The African American Unity Fund distributed $225,000 to 21 organizations — 13 of which were first-time grantees — supporting initiatives for the African American community.
The committee was intentional about funding programs that needed seed funding to get started and several returning organizations, which continue to grow their work and positively impact the community.
Three exciting projects, totaling $58,000, focus on financial literacy at the Urban Financial Services Coalition, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, and Financial Beginnings Nebraska.
Another critical focus area was youth development, specifically mentoring and college preparation, while others address the stigma around mental health and food security.
2021 African American Unity Fund Recipients
- 3SISTERS: $10,000 for Operational Funding
- Change of Omaha: $5,000 for a Community Garden
- Descendants of DeWitty, NE: $2,000 for Community Outreach
- Financial Beginnings Nebraska: $25,000 for Capacity Building and Expansion of Program Impact
- Great Plains Black History Museum: $5,000 for 2021 Operational Grant Request (Pictured Above, Executive Director Eric Ewing)
- Guide Right Omaha, Inc.: $10,000 for Omaha Kappa League ‐ 2021 Atlanta College Tour
- House of Afros, Capes & Curls: $20,000 for Capacity Building
- National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc.: $10,000 for Financial Literacy Education Series
- International Council for Refugees and Immigrants: $5,000 for Bridge to Prosperity‐Refugee Youth Mentoring Program
- Malcolm X Memorial Foundation: $10,000 for General Operating Expenses and Community Events
- Midlands African Chamber, Inc.: $5,000 for Capacity Building Initiative
- Mildred D. Brown Memorial Study Center: $15,000 for The Omaha Star™ Printing and Publishing (OSPP)
- My Sister’s Keeper: $5,000 for Celebration of Life
- O. NE Mentoring Academy: $10,000 for Mentoring and Mindfulness through Counseling
- Our Light, Inc.: $7,500 for Expressing Ourselves Program
- Results Academy: $20,000 for the “Dedicated to Greatness” Initiative
- Survivors Rising: $11,500 for Rise Up in Community
- The Rose House, Inc.: $6,000 for the Mobile Pantry
- Urban Financial Services Coalition Omaha Chapter, Inc.: $23,000 for Financial Literacy
- Young Entrepreneurs of the Future: $15,000 for the Innovative Youth Entrepreneurship Program
- Youth Advancement Services: $5,000 for 7 on 7 Football Programming for Youth
Each year, all funding decisions are made by a resident-led committee of African American representatives who understand which investments will be most impactful in addressing the needs of their community. The next grant cycle for the fund will open on January 1, 2022.