Woodlawn Advisory Council To Distribute Up to $3 million In Grants
Woodlawn Advisory Council To Distribute Up to $3 million In Grants
By Tia Carol Jones
The Woodlawn Advisory Council is looking to distribute between $2.5-$3 million in grant funds to nonprofit organizations that are doing work in Woodlawn and surrounding communities.
The Woodlawn Advisory Council was designated by the Woodlawn Community Development Corporation Trust as part of the Woodlawn Community Development Corporation’s bankruptcy estate. The proceeds from the estate are being distributed by the Woodlawn Advisory Council through the Community Investment Grant Program. The council is made up of five members who have experience in not-for-profit, development, corporate and government.
Yafawn Pettigrew is the lead member of the Woodlawn Advisory Council. Pettigrew said the hope is that the Community Investment Grant Program will help nonprofit organizations that serve Woodlawn. Eligible nonprofit organizations should have a 501(c)3, publication 78-verified, be minority-led or serving minorities, with programs that have been in existence for at least three years with measurable results that pour into Woodlawn and the communities surrounding Woodlawn.
“The purpose of the grants is to improve the lives of those who live in Woodlawn and the surrounding area by providing resources for community programs that seek to build, and strengthen the Woodlawn neighborhood and its residents,” Pettigrew said in a statement.
The hope is the nonprofit organizations that receive the money will be able to use the funds to expand existing programs that focus on media, youth development, workforce development, affordable housing and food insecurity. These are the areas that the Woodlawn Community Development Corporation focused on, so the council wants to ensure they are keeping in the spirit of that. The Woodlawn Advisory Council will invite eligible organizations to apply for the grant. Interested organizations can email waccommunitygrant@gmail.com.
“The Woodlawn Advisory Council wants to be able to help at least 20 to 30 organizations. That really is our goal and why we are casting a wide net to get the message out,” Pettigrew said.
Pettigrew said the Woodlawn Advisory Council wants to vet and invite nonprofit organizations to apply that are serving the Woodlawn community. The council has been getting the word out about the grant program through various channels, just in case there are nonprofit organizations in the community they might not be aware of.
“The members on the council are honored and privileged to do this work. They are taking the grant process very very serious,” Pettigrew said.
Organizations will receive invites to apply by Sept. 1st and have 30 days after the invitation to apply. Pettigrew said that all the organizations that have been invited to apply, will not be awarded funds. The hope is that those 20 to 30 organizations that are chosen will receive a portion of the grant funds by the end of the year.
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