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Humanitarian Action Fund

Now Accepting Grant Applications 

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The Kellogg Fellows Leadership Alliance (KFLA) Humanitarian Action Fund is based on the principles of concern for human welfare and the alleviation of suffering. Humanitarian action must be carried out on the basis of need alone. Grants will be awarded based on the recognized values of humanity, responsiveness, feasibility and interdependence.

The Current Issue:

In our increasingly globalized world, the politics of borders and migration frequently eclipse humanitarian concerns. Often children and vulnerable communities are the most impacted.

For Instance: the Fund was conceived in 2014, when the number of unaccompanied children crossing the Southwest U.S. border surged to over 50,000. For these children—most of whom come from Guatemala, Honduras, or El Salvador—the primary reasons for migration are refuge from poverty, gang or cartel violence, or to seek family reunification.

The KFLA Humanitarian Action Fund is in place to assist Kellogg Fellows who are working on these issues in numerous ways across the globe. Fellows whose work addresses the humanitarian concerns of migration, immigration, and borders can apply to the Fund for small grants to support their efforts.

Initial funding was received from an anonymous donor’s $5,000 match grant. KFLA raised additional funds for a total of $20,000. The Fund will continue to be sustained through private donations.

Criteria:

  1. Grantee must be a grassroots 501(c)3 public charity working on humanitarian issues, as identified in the Fund description
  2. The recommending Kellogg Fellow or KFLA Executive Director MUST be involved in the organization, and take on a fiduciary responsibility for the grant in that they will submit a final report on behalf of the grantee.
  3. Grant requests may be submitted year-round.
  4. Grants may only be used for the organization’s programming needs, and may not be used for operating expenses.
  5. The grant total may be up to, but no more than, $1,000 per request.

Process:

  1. The submitting public charity must complete a brief application, and provide documentation of its 501(c)3 Public Charity status.
  2. The Kellogg Fellow or KFLA Executive Director must submit the application and documentation along with a written recommendation as to why the nonprofit should be awarded a grant. The nonprofit cannot submit their own application.
  3. All requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and on a rolling basis.
  4. All requests will be reviewed by a committee comprised of one KFLA staff member, and two current or former KFLA board members.
  5. Submitted applications will be reviewed within 14 days of receipt.
  6. The KFLA staff member will notify the Kellogg Fellow and grantee, once a decision has been made.

CLICK HERE TO BEGIN THE APPLICATION

 

 

A candlelight vigil in support of Charlottesville | Photo by Michael Sessum | CC BY-NC 2.0

 Dear Kellogg Fellows Leadership Alliance Family —

 Saturday in Charlottesville, VA, we witnessed people expressing hatred of many of our values, including peace and equity. We also witnessed a violent tragedy at the hands of white supremacists, white nationalists, neo-Nazis, and the KKK. We express our deepest sorrow and are keeping the counter-protesters and their families in our hearts. Words cannot fully capture the anguish, grief, and anger we feel.

 Incidents of racism, misogyny, islamophobia, homophobia, transphobia, anti-Semitism, and anti-immigrant sentiment has been increasing in recent months. Domestic hate groups are emboldened by a political climate that not only refuses to condemn repulsive acts of intimidation on certain populations, but also encourages it with a nod and a wink.

 However, we are encouraged. We are encouraged because we saw people standing in solidarity with the counter-protesters through demonstrations and vigils and protests all over the country in response. We are encouraged because we have been through this before. Every social, legal, civil, and human rights movement has been met with fierce opposition by those benefiting from the status quo. While we have a long way to go to achieve equity and justice for all, we have made progress with every generation.

This alarming confrontation tells us that we must be vigilant. We cannot get complacent about discrimination or dismiss someone’s biases as harmless sentiments. Previous movements have taught us that it is in our power to do something. And we have a responsibility to address an environment that justifies treating one group as inferior to another group

The KFLA Family is strong and talented. We know some Kellogg Fellows are already busy at work but we thought we would provide some ideas for what to do after this brazen display of bigotry: attend counter-rallies, donate to grassroots organizing groups, volunteer with advocacy organizations, write to your representatives, correct people when you overhear them saying something wrong or offensive, call your family and friends to check-in on them, and/or convene a conversation at church, school, or in a coffee shop. Please let us know what you are doing.

Finally, take care of yourself. This work is long and hard and can be draining. Call us if you need to talk. We are here to help.

In solidarity,

 - KFLA