A Just & Equitable COVID-19 Recovery
COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted Black, Indigenous, immigrant, Latinx and other communities of color. As we anticipate the end of the pandemic, we know that recovering and rebuilding from COVID-19 does not and should not mean returning to a pre-pandemic “normal.”
Instead, we seek a “new normal” – rooted in equity, justice, and our shared humanity – that helps build a more racially just society where everyone in our region can thrive.
For this reason, our core grantmaking in 2022 is focused on supporting work that seeks a Just & Equitable COVID-19 Recovery. This means our work and the work we support will:
BUILD POWER
We believe that movements transform power by elevating the voices and demands of those most impacted, nurturing healing-centered leadership, and building resiliency within community.
CHANGE SYSTEMS
We define systems change as challenging and changing the policies, practices, priorities, and culture that created and perpetuate the inequities exposed and exacerbated during the pandemic.
COLLABORATE ACROSS CONSTITUENCIES AND ISSUES
We believe that multi-racial coalitions working on multiple issues and led by those most directly impacted by injustice yields the greatest potential to advance justice.
Updates on A Just & Equitable COVID-19 Recovery
Check back above for the latest updates on the A Just & Equitable COVID-19 Recovery!
More about A Just & Equitable COVID-19 Recovery
We're supporting work in Greater Washington that builds power, changes systems, and encourages collaboration across constituencies and issues to develop a stronger, more just society where everyone in our region can thrive.
Eligibility
To apply for a grant from the Meyer Foundation, applicants should:
-
- Be a nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) public charity designation by the IRS (or be fiscally sponsored by one) and
-
- Work with and for the people and communities of the Greater Washington region, which Meyer defines as:
-
-
- Washington, DC
- Montgomery and/or Prince George’s counties in Maryland
- Arlington, Fairfax, and/or Prince William counties and/or the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and/or Manassas Park in Virginia
-
Most of the organizations Meyer supports are locally based and carry out their work in the Greater Washington region. National or statewide organizations may apply for a project grant if the work is strongly aligned with Meyer’s strategy and priorities, takes place in the Greater Washington region, and is implemented in close partnership with local communities and organizations.
If your organization is not yet a 501(c)(3) or does not yet have a fiscal sponsor, you are welcome to apply while you are securing that designation or in the process of finding a fiscal sponsor. However, grants can only be made to verified public charities (which means that you will need to have 501(c)(3) designation or a fiscal sponsor before we can approve and pay a grant).
What we Support
In addition to our eligibility requirements, organizations or projects seeking funding should:
- Address the root causes of inequity through systems change work. We define systems change as challenging and changing the culture, policies, practices, and priorities that create and perpetuate inequities. These inequities have only been further exposed and exacerbated during the pandemic.
- Build power for purposes of advancing racial and/or economic justice.
- Leverage one or more of these tactics for change:
- Organizing & Base Building
- Advocacy
- Capacity Building
- Coalition Building
- Narrative Change
- Actively participate in broader organizing, movement, and/or field-building work to advance racial and economic justice in the Greater Washington region.
We accept and review Interest Form submissions on a rolling basis. More information on submitting an Interest Form can be found on the How to Apply section on our Grantmaking page of our website.
