Scherman Foundation

We are excited to announce a significant milestone in the Scherman Foundation's journey. As we celebrated the Foundation’s 80th anniversary in 2021, we embarked on a transformative process to deepen our commitment to racial justice and equity. Today, we proudly present the results of this three-year reimagining of our framework. This includes: ? Updated Mission, Vision, and Transformation statements ? Revised program guidelines ? Strengthened dedication to anti-racism and racial justice, emphasizing organizing, power shifting, and movement building in BIPOC communities Join us on this journey! Explore our new framework: ?? Mission, Vision, and Transformation: https://lnkd.in/eJwPdmuE ?? Program Guidelines: https://lnkd.in/eAJ-gu-i #SchermanFoundation #RacialJustice #EquityinPhilanthropy

In the days leading up to the election, several news outlets have been covering the important work of GoVoteNYC grantees to ensure all voices are heard in our democracy. As a funder of GoVoteNYC, Documented, and MinKwon Center for Community Action, the Scherman Foundation is proud to uplift this roundup of recent media coverage: ???NYN Media highlighted how nonprofits are engaging reluctant voters ahead of the presidential election, including GoVoteNYC's nonpartisan program which focuses on low-propensity voters in BIPOC communities.?https://lnkd.in/erxh7A83 ?? On NY1's "Weekends On 1," Trisha Kim from MinKwon Center for Community Action discussed their work to?engage Asian American voters.?https://lnkd.in/ePe3BdVg ???Trinity Church featured GoVoteNYC and Faith in New York in a recent profile, showcasing their efforts to get New Yorkers to the polls.?https://lnkd.in/ey-bkE3P ???Amsterdam News reported on GoVoteNYC grantees launching a week of events to engage underrepresented voters.?https://lnkd.in/ekuX76sE ???Documented covered the Asian community's initiatives to register voters and break the "vicious cycle" of low turnout.?https://lnkd.in/e4-Jw2gR #VoterEngagement #CivicParticipation #GoVoteNYC

We are pleased to announce that the Scherman Foundation has awarded $250,000 in rapid response funding to support Democracy organizations. This funding will help these groups prepare for and respond to potential challenges from Election Day through Inauguration Day, including unanticipated threats of violence and disruption. Additionally, several grantees are continuing their efforts to reach voters in areas recently affected by major hurricanes. With gratitude to our board for their foresight and swift action in authorizing these additional funds, grants have been awarded to the following current Scherman Foundation grantees: BVM Capacity Building Institute - https://lnkd.in/eZukqg7N #FloridaRisingTogether - https://lnkd.in/e6fkmcn8 #MichiganVoices - https://lnkd.in/gc9MSM53 New Voices for Reproductive Justice - https://lnkd.in/eWmacgVK New York Civic Engagement Table - https://lnkd.in/eYVemNaP Pennsylvania Voice - https://lnkd.in/eavFvr3R #POWERInterfaith - https://lnkd.in/eg9bcECm ProGeorgia - https://lnkd.in/eTj6NTWG Rural Democracy Initiative - https://lnkd.in/eSnsgnMJ State Voices - https://lnkd.in/eY5mebSc #ElectionPreparedness #RapidResponse #CommunityResilience

This Latine and Hispanic Heritage Month—and beyond—we're proud to spotlight grantees led by, focused on, and serving Latine communities. These organizations are transforming systems, building bridges, and amplifying voices across areas: ?? SEPA Mujer: Empowering Latina immigrant women on Long Island ?? National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice: Amplifying Latina/x voices and reclaiming narratives for reproductive justice ?? Pregones / Puerto Rican Traveling Theater: Celebrating Puerto Rican/Latinx cultural legacy through innovative arts ?? LatinoJustice PRLDEF: Championing Latinx civil rights through legal advocacy ?? El Puente: Cultivating BIPOC youth leadership for social justice in education, arts, environment, and wellness for Latinx and other communities of color ?? CALIFORNIA LATINAS FOR REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE: Building Latina/e power through community organizing and advocacy for reproductive justice ?? Ballet Hispánico: Bringing communities together to celebrate Latinx cultures through dance Join us in celebrating these organizations and learn more about their impactful work! #LatineHeritageMonth #HispanicHeritageMonth #CommunityPower Note: We use "Latine and Hispanic Heritage Month" to recognize a range of identities and relationships to terminology. Latino/a, Latine, and Latinx all refer to people of Latin American descent, while Hispanic refers to Spanish-speaking populations, not necessarily of Latin American origin.

