In “normal” years, we’re usually announcing our grant priorities and programs for the upcoming year right around this time. But, as we all know, 2020 has been anything but “normal,” and so this year’s update looks a little different.
What We Do Know
The staff and board of The Helen J. Serini Foundation remains committed to being responsive, flexible, and as nimble as possible in the coming year. We know the pandemic, corresponding shutdowns, and resulting economic crisis will drag on well into 2021 (though we remain hopeful that the coming year will be less challenging than the last).
COVID-19 created many new problems, absolutely. But more than that, it both exposed and exacerbated existing problems woven into the systems in our country: economic instability; education gaps; digital exclusion; lack of food access; racism; lack of social safety nets; the list goes on. In 2020, we made many rapid-response, emergency grants to help meet some of the immediate human needs raised up by the pandemic. In 2021, we aim to recenter our focus on systems-level change, continuing our work to shore up, repair, and/or dismantle and rebuild the current systems that led to these problems in the first place, even before the onset of the pandemic.
In order to honor this commitment to flexibility while focusing on our mission, we are taking our time in planning our 2021 grants programs, rather than rushing to get something launched by the otherwise arbitrary year-end date. We know that we will have at least one open call for LOIs in the year to come, and commit to announcing the process for submissions there with at least 6 weeks notice for grantseekers. We anticipate this process will open in Spring 2021; watch this space for news and updates, and/or sign up for our newsletter to receive an email when programs are announced.
Existing commitments to our multi-year grant partners remain unchanged and reporting requirements remain suspended until further notice (though we’d love to be in touch to hear how things are going for you all, of course, and how we can be of assistance).
What We Don’t Know
We’re not sure exactly which grant programs we’ll be re-opening in 2021, or what funding areas we will be focusing on, or when those programs will be open and when exactly funding decisions will be made. We will attempt to honor our past grantmaking timeline as best as possible, but don’t know that it best meets the ever-shifting needs of our community in the year to come.
We remain proud of the Leadership Development grants program we launched in 2016 to support the professional development of non-profit leaders, and uncertain that professional development will be a priority (or, in many cases, even an option) for non-profits with looming budget shortfalls and potential layoffs. We remain committed to funding and supporting anti-racism work, and other programs around equity and inclusion, but are unsure if this support is best offered in the form of an open grants process or direct program offerings. We are certain that maintaining an open LOI process is a more equitable approach to grantmaking, and also want to ensure that we continue to support our existing partners to see them through this uncertain time. (We also don’t know quite what phrase to use these days besides the overextended “uncertain time.”)
What We Do Know, Again
We’re in this for the long haul. We’re open to feedback, input, and suggestions on how we can continue to show up as not just a funder, but a partner, to our current grantees.
And, in case it’s not obvious, we remain continually amazed by the work of the many passionate and dedicated individuals in our community.
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If you have specific questions or concerns about grant timing, eligibility, 2021 plans, or other details, feel free to be in touch. Otherwise, as noted, watch this space and/or our newsletter for updates, which will be shared as available.