Daily Archives: April 14, 2022

Types of Funds

A A A

In addition to “general support” FSC raises funds for the following targeted grant making programs:

Donor Advised Funds: Every year, people turn to the Fund for Southern Communities in order to fulfill their individual charitable wishes. The mission of FSC is to “unite organizations and donors working to create just and sustainable communities that are free of oppression and that embrace and celebrate all people.” Our service area includes the states of Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, though donor advised grants are sometimes contributed outside of this region. Giving through FSC means that you establish a giving program for yourself, your family, or your business that offers the following advantages.

– Permanence: A donor can create an endowed fund with the knowledge that it will be managed in perpetuity and that the gift will always serve a useful purpose. Potential grantees are investigated and grants are monitored by staff and the FSC Grants Committee.

– Recognition: By establishing a named, permanent fund within the FSC organization, a donor has an opportunity to honor a loved-one, friend or issue area. Donors may remain anonymous if they so desire.

– Flexibility: A donor can specify the particular charitable field-of-interest to which distribution from his or her fund is to be made, designate that grants are to be made only to a specific geographic area, or advise FSC as to which charitable organizations should receive grants.

Emergency Fund:This fund makes available small grants for situations consistent with FSC grantmaking priorities that are extremely timely, could not have been planned for by the recipient, and cannot fit into the regular grant cycle.

Triangle Grassroots Fund: This fund ensures a strong, continuing base of financial support to seed innovative organizing work in the in the nine county region of the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill Triangle in North Carolina. http://www.grassrootsfundnc.org Modjeska Simkins Memorial Fund: This fund, created to honor life-long South Carolina civil rights activist Modjeska Simkins, makes grants to organizations in South Carolina working on issues related to youth, racial justice and civil rights.

Organizational Development Fund: This fund offers grantees funding for organizational training, leadership development, long-range planning, or networking opportunities.

Racial Justice Fund: Providing support to communities and organizations dealing with issues of racial discrimination.
Southern Outlook Fund: This fund supports organizations working for lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender rights, and against homophobia and discrimination based on sexual orientation.

**Organizations are only eligible to apply for funding once each year.

Leave a reply

Supporting FSC

A A A

FSC gratefully accepts donations from individuals and foundations. We accept gifts of stock, planned gifts, estate bequests and other forms of non-cash assets. Donations are used to fund FSC’s general grant making. The types of programs and organizations funded by FSC include, but not limited to, grants for community and constituency organizing; environmental justice; gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered issues; health care; anti-racism; women; disability rights; workers; and youth.

Every Gift Counts !

Ways to Give Back

There are several ways in which you can support the Fund for Southern Communities. Each gift makes a difference and we invite you to make a donation today!

CASH/CHECK/CHARGE: Make a gift of any amount, every dollar counts!

STOCKS, BONDS or PROPERTY: Avoid capital gains taxes by donating appreciated stock(s).

PLEDGE OVER TIME: For your convenience, FSC offers monthly or quarterly pledge reminders.

WORKPLACE GIVING: GA employees may be eligible for payroll deductions for charitable contributions through GA Shares!

EMPLOYEE GIFT MATCHING: Many employers offer matching contributions – inquire with your employer.

BEQUESTS *: When considering your planned giving, please remember the Fund for Southern Communities.

LIFE: Please consider the Fund for Southern Communities a (sole or partial) beneficiary.

CREATE A TRUST: Talk to your financial advisor about the different ways to lessen your or your heirs’ tax liabilities by creating a special trust fund.

HONOR SOMEONE WITH A DONATION: Make a contribution in honor, tribute or in memory of someone special to you.

TARGETED DONATIONS: FSC has several focused funds for which you can earmark your gift. Contact our office to learn more!

SPONSOR A FUNDRAISER: Introduce your family, friends and colleagues to the Fund. We’ll help you host a great Soiree!

DONOR ADVISED ACCOUNTS: Make recommendations for grant awards to organizations of your choice.

IN-KIND SERVICES: Host an event, emcee a program, facilitate a workshop, provide a service. All gifts are invaluable.

VOLUNTEER: Contributions of your time and skills are greatly appreciated.

SPREAD THE WORD: Encourage someone from your personal network to make a donation or apply for funding.

*Planned gifts provide the resources that preserve our future. “Planned giving” is a term used in the nonprofit world that refers to a donor making a gift from their accumulated assets. This type of giving is often written into a donor’s will and includes many different options, such as cash bequests, gifts of life insurance or retirement policies, real estate or other assets. Planned gifts can provide extraordinary opportunities for the Fund while helping you to save taxes, increase your income and pass more on to your heirs. If you would like to learn more about the Fund’s planned giving campaign and how you can participate, please call our office at 404-371-8404.

Leave a reply

Partnerships

A A A

Just as there is strength in numbers in communities, FSC participates in several partnerships in order to strengthen our work. The most important of these associations include:

When Georgia Cares Georgia Shares!

