Additional Safe Communities Grants Deployed
Funding will support efforts to address systemic inequities and translate community anger into actions that repair the city.
The Minneapolis Foundation today announced that it will deploy $500,000 from its Fund for Safe Communities to support the people of Minneapolis as they strive for justice, equity and healing in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death in police custody.
Established in 2018, the Fund for Safe Communities supports tangible, specific and meaningful actions to address and prevent violence, particularly efforts led by young people. The Foundation is in the midst of a grantmaking process to distribute $500,000 from this fund to community-based organizations working to reduce violence. In light of the horrific events surrounding George Floyd’s death and the need to support the community in seeking meaningful, non-violent solutions, the Foundation will quickly distribute an additional $500,000, making community investments totaling $1 million from the fund in the coming weeks.
“Our hearts are broken for the family of George Floyd, and for our city,” said Chanda Smith Baker, Senior Vice President of Impact at the Minneapolis Foundation. “Deadly-force police encounters hit our community over and over, and every death is devastating. As a mom, I feel compelled personally as well as professionally to take action on this issue. Nothing we can do will bring George Floyd back; nothing is enough. But we know we must do something, and we must find ways to translate our pain, anger and frustration into actions that repair our city.”
The Foundation is designing a low-barrier application process to quickly distribute these grants and expects to begin accepting applications early next week.
Funding will support efforts to:
- Prevent further violence
- Address systemic inequities and reform the criminal justice system
- Heal individuals and communities affected by this horrific tragedy
The Foundation is committed to honoring community voices and expertise and supporting a broad spectrum of strategies and approaches to make Minneapolis neighborhoods safer. The Fund for Safe Communities leverages an advisory committee composed of young people who have personal experience with community violence and its effects on individuals and families, and they will be consulted as the Foundation administers these grants.
To receive updates about grant guidelines for the Fund for Safe Communities, sign up for email notifications. You can also contribute to the Fund below.
