This initiative includes resources accessible to all CGRE grantees and emphasizes support to state-based organizations led by BIPOC and Transgender/Gender Nonconforming (GNC) people. This focus acknowledges that BIPOC- and Transgender/GNC-led organizations, especially those at the state and local levels, have historically been among those with the least regular access to capacity-strengthening resources.

Onward and Upward
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The Onward and Upward (OU) program provides small capacity awards. Funded partners engage with a team of experienced organizational development practitioners (Capacity Coaches) who help the organization to identify and initiate priority capacity-strengthening projects that can be advanced with two grants of $10,000, through 2024. The awards are earmarked for investment in the development of the organization’s people, practices, systems, structure, and culture.

Onward and Upward is available by invitation to small budget BIPOC- and trans/GNC-led and centered groups. The invitation process for OU is now complete. Invitations to participate were based on a variety of factors, including budget size, leadership composition and transitions, recent organizational growth, and access to other capacity-strengthening resources. Participating grantees will meet with their LeadersTrust Capacity Coach to set and advance their organizational and leadership development goals. For more information, please contact Bridget Samuel.

Flexible Leadership Awards
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The Flexible Leadership Awards (FLA) program includes the delivery of high-touch, intensive support, including two leadership development awards of $55,000 through 2024, and the support of a Capacity Coach to carry out capacity-strengthening projects defined by the organization’s team.

Flexible Leadership Awards are accessible by invitation to BIPOC- and trans/GNC-led and/or centered groups. The invitation process for FLA is now complete. Invitations were based on a variety of factors, including budget size, leadership composition and transitions, recent organizational growth, and access to other capacity-strengthening resources. For more information, please contact Etobssie Wako.

Fortify Fund
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The Fortify Fund (FF) provides responsive support of up to $15,000 for projects that address leadership and organizational challenges or opportunities. The primary requirement of this award is that it be used to address a capacity-strengthening need of the organization. The awards are earmarked for investment in the development of the organization’s people, practices, systems, structure, and culture.

All current CGRE grantees who are NOT participating in the FLA or OU programs may apply for Fortify Fund support. Current grantees may receive a Fortify Fund award one time. For more information about the Fortify Fund, contactTrishala Deb (national grantees), Cristina Uribe (judicial grantees), or Judy Wright (state-based grantees).

CGRE will have quarterly opportunities for requests throughout 2023. The next round of requests for consideration will close September 22, 2023. Detailed instructions and the request form are available here.

Peer Learning
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As a CGRE grantee, you are automatically enrolled in the Resilience Initiative which provides a wide range of year-round virtual programming at no cost for your entire staff. You are invited to take advantage of optional 1:1 coaching on leadership, management, and a variety of organizational topics. You will receive invitations to register for optional virtual sessions on a variety of important and timely topics, including personal and organizational wellness, mindfulness, communications, DEI, resource development, HR, board development, facilitation skills and more. The engaging facilitators/coaches/consultants create optimal virtual learning environments in which you will get to glean their expertise as well as learn from your peers who represent a wide-range of causes and movements. For more information, go to the Resilience Initiative website and use code RI2020 to sign in. The Resilience Initiative biweekly email is the best way to make sure you are receiving the latest updates on offerings. To make sure that you and others on your staff are on the mailing list, please contact Michelle Mengel, Program Manager, at michelle@resilienceinitiative.org.

Resource Hub
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The Hub connects nonprofit organizations with up-to-date, values aligned, and reliable consulting, coaching, and training resources rooted in intersectional racial equity. As a CGRE grantee, you are granted access to The Hub so you can search and connect with the right fit consultant for your next project, a coach for yourself, or a facilitator for your next retreat, for instance. There are now over 220 profiles of consultants, coaches, trainers, facilitators in this directory with diverse representation of geography, expertise/skills, demographics, and lived experience. To access The Hub, please go to the website and create an account. For more information or to request some resource navigation support, please contact Davian Gagne, Director of The Hub, at thehubdir@gmail.com. Davian is available to help you think through your resource needs and guide your search process.