Nearly a decade ago FSC helped found a new workplace giving federation in Georgia: “Georgia Shares.” That investment of time and energy is now paying dividends as Georgia Shares is becoming a significant source of funds for FSC, and more than 30 other members. If you work in Georgia and your employer has not expanded its giving program beyond United Way, urge them to “Open Up” the campaign, and allow employees to donate to FSC, or any of the other members, through Georgia Shares.

Cooperating Foundations

While FSC receives most of its support from very generous individual contributors, some national and regional foundations work with us to sponsor specific initiatives or projects. We thank the following foundations for their recent support.

Funding Exchange /New York, NY

Tides Foundation /San Francisco, CA

Proteus Fund /Amhurst, MA

Leave a reply

Our Staff

A A A

Alice Eason Jenkins

Executive Director

alice@fundforsouth.org

Alice became affiliated with FSC in 1997 as coordinator of the annual fundraiser. She has worked as Director of Administration, Co-Director and since 2001, Executive Director. As the Executive Director, she manages the overall operations of the organization, including fundraising activities and fiscal management. Alice also represents the FSC on the Board of Directors for Georgia Shares and The Funding Exchange. Prior to joining the staff of FSC, Alice was employed at The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, Inc. in Atlanta. Her undergraduate studies were at Spelman College and graduate studies at Emory University.

Gersinta Payne

Program Assistant

gersinta@fundforsouth.org

Gersinta joined the FSC staff in 2006 and has been passionately involved since. Initially brought in as an Administrative Assistant, Gersinta soon gained a strong interest in the Grant-making Program and later took on the title of the Program Assistant. Gersinta has earned her teaching certification and is now teaching sixth grade in the public school system. She majored in education because she profoundly believes that children are the future and our future holds a world that is free of oppression and embraces and celebrates all people. Gersinta continues to offer her talents working with FSC programs during holidays and weekends.

Grants and Programs

programs@fundforsouth.org

Finance Manager

fsc@fundforsouth.org

Leave a reply

Resources

A A A

We hope that this portion of our website will be helpful to you. We will update it with links to assistance and other things we think you might find helpful. Remember, if you have any questions, feel free to contact us!

Foundations that support community organizing and efforts of social change:

The Southern Partners Fund

Southern Partners Fund is a Foundation created to serve Southern communities and organizations seeking social, economic and environmental justice by providing them with financial resources, technical assistance and training, and access to systems of information and power.

The Needmor Fund

The Needmor mission is to work with others to bring about social justice. The Needmor Fund supports people who work together to change the social, economic, or political conditions which bar their access to participation in a democratic society.

The Norman Fund

The Norman Fund supports efforts that strengthen the ability of communities to determine their own economic, environmental, and social well-being and that help people control those forces that affect their lives. Phone # 212.230.9830

Other Support:

Social and Educational Grant Writing Associates (SEGWA) 404.756.0414 segwa_foundation@bellsouth.net

Leave a reply

Social Change

A A A

What is progressive social change?

While traditional charities generally respond to the symptoms of entrenched social problems, the Funding Exchange network supports those who identify underlying causes and working to change these conditions. This is a core value of progressive social change as reflected in the phrase, “Change, not Charity”. Social change organizing:

Builds community-based responses, not solutions that affect just a few individuals and leave the underlying social problems intact.

Changes attitudes, behaviors, laws, policies and institutions to better reflect the values of inclusion, fairness, diversity and opportunity.
Insists on accountability and responsiveness among institutions, including the government, large corporations, universities and other entities whose policies and actions profoundly affect the living conditions of individuals and communities, whether locally, nationally, or internationally.
Expands the meaning and practice of “democracy” by involving those closest to social problems in determining their solutions.

Because progressive social change involves making significant changes on a systemic level, conflict with those who hold power is often inevitable. The power that social change organizations bring to the table is their ability to organize, to educate and to mobilize.

Progressive social change is a profoundly democratic undertaking. At its best, people of different racial and ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, abilities and ages join together in developing and implementing creative solutions to social problems. Organizing amplifies the voices of those whose interests are too often overlooked.

Money alone does not bring about change; nor do individuals. But when people band together and form organizations to focus their collective power, social change can happen. When a large number of organizations work together toward a common goal, that’s a movement. Movements make change.

On the surface, social change movements appear to be spontaneous bursts of energy, a sweep of people, outraged and energized, rising forth to demand some form of change. But in truth, social change movements flow from careful organizing, massive public education, sustained agitation, and, at times, inspired collaboration across the divides of race, gender and class. These movements are driven by human energy, intelligence, courage as well as money.

The following may help give a more concrete understanding of social change:

1. The structural transformation of political, social and economic systems and institutions to create a more equitable and just society.

2. Proponents target the underlying causes of critical social problems, such as homelessness, discrimination and poverty.

3. While a variety of organizing and advocacy methods are utilized, social change organizations are characterized by activism, cooperation, persistence, and dedication of their members. (Example: An association of people with developmental disabilities working collectively to address issues of discrimination by empowering its members to advocate for themselves and collectively challenging service providers, government agencies and other institutions to ensure equal access and rights for ALL developmentally disabled people.)

Opposites: Status quo; charity; business as usual; temporary solutions.

Leave a reply