Overview
Young people are deeply involved in the fight for social and economic justice. They are today’s organizers, decision-makers and leaders. The Penney Family Fund supports organizations that are youth-led or multi-generational organizations with robust youth organizing and leadership development activities where youth have direct decision-making roles and responsibilities. It prioritizes organizations working directly with youth of color and low-income youth and engages youth in organizing, policy/advocacy and civic education as strategies for social change. The Fund supports organizations that:
Involve youth at every level of the organization
Demonstrate a strong commitment to leadership development and civic education
Are actively involved in advocacy efforts as a main strategy
Adopt strategies that including organizing youth of color
Engage in coalition work and work closely with allies
Create solutions that address the root causes of problems, such as racial and economic inequities
Demonstrate a commitment to include an intergenerational component.
Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO)
Portland, OR
APANO is a statewide, grassroots organization, uniting Asians and Pacific Islanders to achieve social justice. Through ALLY (API Leaders for the Liberation of Youth), APANO uses grassroots organizing, political and social justice education, and leadership development to create positive change in their communities.
$10,000 in 2015
$10,000 in 2016
$15,000 in 2017
$12,500 in 2018
$5,000 in 2019
AYPAL: Building API Community Power
Oakland, CA
AYPAL is a leadership development, community organizing and coalition building organization that seeks to create healthy, safe, and thriving communities. AYPAL’s mission is to empower Oakland’s low-income Asian & Pacific Islander immigrant and refugee families to be leaders for school reform and neighborhood change.
$10,000 in 2014
$10,000 in 2015
$12,500 in 2016
$12,500 in 2017
$12,500 in 2018
$25,000 in 2019 (2-year grant)
Black Organizing Project
Oakland, CA
The Black Organizing Project is a Black member-led community organization working for racial, social, and economic justice through grassroots organizing and community-building. Through their Bettering Our School System (BOSS) Campaign, they are building a base of power among Black students and parents to challenge systemic racism.
$15,000 in 2016
$12,500 in 2017
$12,500 in 2018
$25,000 in 2019 (2-year grant)
Californians for Justice
Oakland, CA
Californians for Justice is a statewide grassroots organization working for racial justice by building the power of youth, communities of color, immigrants, low-income families, and LGBTQ communities. Led by students, they organize to advance educational justice and improve social, economic, and political conditions.
$10,000 in 2014
$10,000 in 2015
$10,000 in 2016
$12,500 in 2017
$12,500 in 2018
$5,000 in 2019
Causa Justa :: Just Cause
Oakland, CA
CJJC builds grassroots power and leadership to win strong, equitable communities through rights-based services, policy campaigns, civic engagement and direct action. Their base is low-income Latino and Black families. They help organize low-income and immigrant youth their Youth in Power (YIP) program.
$10,000 in 2014
$10,000 in 2015
$10,000 in 2016
$5,000 in 2017
Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE)
Ventura, CA
CAUSE's mission is to build grassroots power to invoke social, economic and environmental justice for the people of California's Central Coast Region through policy research, leadership development, organizing, and advocacy. This grant supports organizing youth from low-income communities of color.
$10,000 in 2015
$12,500 in 2016
$12,500 in 2017
$12,500 in 2018
$25,000 in 2019 (2-year grant)
California Immigrant Youth Justice Alliance (CIYJA)
Los Angeles, CA
CIYJA establishes progressive and diverse immigrant and youth-led organizing efforts in the state of California by developing community-based, undocumented immigrant youth organizations. These organizations are CIYJA’s affiliates.
$10,000 in 2016
$12,500 in 2017
$12,500 in 2018
$25,000 in 2019 (2-year grant)
Khmer Girls in Action (KGA)
Long Beach, CA
KGA, led by Southeast Asian women, builds and increases intergenerational community power and ability to challenge oppressive systems and institutions that are not accountable to people who are low-income, youth, female and immigrant/refugees.
$12,000 in 2014
$12,000 in 2015
$10,000 in 2016
$12,500 in 2017
$12,500 in 2018
$25,000 in 2019 (2-year grant)
Momentum Alliance
Portland, OR
Momentum Alliance is a youth-led non-profit whose mission is to inspire young people to realize their power individually and collectively and to mentor future social justice leaders. They prepare diverse young people from underrepresented communities to become effective community leaders and decision-makers.
$12,000 in 2014
$10,000 in 2015
$15,000 in 2016
$15,000 in 2017
$17,500 in 2018
$15,000 in 2019
$15,000 in 2020
Multnomah Youth Commission (MYC)
Portland, OR
MYC, the official youth policy body for both Multnomah County and the City of Portland, is a group of young people, ages 13-21, that strives to provide a voice for youth in the County & City’s work. MYC works to change policy affecting young people, as well as negative community perception about youth.
$5,000 in 2016
Oregon Foster Youth Connection (OFYC)
Portland, OR
OFYC is a youth-led model of civic engagement and leadership development. They support youth in identifying pressing issues within the foster care system, determining concrete solutions, and educating policymakers and professionals about the reality of foster care and opportunities for improvement.
$15,000 in 2014
$15,000 in 2015
$15,000 in 2016
$15,000 in 2017
$12,500 in 2018
$25,000 in 2019 (2-year grant)