GoVoteNYC grantee partners, including Scherman Foundation grantees El Puente and MinKwon Center for Community Action, are kicking off a week of nonpartisan get-out-the-vote activities. Events include parties, workshops, and distribution of voter guides across New York City. See how you can get involved?here: https://lnkd.in/eMVgViDn

We are pleased to share that the Scherman Foundation is a contributing funder of The Fund for the Newest New Yorkers at The New York Community Trust, in collaboration with Robin Hood. We believe that ensuring immigrant communities and new arrivals receive the resources and stability they need is essential to building a stronger and more equitable New York for all.

We are excited to share that the GoVoteNYC Fund at The New York Community Trust recently announced $975,000 in grants to nine nonprofits focused on nonpartisan get-out-the-vote activities. As a proud funder, the Scherman Foundation is committed to supporting initiatives that build community power and strengthen our democracy. These grants will play a crucial role in ensuring that more New Yorkers have their voices heard at the polls. #GoVoteNYC #VoterTurnout #CommunityPower

At the Scherman Foundation, we support our city's vital arts and culture organizations and want to uplift the hard work of LxNY and The Cultural Equity Coalition, along with #CultureForAll partners in advocating for the recent restoration of $53 million in funding to cultural institutions. These groups, many of whom are our grantees, highlight the indispensable role of arts and culture in our city's vibrancy. We hope the importance of arts and culture will continue to be reflected in our city's budget in the coming years. #SupportArts #CulturalEquity?

The Scherman Foundation is a proud member of GoVoteNYC, a funder collaborative focused on boosting voter participation in NYC municipal elections. In this timely and insightful article for Candid, Neill Coleman and Melody Lopez (from grantee partner New York Civic Engagement Table) explore the innovative solutions community organizations are crafting to tackle challenges in engaging NYC voters. #VoterEngagement #GoVoteNYC #NYCElections

?? We want to take a moment to celebrate and uplift the important work of our AAPI-focused, led, and serving grantees this Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. These organizations are not only active across a diversity of issues — from environmental justice and housing stability to economic and gender justice — but also illuminate how they are interconnected. Asian Pacific Environmental Network Building the power of Asian immigrant and refugee communities on the frontlines of fighting for environmental justice. Chhaya Community Development Corporation Building the power, housing stability, and economic well-being of South Asian and Indo-Caribbean communities in New York City, while leading on key policy issues for immigrants, such as basement legalization, language access, and tenants rights. Committee Against Anti-Asian Violence (CAAAV): Organizing working-class Asian immigrants in Chinatown and Astoria to intervene in the gentrification of their neighborhoods and New York City. DRUM - Desis Rising Up & Moving Building the power of South Asian and Indo-Caribbean low-wage immigrant workers, youth, and families in New York City to win economic and educational justice, and civil and immigrant rights. MinKwon Center for Community Action Leading APA Voice and empowering Korean American, Asian Pacific American, and broader immigrant communities through civic engagement, organizing, and social services. National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF) Building the power, influence, and autonomy of AAPI women and girls. (Check out their post on why AAPI Heritage Month is celebrated in May: https://lnkd.in/eDnXRbp2) The W.O.W. Project: Women, queer, and trans-led community initiative using art and activism to grow and protect NYC Chinatown’s creative culture in a time of rapid change. Let's continue to support and amplify their work not just during AAPI Heritage Month, but every day. ?? #AAPIHeritageMonth