From Intent to Action: CLF Grants $11 Million for Racial Justice

Since the murder of George Floyd in Minnesota on May 25, a wave of protests calling for immediate racial justice reform has swept across the United States and around the world. In response to this urgent call for policy reform, CLF, in partnership with Jack Dorsey’s #StartSmall, has granted $11 million to 12 organizations leading on the work to divest from policing and fighting for criminal justice reform. The full list of organizations that have been supported include:

• Action St. Louis and Arch City Defenders to combat the criminalization of poverty and state violence, as well as build campaigns to mitigate harm against communities of color.
• Justice Project at the Advancement Project National Office to support transforming policing, decreasing criminalization and reinvesting public funds into building thriving, healthy communities.
• The Bail Project to immediately provide bail for people in need to help decrease the prison population.
• Black Lives Matter to support its current #defundthepolice campaign as well as sustain chapters across the country; funding will also be used to support 2020 election mobilization efforts focused on engaging GenZ voters, advancing voter rights and eliminating voter suppression.
• Black Visions Collective to support police divestment efforts through education and engagement across the Twin Cities metro area and throughout Minnesota.
• Center for Policing Equity for movement-building that educates communities on root issues in policing and that exposes and eliminates sources of racism in the U.S. criminal justice system.
• Center for Popular Democracy to transform the justice system by divesting resources from policing and criminalization and reinvesting them in community needs.
• Color of Change to support the organization’s work around police reform as well as long-term systems change work.
• Communities United for Police Reform to expand their campaign to end discriminatory policing practices in New York.
• Movement for Black Lives to support community organizing, building local power and the distribution of funds to community organizations across the U.S.
• NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund to support its police reform campaign and voter rights work, particularly around ensuring black voters can vote absentee, and their advocacy around education access with distance learning.