The Changemaker Fund will provide critical funding and resources for 13 local organizations working to
advance positive social change.

TROY, N.Y., July 22, 2021: 13 BIPOC-led organizations, whose work centers around elevating and
amplifying community voices, are the recipients of the inaugural Changemaker Fund, created by Healthy
Alliance IPA, sister organization of Alliance for Better Health, and United Way of the Greater Capital
Region. From distributing COVID-19 vaccines to sowing food equity from an Afro-Indigenous farm, this
year’s Fund recipients are charting a course for positive change. Collectively, they are working to address
wide-ranging systemic inequities, including mental health, food security and sovereignty, housing, youth
success, and financial security—particularly among Black, Latinx, immigrant, refugee, and rural
communities.

This year’s awardees are: BirthNet, Black Nurses Coalition, BlueLight Development, Capital District
Latinos, CEK RN Consulting, Centro Civico – A Division of Ibero American Action League, Inc., In Our Own
Voices, Miracle on Craig Street, Mom Starts Here, Mission Accomplished Transition Services, Soul Fire
Farm, U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, and Youth FX.

“Grassroots community-based organizations are integral to reducing health disparities, but are often
underfunded,” said Erica Coletti, CEO of Alliance for Better Health. “We created this fund in partnership
with United Way to provide resources as a step toward addressing that void. Together, we believe that
the best way to make a difference is to work alongside each other, be intentional, and remain
laser-focused on our shared mission to address inequities of all kinds.”

The Changemaker Fund provides unrestricted operational funding, technical support, and leadership
development for the awardees. Each of the Fund’s recipients will receive an initial award of up to
$25,000, with the opportunity for additional funding in the future. As part of the program, organizations
will implement Alliance’s digital referral platform, Healthy Together (powered by UniteUs), to send and
receive referrals across a network of medical, social, and behavioral health organizations, and contribute
to the ongoing collection of social determinants of health data. Awardees will also have the opportunity
to participate in a tailored learning curriculum, ranging from leadership development training to
interactive workshops, designed to empower and connect leadership across organizations and within
communities.

“The Changemakers are having a major impact on our communities and neighborhoods,” said Peter
Gannon, President & CEO of United Way of the Greater Capital Region. “Building on the success of the
first cohort of Five to Watch, this partnership provides more significant financial support for more
organizations while enhancing the capacity-building cohort model.”

This partnership is an example of how collaborative funding supports those in need and most apt to
affect real change. By promoting collaboration across the philanthropic sector, Healthy Alliance IPA 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 more meaningfully target systemic problems.