Empowering Change By Strengthening Communities Through Grassroots Engagement: Capacity Building Update

Through our Capacity Building program – consisting of the Integrated Voter Engagement Program (IVE) and the Grassroots Organizing Institute (GOI) – grantees are at the heart of transformational change, working alongside diverse and historically marginalized communities, including Black, Indigenous, Latinx, immigrant, youth, incarcerated or previously incarcerated, low-income, transgender, gender-expansive, and LGBTQ+ individuals. 

Through political education and grassroots organizing, grantees have sparked vital conversations about issues like abortion access, comprehensive sex education, HIV, economic justice, bodily autonomy, and healthcare. These are not just discussions but powerful engagements, connecting communities to the core of systemic change.

The capacity-building program focuses on three pivotal areas: political education, strengthening infrastructure and internal systems, and fostering whole-person, whole-organization resilience. These components collectively empower organizations to engage communities in deeply meaningful ways.

In 2023, we made bold investments, allocating $2.5 million to our IVE grantees and $1 million to GOI grantees, fueling their direct impact on the ground.

This investment was especially critical as communities geared up for a pivotal election year, strengthening their capacity to mobilize and effect long-term systems change.

The IVE program offers more than just financial grants. It provides a holistic support framework — grants, training, convening, coaching, and technical assistance — to help grassroots organizations integrate nonpartisan voter engagement strategies and scale their work. 

At the heart of Groundswell’s IVE program is the belief that expanding the capacity of these organizations has a ripple effect. By focusing on nonpartisan voter engagement, we aim to mobilize historically underrepresented populations, ensuring they have a seat at the table not just during election cycles but in shaping policy and systems year-round.

Meanwhile, the GOI program dives deep into grassroots organizing and advocacy for systems change by providing grant support, direct coaching and mentorship, political education, database access and training, access to convenings, and mind-body practices.

In 2023, we channeled $1.8 million into the field, including $1 million in direct grants to 10 organizations across eight states. An additional $879,000 was dedicated to coaching and skills-building, helping grassroots leaders deepen their impact.

 

Our GOI cohort engaged their communities through over 200 outreach activities, connecting with 5,000 new contacts, showing that real change starts with grassroots action.

Groundswell Fund proudly moved $6.4 million in overall capacity-building support in 2023. This includes $3.5 million in direct grants and $2.9 million in technical assistance and coaching.

Our ongoing work is dedicated to building the infrastructure necessary to power women, transgender, and gender-expansive people of color-led organizations, creating a future where intersectional organizing and civic engagement thrive.

Together, we’re creating long-lasting, transformative systems change.

Capacity Building Grantee Highlights

Freedom, Inc.

Achieving social justice through coupling direct services with leadership development and community organizing

In Dane County, Wisconsin, Freedom, Inc., fiercely advocates for the bodily autonomy of Black Queer, Trans individuals, and Black youth facing domestic violence and sexual assault.

Throughout 2023, Freedom Inc.’s community members and organizers passionately fought, mobilized, and bolstered electoral influence. Their active participation in the election resulted in the election of more state Supreme Court justices aligned with their values.

Their relentless efforts yielded victories in the Dane County Circuit Court rulings on July 7 and August 14. These rulings solidified Wisconsin Stat. 940.04, allowing for consensual medical abortions. Undeterred, Freedom Inc. remains steadfast in its organizing efforts, striving to enshrine bodily autonomy in Wisconsin’s legislation throughout 2024.

Afiya Center

Transforming the lives, health, and overall well-being of Black womxn and girls 

As a Black women-led organization, The Afiya Center is dedicated to providing refuge, education, and resources around abortion access, voting rights, and birth justice to achieve reproductive freedom.

In April 2023, Afiya Center represented the Jackson family, whose four-day-old newborn was taken by Dallas authorities following their home birth and decision to keep their newborn under their midwife’s care. The center launched a three-week national campaign, using hashtags #BringMilaHome and #JusticeForMilaJackson, to place pressure on elected officials and child welfare agencies to return baby Mila Jackson to her family.

On April 20, the Dallas County’s district attorney’s office released Mila to her family after weeks of public rallies fighting against the criminalization and violation of rights for Black parents, children, and midwives. This is just one of many ways The Afiya Center serves as a leading advocate for full reproductive spectrum care, challenging the inequities in healthcare for Black communities in Texas.