ARCHIVES OF LEAD STORIES
November 11, 2004
New trust targets Roxbury
agencies
Jeremy Schwab
Two years ago, Roxbury-based La Alianza Hispana
employed 52 people. Now, due to funding cuts, the social services
provider can only afford to maintain a staff of 38.
Due to a conservative shift in Washington politics and a faltering
economy, funding to social service groups across the country has
dried up, driving many out of business.
The number of service providers in Roxbury has dwindled. But a
new funding source opening for business Monday gives Roxbury-based
community service organizations a new hope.
The Roxbury Trust Fund Committee Trust will inject $300,000 annually
for the next 10 years into the coffers of service providers located
in three Roxbury zip codes — 02119, 02120 and 02121.
The trust’s board of directors is inviting social service
groups to an open meeting at the Dudley Branch Library from 10:00
a.m. to noon on Monday. There, organizations working in the areas
of youth development and family services will learn how to apply
for a share of the first round of money.
The trust has been 14 years in the making. In the early 1990s,
Roxbury and Chinatown community activists won concessions from
a development consortium that planned to develop Ruggles Center
and 1 Lincoln Place. To win support for its plan, the minority-owned
Columbia Plaza Associates agreed to donate seed money to community
initiatives in Roxbury and Chinatown.
The developers did not disperse the money until two years ago,
however. Now, after the mayor and governor appointed a board of
directors for the Roxbury fund and the board filed for nonprofit
status, the pieces are finally in place for the funding to begin.
“I think being from the community gives us an advantage
of really understanding the funding challenges of organizations
in the community,” said Jeanne Pinado, the treasurer of
the trust’s board of directors and executive director of
Madison Park Development Corporation.
Pinado is joined by four other appointed board members —
Roxbury Neighborhood Council President Bruce Bickerstaff, Rev.
Thomas Clark, La Alianza executive director William Rodriguez
and Leonard Durant — who are involved in the civic life
of the Roxbury community.
Unlike many funding agents, the trust will react flexibly to the
needs of applicants rather than fund narrowly tailored programs,
say board members.
Board members aim to build up organizations’ infrastructure
through capacity-building assistance, rather than just funding
short-term programs.
“Funds offering capacity-building assistance, that area
is deeply underfunded,” said Rodriguez during an interview
with board members Monday.
Since the economic downturn, foundations have been giving less
and keeping service providers on a tighter leash by reducing the
longevity of grants and requiring stricter performance standards.
To provide an alternative funding vehicle to community organizations,
board members say they want to enlarge the trust by attracting
funding from other sources, such as banks.
“We should look at this trust as a vehicle for future community
benefits,” said Bickerstaff.
While the supply of cash for social services has dwindled, the
demand has not.
“We know these next four years are going to be a struggle
for communities of color, with war and poverty being the uppermost
concerns,” said state Rep. Gloria Fox, who along with Sen.
Dianne Wilkerson acts as an ex-officio trust board member.
The first round of funds will go to groups working in youth development
and family services.
“Those two areas have been dramatically decreased in terms
of funding,” explained Babanina James, consultant for the
trust.
Future rounds will focus on other areas, including economic development
and civic engagement.
Grants will range from $5,000 to $40,000. For more information
on Monday’s informational meeting, email James at RoxburyTrust@yahoo.com.
Responses to the request for proposals are due Wednesday, December
15.
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