The Fund for Rural Equity

CRLA's Fund for Rural Equity is an innovative re-granting initiative targeting 501(c)3 organizations serving low-income communities of color in the San Joaquin Valley and the Central Coast counties of San Benito and Santa Cruz. CRLA has awarded nine organizations multi-year grants in the amount of $17,500 per year for three years (2010-2012).

Our Theory of Change

The legal system operates as a mechanism for both maintaining privilege and securing real justice. It has been used to expand the rights and protections of marginalized populations, while simultaneously operating to maintain and deepen control of assets and property for the powerful. CRLA believes that by linking public interest lawyers with low-income individuals and communities, we are creating a more level playing field-protecting access to resources and expanding opportunity for low-income rural communities. When we combine improved access to resources, good legal counsel, and technical assistance, we are improving the odds that non-profits serving low-income communities of color will be successful and sustainable.

Our criteria for re-granting and awarding funds hinges on the theory that well-resourced non-profits are most effective when they also have access to knowledge, skills and legal advice on par with other professional groups and institutions serving their communities. CRLA has learned this first hand. We have supported and incubated minority-led 501(c)3 organizations in the past, some of which have gone on to be very successful, others of which have struggled to make the impact they seek. This means that our grantees will not only gain financial resources, but also gain access to the management, planning and legal training often missing from the development of minority-led non-profits serving low-income communities of color.

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY GRANTEES

Centro Binacional Para el Desarrollo Indigena Oaxaqueno: www.centrobinacional.org
Dolores Huerta Foundation: www.doloreshuerta.org
Fathers and Families of San Joaquin: www.ffsj.org
Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministries: www.firminc.org
Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce Development Foundation: www.kcbcc.net
West Fresno Health Care Coalition

CENTRAL COAST GRANTEES

Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos: www.barriosunidos.net
Hollister Youth Alliance: www.hollisteryouthalliance.org
Mountain Community Resources: www.mountaincommunityresources.org

These nine organizations were selected from an initial pool of over 70 organizations. Through a very competitive selection process, guided by two advisory councils-one in the San Joaquin Valley, the other based in Santa Cruz-CRLA identified and selected organizations which best aligned with the goals and desired outcomes of The Fund For Rural Equity.

CRLA's Fund for Rural Equity is supported by a grant from the Community Leadership Project, a joint effort funded by The David and Lucile Packard, James Irvine, and William and Flora Hewlett foundations.

For more information about the Fund for Rural Equity, or other CRLA programs which support the rural non-profit community, please contact Lee Pliscou, Director of Community Programs.