Foot Locker, Inc and LISC announce funding for 16 organizations

 Foot Locker, Inc and LISC announce funding for 16 organizations

NEW YORK PRNewswire -- Foot Locker, Inc., through the
Foot Locker Foundation, and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) have announced grant funding for nonprofit community organizations that empower youth in Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities.

Known as the Foot Locker Foundation Community Empowerment Program, the $3 million joint effort was announced last year to bridge gaps driven by racial inequity and promote youth empowerment and community wellness—all while supporting community-based organizations led by people of color.

For both LISC and Foot Locker, Inc., this funding is part of
larger national efforts focused on economic opportunity and racial equity. The program draws from Foot Locker, Inc.’s $200 million commitment to its Leading Education and Economic Development (LEED) initiative, which is focused on fueling education and economic opportunity within the Black community. It also connects to LISC’s Project 10X strategy to break down systemic barriers and support racial justice.

In this first round of funding of $1.26 million, LISC and Foot
Locker, Inc. identified 16 high-impact programs across 12 metro
areas. A second round of funding is planned for spring 2022.

The grants also respond to the philanthropic gap facing BIPOC-
led organizations. In fact, a 2020 assessment from The Bridgespan Group and Echoing Green found that Black-led nonprofits, like those included among the grantees, had unrestricted net assets that were 76 percent lower than those of White-led groups, making it more difficult to operate their organizations and grow their impact.

“The past few years have been difficult for young people—particularly in Black and Brown communities that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic,” noted LISC CEO Lisa Glover.The 16 organizations funded by the Community Empowerment Program have been awarded grants ranging from $25,000- $100,000 each, depending on the programs being supported. They include to Chicago organizations:

Spark Chicago, Chicago
Mentorship program that matches students with committed
mentors for 13 weeks of engagement each spring.

AeroStar Avion Institute, Chicago Aviation/aerospace STEM education and training for Chicago Housing Authority youth ages 13-20.

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