Public Wise Awards $2.25M in Grants in 2021; $200,000 in Grants to Groups Prioritizing Grassroots Organizing in Quarter 4

MEDIA CONTACT: Addie Bullock, ABullock@bluestate.co

Public Wise awards more than $200,000 in grants to four organizations prioritizing voting rights in underrepresented communities across the country ahead of 2022 election cycle 

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Public Wise, a voting rights organization fighting to secure a government that reflects the will and protects the rights of the people, announced today its latest round of quarterly grants, awarding a total of $208,000 to four organizations.

The grants included $50,000 for North Carolina Black Alliance, a network of elected officials representing communities of color and fighting for progressive issues; $58,000 for Arizona Center for Empowerment, a social justice organization fighting to advance economic, social and racial justice; $55,000 for Black Men Vote, an organization works to turn out and register Black voters across the country; and $50,000 for Poder Latinx, a political Latinx organizing group in Arizona, Georgia and Florida. This is the second time in 2021 that Public Wise has granted to Poder Latinx.

Public Wise has awarded a total of $2,257,500.00 in 2021 to 33 organizations, including $235,000 to Media Matters Action Fund, a progressive media watchdog and research center combating dis- and mis-information in the U.S. and $250,000 to Way to Win, a progressive political fund.

“We are proud to continue supporting organizations on the frontlines of the voting rights fight. These grants will support long-term power building in Black and Latinx communities across the country, from Arizona to North Carolina,” said Christina Baal- Owens, Executive Director of Public Wise. 

“We are grateful for our partnership with Public Wise. The Latinx community is now the largest minority voting bloc in the United States, and our partnership will make it possible to continue building political power throughout our base and creating a more inclusive democracy in the critical 2022 midterm elections. We look forward to continuing this work along with Public Wise,” said Yadira Sanchez, Co-Executive Director of Poder Latinx. 

“Our effort to bring the political process closer to the people it impacts the most is more urgent now than ever, as the rise of threats to our democracy affect black and brown voters across the state directly and indefinitely. The early investment of Public Wise in our 2022 Voter Safety and Protection campaign helps the Black Alliance to make early commitments in communities across the state, grappling with survival in the new normal and helps us empower and protect as we build a pathway to power in North Carolina,” said Marcus Bass, Executive Director of North Carolina Black Alliance. 

“The unrestricted funding to Arizona Center for Empowerment will allow our youth-led organizers to build out programs that will empower tens of thousands of Latin leaders,” said Alejandra Gomez, Co-Executive Director of Arizona Center for Empowerment. “We have lofty goals in 2022, and the early support from Public Wise means we can get an exciting head start on comprehensive relational organizing that will change Arizona for the future.”

“​​Black Men Vote: Civic Action Fund (BMV: CAF) could not be more excited to be a partner with Public Wise. Critical to our mission is to engage Black men early in the civic engagement process, not necessarily because of an election but engrain the value that this participation has at every level in our communities. Through their recent grant to us, Public Wise has given BMV: CAF the opportunity to start conversation in 2021 in Georgia especially around the importance of civic action. This will impact participation during the state legislative session around SB-202 and with these resources we can be greater advocates in the fight,“ said Khalil Thompson, Executive Director of Black Men Vote.