy and Justice with Communities of Color funding opportunity aims to build power in the advocacy ecosystem with organizations that are most critical and closest to the communities for whom health is furthest from reach. It will support both long-term movement-building and the ability of advocacy groups to act when high-leverage opportunities to bring about change arise.

The Foundation hopes to shift and elevate power and further strengthen a nimble, adaptive, diverse and durable advocacy ecosystem.

Focus Area

Champion Health Equity

Who They Will Support

This funding opportunity will support:

A continuum of advocacy efforts focusing on health equity for Arab/Middle Eastern, Asian/Pacific Islander, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, Indigenous/Native American, Multiracial communities and groups that engage in intersectional work with communities of color (e.g. focusing on Indigenous women, Black LGBTQ+, immigrants and refugees);
Long-term movement-building strategies that make decision-makers account to communities and strengthen their power to influence policy;
Efforts for racial and economic justice, which will ultimately support health equity for people of color across the state.

Funding Information

Grants will typically range from $50,000 to $200,000 annually per organization. Grant duration will range from two to five years.

Funding Criteria

To be considered for funding, organizations must meet the following criteria:

Organizations should be led by and/or centered on Arab/Middle Eastern, Asian/Pacific Islander, Black/African American, Indigenous/ Native American, Hispanic/Latinx and Multiracial communities and work to build the power of Coloradans of color to shape public policy decisions that impact health.
Proposed work should include each of the following features:
- Foundation Alignment: Proposed advocacy aligns with and advances the Foundation’s cornerstones in service to their mission. While this funding opportunity is not constrained to specific issue areas, alignment for this funding is deeply tied to the Foundation’s commitment to health equity. They recognize that when communities who have historically had less power and privilege are using the tactics to expand their power, use their voice and make change – they are fighting against the root causes of health inequities as they themselves define them.
- Advocacy Focus: Proposed activities should focus on advocacy related to:
  - Public policy at the local, state and/or federal level, including advocating for policy changes, protecting existing policies, improving or supporting equitable implementation of existing policies, and/or building political will
  - Activities focused on engaging, organizing and/or mobilizing specific constituencies or communities around a particular policy issue, set of issues aimed at advancing health equity, and/or civic or structural reforms that will advance health equity
  - Building support for longer-term racial justice actions. Activities that address individual behaviors, provide individual-level advocacy or provide direct services will not receive consideration.
- Community Informed: Proposed advocacy reflects the health priorities of community members and shows authentic and deep engagement with the community. Aligned organizations are working with the community, not just for the community.
- Impact: Proposed advocacy efforts should describe how the work will bring health in reach for communities of color who live on low income.
- Approach: Proposed advocacy should focus on building towards long-term movement(s) that advance health equity and racial justice, not simply securing single policy victories.
Applicants proposed advocacy work must have a clear tie to health equity and strong connection with the Foundation’s cornerstones.