FISA Foundation is proud to announce new grants of nearly $475,000 to 16 nonprofit organizations to advance equity and justice for women, girls, and people with disabilities. Under its new strategic plan, adopted in July 2021, FISA Foundation committed to addressing structural racism in its work and is particularly pleased that more than one-third of the grants awarded in its October 2021 grant cycle are intersectional in nature. “We know that the inequities impacting women, girls, and people with disabilities are compounded by racism, and we are proud to support organizations that share our commitment to combatting systemic racism and specifically addressing the needs of women, girls and people with disabilities who are also people of color,” explained Kristy Trautmann, FISA’s Executive Director.
Six grants totaling $154,486 utilize an intersectional lens to remove barriers and advance opportunities for women, girls, or people with disabilities:
- $24,486 to ACHIEVA to support the Defendants with Disabilities Project, an initiative to keep people with autism and intellectual disabilities out of jail.
- $50,000 over two years to American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Pennsylvania to address the issue of school policing and disproportionate criminalization of Black girls, students with disabilities, and other marginalized students in the region.
- $25,000 in general operating support to Autism Urban Connections, Inc. for resources and education for Black families who have autistic children.
- $25,000 in general operating support to the Black Women’s Policy Agenda (via fiduciary Side Project, Inc.) for advocacy and systems change work that centers Black women and girls in policy efforts.
- $10,000 to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation for the CHANGE program, a healthcare transition program for young adults with disabilities, to implement intersectional education on disability and anti-racism advocacy.
- $20,000 to Strong Women, Strong Girls to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion across all areas of the organization with a focus on antiracism, gender inclusivity, and accessibility.
Other grants:
- $30,000 to Adagio Health to support its Innovation Fund for efforts that reduce health disparities in underserved communities.
- $16,000 to the Adult Spina Bifida Clinic at University of Pittsburgh Physicians to pilot the peer navigator program, a patient-created, patient-led, and patient-centered program for adults with Spina Bifida.
- $18,000 to The Blind Association of Butler and Armstrong Counties for civic engagement trainings for people who are Blind.
- $25,000 to CLASS for a technology infrastructure project to enhance services for people with disabilities.
- $20,000 to the Covestro Center of Community Engagement at Robert Morris University to pilot an initiative to expand the number of people with disabilities serving on nonprofit boards.
- $25,000 to the DePaul School for Hearing and Speech to expand preschool programming for students with speech delays.
- $25,000 to The Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh for inclusive employment and social programs for adults with disabilities.
- $10,000 to The Pittsburgh Promise for outreach efforts to ensure that students with disabilities are aware of and take advantage of The Pittsburgh Promise.
- $23,500 to Steelwheelers, an adapted sports organization, for outreach, community engagement, and peer support.
- $125,000 to United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania to support Southwest PA Says No More, a regional effort to prevent domestic and sexual violence, and Coaching Boys Into Men, an evidence-based sexual violence prevention program.
You can find information about FISA Foundation’s funding priorities and instructions for how to submit a proposal on our website: www.fisafoundation.org.