2023-2024 Grantees
The Beckner Fund renewed its support for six organizations funded in 2022-2023, whose work is impactful in the three neighborhoods surrounding the church: Columbia Heights, Adams-Morgan and Mt. Pleasant.
Beloved Community Incubator (BCI)
This is the Beckner Fund’s third year of support for BCI which provides infrastructure, technical assistance and counsel for worker-owned cooperatives and other entities organized to give workers equity and voice in their respective industries. In 2022 and 2023, BCI also helped street vendors organize and advocate for the Street Vendor Advancement Act which was passed by the City Council in Spring 2023, decriminalizing street vending, reducing fees and creating a ‘vending zone’ in Columbia Heights and Mt. Pleasant. Also in 2023, BCI established the DC Solidarity Economy Loan Fund which launched with $200,000 in loan commitments. ($10,000)
FBC plays an important role in the District, creating space for advocacy groups, direct service organizations and members of the general public to come together and advocate for budget and policy priorities that address systemic economic, social and racial inequalities in the city. Policy recommendations come from the needs and issues articulated by directly impacted community members. Beckner’s support contributes to building power among historically marginalized communities, expanding the coalition so that impacted communities are continuously at the center of FBC’s work, and building and advocating for a people’s budget platform that addresses critical inequities in the District. ($5,000)
This is Beckner’s third grant to Food Justice DMV, which was founded by an All Souls member at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the years since, FJDMV has continued to serve thousands of households across the region, including several hundred families living in the neighborhoods around All Souls. Most of the families are Latinx immigrant families and many include family members who are undocumented. Through a network of volunteers, FJDMV delivers nutritious and culturally-appropriate foods. ($10,000)
The Beckner Fund is a long-time supporter of MLOV, a resource for immigrants in the District whose first language is not English. MLOV’s vision for their constituents is that they will gain the tools and confidence that make it possible to engage in civic life on issues that affect their lives. The issues they are addressing, now and in recent years, include: the right to language translation in interactions with District government agencies; digital literacy for immigrant parents/first caregivers; parent empowerment and advocacy in their children’s education; and, youth development for immigrant youth. ($10,000)
The Platform of Hope is a model for supporting economically vulnerable families developed by six established community-based organizations based in the neighborhoods around All Souls. The model works with families in cohorts to establish and work through self-directed, customized family success strategies over several years. In addition, the model is intentional about helping cohorts develop a social network of support amongst themselves. Heads of families have access to coaching, support in developing goals, expedited referrals to partner organizations and additional training and services based on their needs. This is Beckner’s fourth grant to PoH. ($10,000)
This is Beckner’s second grant to the Potter’s House, which has been an Adams-Morgan institution for more than 60 years. Community members who are unable to pay for a cup of coffee or bowl of soup are as welcome as those who patronize the cafe and “Pay it Forward” so that Potter’s House can serve all who enter. Trying to provide for the community beyond its role as a cafe and bookstore, Potter’s House has invited community service providers in the area to hang out at tables out front and be available to those who might need connections to other resources. In 2023, Potter’s House joined the Live Long DC campaign, raising awareness about the dangers of opioids. It is an official distribution site for Narcan and Fentanyl testing strips. ($10,000)
Internal Grants
The Beckner Fund also awarded grants for the following activities within All Souls Church:
ASC Congregational Care ($2,500)
This grant supported a January 2024 community healing event open to all congregants aged 7 and above. Verbal Gymnastics Theatre Company led an interactive theater experience which involves actors ‘playing back’, in the moment, stories related by congregants.
Reeb Project for Voting Rights ($5,000)
This grant helps support the Reeb Project’s work for the 2024 election cycle, which include: Get Out the Vote activities in key primary states with partners UU the Vote and Reclaim Our Vote; collaborating with ASC groups, such as Young Souls, to roll out a youth-focused voter registration campaign; and, building a corps of DC Statehood Ambassadors within All Souls and other UU congregations. Beckner’s funding contributes to the salary of a part-time organizer who will help guide these activities which included a one-day Voter Mobilization Organizing School in April 2024.
Migrant Solidarity Team (MST) ($5,000)
This grant supports MST’s Immigrant and Refugee Assistance Fund which responds to the urgent discrete needs of individuals and families. Prospective beneficiaries are largely identified through the Team’s connection to community nonprofits. IRAF generally awards grants of $500-$1,000, which have underwritten costs for a range of needs, from attaining government IDs to glasses for a young child with a significant vision impairment.
ASC Membership and Communications ($1,810)
This grant underwrote the acquisition of an additional Owl conferencing system, making it possible for more than one hybrid activity to occur in the building at the same time.