Macquarie Group Foundation
The Macquarie Racial Equity Fund (REF) supports non-profit organisations advancing solutions that promote a more equitable and just society for all people in the Americas.
Launched in July 2020, the REF is committed to supporting direct relief programs, research and policy, education and economic equity initiatives that promote racial equity through our people and grant making.
To date, 17 grants have been awarded to non-profits advancing racial equity at the national and local level, including in Houston, Texas, Jacksonville, Florida, New York, New York and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Four of these grants are for funding multi-year programs: Bullard Center for Environmental & Climate Justice, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Robin Hood Foundation and YWCA.
Our staff are also empowered to be catalysts for change with the REF through our People’s Choice Grants. Staff nominate and vote for additional non-profit organisations to receive one-year, unrestricted grants for their racial justice programs. The Racial Equity Fund is driven by Macquarie in the Americas, in partnership with the Macquarie Group Foundation and a cross-Group employee-led committee.
In this video, hear from Dr Robert D. Bullard, Founding Director of the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice, and employees from the Macquarie Group Foundation on how our grant is being used to fund the new HBCU (Historically Black College and University) Environmental Justice and Climate Corps (GreenCorps) at Texas Southern University.
Bullard Center for Environmental & Climate Justice The Robert D. Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice at Texas Southern University was launched to address longstanding issues of systemic inequality and structural racism that cause disproportionate pain, suffering and death in Black and other people of color communities. Our funding will be used to fund a new historically black college or university (HSBU) EJ Climate Corps at Texas Southern University. The program will equip young people with the tools they need to become the next generation of leaders and educate them on climate change and its impact on communities of color. |
Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) The REF is supporting LISC to expand their work building safety and justice alliances and facilitating neighbourhood revitalisation projects in Jacksonville, Florida and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This project will improve neighbourhood safety, increasing opportunity, and building authentic community-law enforcement relationships to reduce over-policing in specific neighbourhoods. |
Launched in 2021, The REF People’s Choice Grants (PCG) award one-year, unrestricted grants to staff selected organisations.
