The Tzedek Social Justice Fund (formerly Amy Mandel and Katina Rodis Fund)
/OVERVIEW: The Tzedek Social Justice Fund supports efforts to combat anti-semitism, promote racial justice, and advance the global human rights of LGBTQ people worldwide.
IP TAKE: This funder awards grants to support local, national and international organizations; however, its international grantmaking is a small portion of its overall grantmaking. It prioritizes support for organizations led by persons of color. However, it’s not an accessible funder, preferring to scout its own organizations to fund. It’s an open-minded funder, but only somewhat approachable. It will not consider requests for funding.
PROFILE: The North Carolina-based Tzedek Social Justice Fund has been supporting social justice efforts since the 1980s, when it was known as the Amy Mandel and Katina Rodis Fund. It identifies as a secular Jewish organization, and was “founded on the progressive Jewish values of justice (Tzedek), equitable giving (Tzedakah), repairing the world (Tikkun Olam), and leadership (Hanhagah).” Tzedek works to “advance LGBTQ rights, forwards racial justice and combats anti-Semitism on a global, national and local scale.” Areas of specific focus include racial justice, LGBTQ equity, and combatting anti-Semitism.
Tzedek grants support both individuals and organizations. Grants for individuals are often awarded through the Tzedek Impact Awards program, which is “designed to support individuals who are addressing racial justice, LGBTQ justice, and anti-Jewish oppression in our community using the wisdom gained by directly navigating systems of oppression.” There are three grant cycles per year for the Impact Awards, which are distributed in March, June, and October. $40,000 is distributed in each grant cycle. Tzedek’s grants program for organizations “funds traditional nonprofits, grassroots movement organizations, funder collaboratives, and community groups with fiscal sponsors working in the areas of racial justice, LGBTQ justice, and combatting anti-Semitism.”
Grants for LGBTQ
The fund’s LGBTQ Rights grantmaking largely centers on equal rights. This funder also prioritizes expanding the equality movement in the Southeastern United States, an area that continues to face a high number of challenges in the LGBTQ space. Past grantees include The LGBT Racial Justice Fund, BreakOUT!, and Astrea Lesbian Foundation for Justice.
Grants for Racial Justice and Equity
Racial Equity is a top funding priority at Tzedek, and it believes there can be “no social justice without eradicating racism.” And consequently, it supports “work that addresses the economic, cultural, and legal underpinnings of white supremacy,” and seeks “to resist patterns that deepen racial injustice.” Past Racial Equity grantees include The National Black Justice Coalition, Southerners on New Ground, The Southern Poverty Law Center, and The LGBT Racial Justice Fund.
Grants for Jewish Causes
Both in the US and abroad, Tzedek supports organizations whose work is grounded in Jewish history and “a deep awareness that violence is possible when a marginalized group is subject to unfettered power and domination.” It seeks to combat anti-Semitism, alongside anti-black racism, Islamophobia, and xenophobia. Tzedek’s Jewish Social Justice grants make a clear distinction between support for the policies of the state of Israel and support for its citizens, and it rejects “the idea that supporting organizations that work in Israel is the same as endorsing the policies of the Israeli government.” Past grantees for Jewish Social Justice include Bend The Arc, Keshet, Jerusalem Open House for Pride and Tolerance, the Southern Jewish Resource Network for Gender and Sexual Diversity (SOJOURN), and the National Council of Jewish Women.
Important Grant Details:
The fund’s grants average between $10,000 and $50,000. While Tzedek does fund nationally and internationally, North Carolina is an important site of funding, particularly for individuals.
The fund does not accept unsolicited grant applications or requests for funding.
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