The Maine Justice Foundation has made inaugural grants from its Racial Justice Fund to six Maine groups. The goal of the Fund is to support Black, Indigenous, and People of Color statewide to forge social, systemic, and economic solutions that will address racism and inequities in our culture, organizations and systems.

“We are delighted to announce these Racial Justice Fund grants to six inspiring organizations," said Michelle Draeger, Executive Director of the Foundation. "The grants result from thoughtful consideration and hard work by the Fund’s volunteer Advisory Committee, the Foundation’s Board and staff, and generous donations by many corporate and individual leaders. The projects supported will generate statewide impact in fundamental ways that we believe will advance racial justice and equity for BIPOC Mainers.”

The six organizations receiving the inaugural round of grants are:

• Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center
• Health Acadia – Downeast Diversity
• League of Women Voters of Maine Education Fund
• Maine Inside Out
• Sunlight Media Collective
• The Third Place

The Maine Justice Foundation, founded in 1983 as the Maine Bar Foundation, is the state’s leading funder of civil legal aid and is committed to ensuring access to justice for all Mainers. Since the creation of the Racial Justice Fund last fall, corporations and philanthropic leaders across Maine have given over $355,000 to combat racial injustice and inequity. Preti Flaherty is proud to be a founding member of the Racial Justice Fund.

The full announcement, including more information about these organizations and the Maine Justice Foundation, can be found here.