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Justice And Education Fund Inc

Annual Giving
$18.7M
Grant Range
$876K - $8.3M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $18,660,884 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not Available (no public application process)
  • Decision Time: Not Available (invitation/relationship-based)
  • Grant Range: Individual grants from $876,000 to $8,330,000+ documented
  • Geographic Focus: Global South and United States

Contact Details

  • Website: justiceandeducationfund.org
  • Phone: (917) 426-7230
  • Email: info@justiceandeducationfund.org
  • Address: 2214 Frederick Douglass Blvd Suite 203, New York, NY 10026

Overview

Founded in 2018, the Justice and Education Fund Inc is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides substantial grant funding to organizations and individuals working on popular education and social movement building globally. With 2023 grant distributions of $18.7 million across 12 awards, the fund focuses on supporting educational initiatives in marginalized communities, particularly in the Global South and United States. The organization operates with a high program expense ratio of 98.55%, ensuring most funds go directly to program support. According to investigative reporting, the fund is primarily supported by American businessman Neville Roy Singham and operates as part of a broader network of progressive organizations focused on social transformation through education and organizing.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The fund does not operate traditional grant programs with open applications. Instead, it provides strategic funding through:

  • Popular Education Schools: Major funding for creating and operating schools in Latin America, Africa, and the United States
  • Educational Curriculum Development: Grants ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions for curriculum creation
  • Media and Content Creation: Substantial support for online news programs and social media content (e.g., $1.3M to PPK Newsclick Studio)
  • Community Mobilization: Funding for training and organizing in areas including sustainable agriculture, healthcare, and youth leadership

Priority Areas

  • Popular education initiatives in the Global South
  • Social movement building and organizing
  • Educational curriculum development
  • Progressive media and content creation
  • Community education on sustainable agriculture and healthcare
  • Youth leadership development
  • Hygiene and disease prevention education

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the fund appears not to support:

  • Traditional service delivery nonprofits
  • Organizations without social movement alignment
  • Projects outside their progressive education framework
  • Individual scholarships or personal assistance
  • Capital campaigns or building projects

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors:

  • Sung Mo David Chung - Board Chair: Organizer and activist
  • Manolo de los Santos - Secretary: Social justice activist and founding director of The People's Forum
  • Karina Garcia - Treasurer: Chicana organizer and educator
  • Pilar Troya Fernández - Director: Ecuadorian activist, researcher, and feminist anthropologist
  • Phil Wider - Board member

The organization maintains majority independent board governance with comprehensive policies including conflict of interest, whistleblower protection, and document retention. Leadership includes individuals deeply embedded in social movement networks across the Americas and Global South.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded through strategic relationships, existing networks, and invitation-only approaches. Organizations cannot submit unsolicited applications through traditional channels.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on documented funding patterns and organizational connections:

  • The fund identifies partners through existing social movement networks, particularly those connected to The People's Forum and Tricontinental Institute
  • Board member Manolo de los Santos, as founding director of The People's Forum, represents a key connection point for organizations working in aligned spaces
  • Organizations working on popular education in Latin America, Africa, or marginalized US communities may connect through existing funded partners
  • The fund appears to scout for media organizations and content creators through progressive movement networks

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - no public application process exists

Success Rates

Not available - invitation and relationship-based funding model

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no formal application process

Application Success Factors

Since there is no public application process, traditional success factors don't apply. However, based on funding patterns:

  • Mission Alignment is Absolute: Every documented grant aligns with popular education and social movement building
  • Geographic Focus Matters: Strong preference for Global South initiatives and US-based work in marginalized communities
  • Network Connections Essential: All known recipients appear connected to the broader progressive movement ecosystem
  • Scale of Impact: The fund makes large grants (often exceeding $1 million) to organizations with significant reach
  • Media and Education Focus: Organizations creating educational content or running education programs receive priority

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is not a traditional funder - there is no public application process or open grant cycles
  • Relationship building through existing social movement networks is the only documented path to funding
  • The fund makes substantial grants (often $1M+) to aligned organizations but operates with complete discretion
  • Organizations must have deep alignment with progressive popular education approaches
  • Due to recent congressional scrutiny and investigations, the fund may have adjusted its operations
  • Traditional grant writing approaches will not work with this funder
  • Consider alternative funders if your organization lacks pre-existing connections to their network

References

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