Since its establishment in 2019, Borealis Philanthropy’s Disability Inclusion Fund (DIF) has been a driving force in strengthening the disability justice movement—expanding the capacity of grassroots disabled-serving organizations to advance policy change, reshape narratives, and organize for collective power. This month, the DIF is proud to announce $5.5 million in core grants to 65 organizations and visionaries who are advancing community-driven solutions to build joyful futures free of ableism.
This year, the DIF team gathered in Oakland with their participatory grantmaking committee, comprised of both funders and community partners, to engage in shared political education and route funds directly to groups doing deep work. The committee—a dedicated group of disabled organizers, artists, educators, and advocates—brought their lived experience and movement wisdom into the process, resulting in grants for 42 returning grantee partners, and 25 new organizations advancing work at the intersections of community safety, gender justice, economic empowerment, climate justice, cultural work, and policy and advocacy.
In addition to this core grantmaking, the DIF also recently distributed $1.3 million in collaborative grants to groups teaming up on projects serving disabled communities, and $1 million to support the joy, rest, and healing of Black Disabled leaders—recognizing cross-collaboration rest and as essential tools to sustain movements for the long haul.
The DIF cohort showcases the breadth of work being done across regions and movements to strengthen our democracy and build brighter, more equitable and just futures.
As disabled communities and the principles of disability justice continue to come under attack, Borealis Philanthropy stands firm in our commitment to frontline organizers fighting against injustice. We are grateful for the support of the Presidents’ Council on Disability Inclusion in Philanthropy and our broader donor tables, whose partnership makes our work possible.
We invite funders to join the Borealis community to pool and distribute resources to the frontlines of intersectional movements for justice. To learn more about how to partner with us, please connect with us at development@borealisphilanthropy.org.