Grantee: Riders Alliance
Twice a year, we award grants to dozens of organizations led by New Yorkers who are directly impacted by injustice and are determined to change the rules of the game. Our Grassroots Action grants are our largest category in number. They sustain existing organizations who have received previous grants from us who are maintaining a track record of membership involvement and holding local government and policy leaders accountable. Social justice isn’t achieved overnight, so we provide years of support as these grantees take on the long, difficult struggles for justice in our city. Each of these grants is for $10,000.
Alliance for Quality Education
A coalition of parent and student organizing groups working with low-income Black, Brown and immigrant communities to advance state policies that increase investments in students and improve public schools. New Grantee
Arab American Association of New York (AAANY)
A nationally-recognized community of Arab New Yorkers and their allies who mobilize online and offline to challenge Islamophobia, xenophobia, and discriminatory policing through organizing and advocacy training. Renewal
Black Women’s Blueprint
A feminist organization engaging survivors of sexual violence to navigate institutional policies and push for changes at work and school that will serve their healing and growth. Renewal
Brandworkers
A member-led organization based in Queens made up primarily of immigrant workers in the New York City local food production industry, organizing for dignified jobs and a just food system. Renewal
Brooklyn Movement Center
A Black-led organization confronting gentrification in Central Brooklyn by organizing around fresh food access, environmental justice, street harassment, police accountability and citizen journalism. Renewal
Community Action for Safe Apartments (CASA) / New Settlement Apartments
A coalition of Bronx tenant associations building tenant power and winning changes such as “Right to Counsel” in housing court and rent freezes for tenants across the five boroughs. Renewal
Community Food Advocates
The citywide organization that anchors Lunch 4 Learning (L4L), a successful broad, coalition-based campaign that recently won free and healthy school lunch for all public school students. Renewal
Damayan Migrant Workers Association
A Filipino women-led organization educating and engaging domestic workers and survivors of human trafficking to take on employers and systems that perpetuate their exploitation. Renewal
Faith in New York
A multi-faith network of more than 70 religious congregations training local clergy and leaders to educate and mobilize congregants across issues including climate justice, affordable housing and immigration reform. Renewal
Flanbwayan Haitian Literacy Project
A Haitian organization supporting English Language Learner youth and their parents to navigate the NYC public school system so that they can fully participate in school programs. Renewal
FPA-Foundation
A vocal base of 100 low-income Black and Brown parents standing up for the rights of children and families whose civil rights are being violated in the child welfare system. Renewal
Jahajee Sisters
A volunteer-led organization in Richmond Hill, Queens building the power of Indo-Caribbean women to challenge gender-based violence and heal generational trauma through leadership development, community building and empowerment programs. Renewal
Justice Committee
A powerful force of families who have lost loved ones to police violence and their allies winning changes to NYPD policies and holding cops accountable in the courts and the streets. Renewal
MASA-MexEd
A hybrid service-organizing model that brings together Mexican immigrant youth and families in the South Bronx to end bullying, discrimination and violence toward immigrant students in District 7 schools. Renewal
Mekong NYC
A Bronx-based center for Southeast Asian immigrants and refugees organizing nail salon workers and community members for fair working conditions, accessible health care and responses to the threat of deportation. Renewal
Metropolitan Council / MCREF
A movement of long-time residents of rent-stabilized and rent-controlled apartments to stop the dismantling of rent regulations and the gentrification of Inwood through rezoning. Renewal
Movimiento por Justicia del Barrio / Movement for Justice in El Barrio
A Latina-led movement of El Barrio residents advocating for dignified housing conditions, an end to landlord harassment and the implementation of a 10-point plan to preserve local rent-regulated housing. Renewal
Neighbors Together
An emergency food provider and tenants’ rights organization based in Central Brooklyn organizing tenants of “three-quarter” houses to end their unsafe conditions and illegal evictions. Renewal
New York State Youth Leadership Council (NYSYLC)
An organization bringing together undocumented immigrant youth in New York in pursuit of increasing access to higher education, gender justice and immigrant rights through organizing, advocacy and community building. Renewal
NYC Coalition for Education Justice (CEJ)
A parent-led organization focused on bringing racial justice into public schools through culturally responsive education and anti-bias training for school faculty. Renewal
NYC Community Land Initiative
A coalition of more than 30 organizations advancing non-speculative housing models that has led to city funding for community land trusts for the first time. Renewal
New York Teamsters for a Democratic Union
A grassroots union reform movement to transform the Teamsters into an anti-racist, worker-led body that allies with the community to fight for social and economic justice for all working New Yorkers. Renewal
Picture the Homeless
A citywide, multiracial organization led by homeless New Yorkers pushing the city’s imagination and policy to create permanent affordable housing through leadership development, direct action, participatory action research and coalition building. Renewal
Riders Alliance
A citywide grassroots movement building the power of transit riders to fight for comprehensive, reliable and affordable public transportation in New York City. Renewal
Sylvia Rivera Law Project
A organization by and for transgender, gender non-conforming, and intersex people offering legal services, public education, and policy advocacy so their community members can live free of violence and discrimination. Renewal
Tenants and Neighbors
A statewide organization of low- and moderate-income tenants building and wielding their power to preserve affordable housing and strengthen tenants’ rights in New York. Renewal
Worker’s Justice Project
A Brooklyn-based worker center developing the leadership of Latino/a day laborers and domestic workers through worker-led campaigns for better conditions and wages as well as the development of worker-owned cooperatives. Renewal
YA-YA Network
Youth age 15-19 and their allies building youth leadership to end punitive disciplinary policies in public schools that disproportionately affect students of color, students with disabilities and LGBTQ students. Renewal
Young Women of Color HIV/AIDS Coalition
An organization focused on bringing comprehensive sexual health education to NYC schools by supporting the leadership and political education of young women to design and implement programs. Renewal
We made these grants along with our 2018 Movement Leadership grants and our Fall 2017/Winter 2018 Catalyst grants.
New to North Star Fund? We practice philanthropy in a unique way. All of our grant decisions are made by volunteer committees that include activists in the field. Our awards are unrestricted, general operating dollars—grantees decide how to best use the funds. And we are always looking to mitigate burdens on those who apply for our support—suggestions on our process are always welcome. Contact us or sign up to learn more.