Community members need adequate resources to be able to participate effectively in environmental, consumer protection and social justice issues. One of the most obvious and pressing needs is money, and Rose’s grantmaking programs are designed to funnel support from colleague foundations, businesses and individuals towards cutting edge environmental, consumer and social justice programs.
But community-based organizations and the people they represent need more than just money. Rose integrates training and capacity-building programs into its grantmaking to help organizations develop the internal capacity the need to conduct successful programs. We want to strategically award grants to help communities win important environmental and consumer protections as well as leave the organizations we support stronger after the grant dollars have been spent.
But ultimately, we don’t just need to strengthen community-based organizations – we need to strengthen communities themselves and the fabric of democracy. To achieve this, Rose focuses on youth leadership development and teaching high school students how to step forward as the emerging young leaders their communities need.
OUR PROGRAMS
New Voices Are Rising Program
New Voices Are Rising strives to develop young leaders in low-income communities and communities of color in Oakland by helping young people gain the skills and experience in civic engagement required to tackle the many problems – especially environmental health problems – that disproportionately impact their communities.
Grantmaking Programs
Grantmaking programs support community-based projects and organizations that are building long-term solutions that benefit people, the environment and the economy. Grantmaking is organized into specific funds with distinct geographic, issue-based and size parameters. Most grants funds are advised by a volunteer funding board who donate their time and expertise to help us find and support strategic, innovative and effective organizations whose work closely fits the goals of the particular fund.
If you are a grant seeker, click here to learn how to apply for a grant.
If you are a funder, click here to learn more about how we design our grantmaking programs.