The Changemaker Fund will provide eight BIPOC-led community organizations with critical funding and resources to advance social change in the Capital Region.
TROY, N.Y. – Eight local BIPOC-led organizations — which all work to address wide-ranging systemic inequities like youth and child success, mental health, food security, and more within underserved communities — will each receive a one-year, unrestricted award of $25,000 through the second annual Changemaker Fund.
This year’s awardees are 518 Elite, Capital District Recovery Center, Community Fathers, Inc., Hood’s House of Hoops, Miracle on Craig Street, SHRED Foundation, The Creative Good, Inc., and Young Futures. Collectively, the eight organizations are working to advance positive social change in the Capital Region.
“Promoting and investing in BIPOC leadership is critical to creating systemic change for a just and equitable society,” said Erica Coletti, CEO of Healthy Alliance. “By providing funding and other supports to these Changemakers, we hope to amplify the impact of their critical work in addressing health disparities and inequities across our community.”
In addition to the $25,000 funding, awardees will have access to a facilitated leadership cohort including one-on-one leadership coaching and interactive group coaching, designed to empower and connect leadership across organizations and within communities.
“There was support for me as a leader,” said Coretta Killikelly – Founder and Executive Director of CEK RN Consulting, Inc., a 2021 Changemaker Fund awardee, and member of this year’s application peer review committee. “We received full support from Healthy Alliance and United Way of the Greater Capital Region, support that our organization would not be able to afford without this fund. I was able to take full advantage of the benefits of this program, especially the mentoring sessions, which have been important for my growth and development as a leader.”
The Changemaker Fund is an example of how collaborative pooled funding can be designed to increase the impact and scale of giving. By promoting collaboration across the philanthropic sector, Healthy Alliance and United Way are working to address resource gaps and reduce the burden of multiple applications and reporting requirements for awardees, making it possible to target systemic problems more meaningfully.
“Building on the success of Five to Watch in 2019, the Changemaker Fund addresses racial, gender, and other resource disparities in our local nonprofit sector by amplifying the voices of the traditionally under-resourced community leaders,” said Peter Gannon, President & CEO of United Way of the Greater Capital Region. “This year’s Changemakers were selected for their proven impact within their communities and their potential to shape the future of the Capital Region.”
More information on the 2022-2023 Changemaker Fund recipients:
- 518 Elite is a youth club organization, serving ages 10-18, that allows children to be seen in front of many Divisions I, II, and III college coaches to advance their careers as student athletes in hopes they will be able to pursue their goals through further education.
- Capital District Recovery Center assists BIPOC communities in maintaining addiction-free lifestyles and supporting families and children whose loved ones are in recovery. Their recovery center provides social activities, community education, and training for peer support and recovery coaching to help improve the lives of people in recovery through personal development, mindfulness, and spiritual growth.
- Community Fathers, Inc. provides self-help opportunities and supportive services to fathers, families, and communities. Initiatives are deeply aligned with their vision of creating a world where all men realize their value as caretakers of their communities.
- Hood’s House of Hoops provides outreach and guidance to inner city youth and families in low-income communities. They promote community engagement and social responsiveness to reach at-risk youth and families beyond the programs and services offered, ensuring every athlete will be successful both on and off the court.
- Miracle on Craig Street leads various health and wellness programming for youth and adults in our communities for free and low cost, including but not limited to youth summer sports leagues, youth arts and poetry programming, and doula services for expecting families.
- SHRED Foundation is a nonprofit youth foundation that uses snowboarding as a vehicle to provide life skills and career pathways for youth living in BIPOC communities. SHRED Foundation is a recognized organization that is not only creating equity of access to Snowsports but also within the industry through their workforce development programming.
- The Creative Good, Inc. affectionately known as Free Food Fridge Albany, addresses food apartheid and builds community mutual aid culture through sharing resources and strengthening community solidarity and progress.
- Young Futures is a children’s art and education program with a focus on financial literacy, serving ages 6-15, that encourages children to channel their imaginations and creativity. Through arts and crafts, Young Futures teaches children the importance of budgeting and banking, concepts to help them make better financial choices like assets and liabilities, and much more.
