We Raise Foundation Awards Two $100,000 GrantsPlus Grants
We Raise Foundation recently awarded two $100,000 grants that will assist Christian organizations working to build healthier communities through education, workforce development, or criminal justice programs. GrantsPlus grants support new and innovative projects in Chicago, St. Louis, Milwaukee, and Oakland/San Francisco working at the intersection of poverty, violence, and inequality.
In addition to the grant award, We Raise also provides critical capacity building services in the area of resource development to help strengthen and sustain the programs we fund. For each grantee, we conduct a resource development assessment, incentivized crowdfunding campaign, and research. GrantsPlus recipients also participate in webinars, convening events, and workshops.
The two new grant recipients are:
AGAPE Reentry Program
The SoulFisher Ministries, St. Louis, Mo.
Grant Amount – $100,000
The AGAPE Reentry Program consists of four components: Homeward Bound, Home to Stay, Restored for Success, and Fisher Transitional Living for Women. A vital aspect of the AGAPE Reentry Program is for ex-offenders to develop a positive attitude toward social responsibility and accountability. This work begins with the women while they are still in prison through cognitive behavioral classes and continues as they transition from incarceration back into the community through case management and therapeutic mental health services. Upon release, the AGAPE Reentry Program works to ensure participants can live above the poverty line while remaining free from criminal activity by providing thorough intake, ongoing assessment, education, guidance, case management, and other supportive measures that foster successful reentry. The grant will support permanent housing placement for 10 women, permanent housing maintenance for 10 women, and direct services for up to 30 women newly released from jail or prison.
La Semilla After-School Program
New Life Centers of Chicagoland, Chicago, Ill.
Grant Amount – $100,000
New Life Centers plans to revitalize its La Semilla after-school program, which exists to combat the effects of poverty, inequality, low educational attainment, and violence in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood. With the grant, New Life is able to maximize the opportunity for high-risk youth to engage in pro-social activities, improve their academic performance, increase their physical and mental health, and provide safe spaces at targeted times in order to minimize exposure to violence. The after-school program will serve 35 students in grades K-8 three days per week from 3-5:30 p.m. and provide homework help and tutoring, computer access, Bible studies, enrichment games, exercise, nutrition education, and healthy meals. La Semilla also plans to extend programming into the summer months.
About We Raise Foundation
We Raise Foundation identifies innovative ideas, people, and programs that raise consciousness, community leadership, and capital. Motivated by the belief that freedom is grace in action (Galatians 5:1a), We Raise provides grants and assistance with resource development to organizations that work at the intersection of poverty, violence, and inequality. We Raise supports Christian nonprofit organizations and emerging leaders and has a preference for funding solutions within the areas of education, workforce development, and criminal justice. To learn more, please visit weraise.org. You can also find We Raise on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
