April 7, 2017
The Voqal Fund is pleased to announce 10 new grants to organizations working to enhance the community and strengthen social equity. The grants to M-Power Change, Piper Fund, Presente Action Fund, Coworker.org, Proteus Action League, Arab American Institute, Mijente, South Asians American Leading Together, Arizona Wins and Maine Citizens for Clean Elections reflect the Voqal Fund’s commitment to support progressive movements for social change.
Mpower Change
With a growing base of over 80,000 members, a network of more than 150 local organizers, and partnerships with Muslim and progressive organizations nationwide, MPower Change uses organizing, campaigning and storytelling to build the grassroots power of American Muslims and advance social, spiritual, racial and economic justice for all people. Thanks to support from Voqal, Mpower Change will use a combination of online organizing, offline events and media outreach to reach and serve Muslims on national issues, as well as support local community partners.
Piper Fund
The Piper Action Fund works to reduce the impact of corporate and wealthy special interest money on our democracy. To do so, it supports campaigns for reform policies that will increase the power of underrepresented communities to ensure that they achieve an equal voice. Voqal’s funding will assist Piper Fund in providing support to build infrastructure for organizations that serve and are led by underrepresented communities, and for the development of leaders within these communities who will take up the mantle to fight for Money in Politics and fair court reforms.
Presente Action Fund
Presente advances Latinx power and creates winning campaigns that amplify Latinx voices; expands political imagination and traditional boundaries; and fosters inspiration for freedom, equity and justice. Thanks in part to support from Voqal, Presente will be able carry out its Sanctuary Restaurants program that will organize a large and diverse base of workers, employers and consumers who will advocate for workplaces committed to being free of hate and discrimination.
Coworker.org
Coworker.org strengthens the digital organizing capacity of employees through a platform for workplace-based campaigns. Thanks to support from Voqal, its platform will continue to give workers a powerful channel through which they can push back on threats to their rights and will play a critical role in helping workers maintain protections in the changing political climate.
Proteus Action League
An affiliate of the Proteus Fund, the Proteus Action League aims to promote public education regarding democracy and human rights through political action. Thanks to support from Voqal, Proteus Action League’s Security and Rights Action Fund (SRAF) will support the coordination and capacity of organizations representing Muslim, Arab and South Asian communities to protect rights, advance policy reform and shift the narrative around issues at the core of democracy and society.
Arab American Institute
The Arab American Institute represents the policy and community interests of Arab Americans throughout the United States and strives to promote Arab American participation in the U.S. electoral system. Thanks to support from Voqal, the Arab American Institute will train Arab American leaders and organizations in 12 states to interact with U.S. and state Attorney Generals to ensure the reporting of hate crimes against the Arab American community.
Mijente
Mijente is a new national hub for Latinx and Chincanx organizing. Using a hybrid offline and online platform, it is creating a political home that brings together leadership, advocacy, culture and media to spark culture and policy change. With support from Voqal, Mijente will launch its membership program, form local communities, consolidate and distribute programs and tools, build its technical and organizing capabilities, develop innovative communications strategies for movement building and build local campaigns with the goal of protecting immigrant communities in the United States.
South Asians American Leading Together
South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) is a national, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that elevates the voices and perspectives of South Asian individuals and organizations to build a more just and inclusive society in the United States. With support from Voqal, SAALT will bolster the advocacy, organizing and base building capacity of South Asian grassroots organizations to engage on the issues of immigrant rights policy advocacy, civil rights and liberties, and hate violence.
Arizona Wins
The Arizona Wins coalition is dedicated to achieving public policies that benefit working families while advancing an inclusive, engaged, just and equitable state for all Arizonans. Thanks to support from Voqal, Arizona Wins will conduct a legislative defense campaign to defend the ballot measure process and previously passed ballot measures in Arizona.
Maine Citizens for Clean Elections
Maine Citizens for Clean Elections (MCCE) is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization working to ensure that Maine’s campaign finance laws, elections and government serve the public interest, both in principle and in practice. Thanks to support from Voqal, MCCE will work to protect Maine’s strengthened Clean Election Law in 2017 and beyond.
Learn more about the work of the Voqal Fund by visiting the Voqal Fund webpage.