Foundation Invests in Initiatives that Advance Immigrant Rights, Improve Public Safety and Promote Equitable Economic Development in California

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The Board of Directors of the Rosenberg Foundation has approved 18 grants totaling nearly $1.37 million to support the foundation’s mission of creating fair and equitable opportunities for Californians to participate fully in the state’s economic, social and political life.

Comprehensive Immigration Reform and Farmworker Legalization

The foundation awarded nearly $645,000 in grants to eight organizations working to advance the rights of California’s immigrants. Grants include $100,000 to the National Farm Worker Service Center to support early planning by a consortium of 11 farmworker advocates and organizations from across the country to ensure that the nation’s 1.3 million undocumented farmworkers will have the opportunity to work toward legal resident status. In addition, $60,000 was awarded to the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles to lead a statewide campaign for comprehensive immigration reform. The foundation is also investing $35,000 in the PowerPAC Foundation to support early and mobile voting strategies to encourage the electoral participation of immigrants and communities of color; and $60,000 to Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice – California to increase interfaith participation in policy campaigns to strengthen workers’ and immigrants’ rights in California.

Statewide Reentry Network

The foundation also awarded $490,000 to five organizations who are promoting innovative strategies to improve public safety in the state by reducing the rates of recidivism and incarceration. Grants made in the area of justice and public safety include $75,000 to the Institute for Local Government to develop a statewide reentry network, providing a forum where the various local reentry collaboratives around the state can share best practices. The foundation is also investing $50,000 in the Council of State Governments Justice Center to partner with California law enforcement leaders to improve reentry outcomes. In addition, the Urban Strategies Council is receiving $50,000 to increase employment and housing opportunities for formerly incarcerated people through the Alameda County Reentry Network.

Equitable Development in San Francisco’s Bayview Hunters Point

The foundation also made $125,000 in grants to two organizations working to ensure that economic development in California strengthens local communities by providing affordable housing and living-wage employment. The portfolio includes $85,000 to Urban Strategies Council to engage residents in San Francisco’s Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood in implementing, monitoring and enforcement of the community benefits agreements negotiated as part of the redevelopment taking place in the area.