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/or 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 each over the next three years (2021-2024), 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. Participating grantees will identify and launch their individual work in the spring of 2022. For more information, please contact Holly Delany Cole.

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 State Power Building and Alliance Table 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, contact Judy Wright (state-based grantees), Trishala Deb (national grantees), or Cristina Uribe (Campaign for Gender Equity in State Courts grantees).

CGRE will have quarterly opportunities for requests throughout 2022 and 2023. The next round of requests for consideration will close August 1, 2022. Detailed instructions and the request form are available here.

Peer Learning
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CGRE has partnered with the LeadersTrust and the Resilience Initiative to offer a range of peer learning opportunities to all current CGRE grantees. Opt-in programming will be provided at no cost to funded partners. It will include a tailored series on specific and timely leadership and organizational development topics with follow-up coaching or “office hours,” skills-based training, and other opportunities to learn, engage, and exchange with peers. CGRE grantees will have access to programming beginning in March 2022. There will be more details to follow. For more information on Peer Learning, contact Judy Wright.

Resource Hub
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All current CGRE grantees now have access to The Resource Hub, a staffed, online national database of values-aligned consultants, coaches, and trainers who practice with consciousness of intersectional race and gender equity. Organizations may also opt-in to a newsletter featuring aggregated lists of relevant learning opportunities and discussions of leadership and organizational practice. The Resource Hub was established, and is managed, by the LeadersTrust and the Resilience Initiative. The Hub continues to grow and now has 170+ consultant/coach/trainer profiles, with diverse representation of geography, content area, and lived experience. CGRE grantees have been provided access and are invited to information sessions about The Hub. For more information or to get support accessing The Hub, contact the Hub Director.