INTRODUCTION
The technological, economic globalization and communications revolutions are causing transformations that create challenges to social and economic justice and the ability to foster equitable and sustainable economic growth that promotes individual opportunity, social well-being and community. In addition to their many benefits, these transformations create economic disruptions, insecurities, inequalities, adverse environmental impacts, and health disparities, while sometimes truncating certain kinds of cultural development.
For the past three decades, the approach of public policy to these transformations has been a trend to encourage economic growth by deregulating markets, lowering taxes and shrinking government. Yet the consequences of these approaches sometimes compound and exacerbate the very problems they seek to solve. These public policy approaches, along with the transformations they encourage, have led to a real redistribution of economic and political power, affecting our culture and values, our communities, the quality of our lives, and who receives the benefits, and who bears the risks and costs of this economic growth. Such public policies give more influence and leverage to those with large monetary resources, such as large corporations, often potentially overshadowing the needs of other parts of society. Pressures of competition encourage these groups and those they influence to use their leverage to develop private and public strategies that maximize their share of the benefits, while putting as many of the risks and costs of their activities off on others, such as government, communities, the people or the environment. This exacerbates inequities and insecurities of the less powerful, and contributes to adverse cultural, social, environmental and health-related consequences.
The accountability and countervailing power needed to balance these institutions, their interests and influences, has been severely weakened over the past few decades, to the detriment of many individuals and families. An accountability approach would seek to have institutions, especially corporations, "internalize" the risks and costs that they create and from which they benefit. This approach would increase the ability of those who are adversely impacted to deal with these issues and would also create appropriate incentives for any needed institutional and societal reform.
Interprogram Initiatives for Social and Economic Justice would seek to create both the possibilities and demand for development of more systematic solutions to these problems, as well as the social basis needed for their implementation.
INTERPROGRAM INITIATIVES FOR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE GOAL
To support social and economic justice, in order to encourage equitable and sustainable development that promotes democracy; as well as community, cultural, social, spiritual and individual well-being. Interprogram will advance this goal by supporting the exploration, development, and implementation of public policy, private efforts, and activities for institutional and systemic changes.
Interprogram Initiatives for Social and Economic Justice grants will be recommended for projects that meet elements of both of the following objectives, and are in support of, or in conjunction with, at least one of the Foundation’s other program areas. Funding priority will be given to projects having impacts at the state, multi-state, or national level.
Objective I
To establish the accountability of economic, social or governmental institutions, especially corporations, for the consequences and effects of their activities on the environment, and on people, their health, well-being, cultures, and communities.
Objective II
To address these social, political, economic, environmental, cultural or health issues in an integrated way by:
- bringing together groups—often separated by narrow issue interests and by race, religion, gender, class, ethnicity, and national origin—into crosscutting constituencies based on common economic, social, and ethical concerns; and
- creating both the possibilities and the demand for development of more systematic solutions to these issues, as well as the social basis needed for their implementation.
Revised Guidelines for the 2009 Funding Year
COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVES FOR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE
The Nathan Cummings Foundation seeks to promote collaboration and integrated innovative approaches among its programs (Arts and Culture, Contemplative Practice, Ecological Innovation, Health, and Jewish Life and Values). It does so by supporting initiatives that foster socially just and sustainable communities through institutional accountability and alliance building. Grantmaking funds are specifically dedicated for initiatives that meet an objective of at least one of the programs and that also:
- Foster collaboration between the Foundation's program areas; and/or
- Promote institutional accountability through public policies or other approaches that ensure corporations, government and other institutions take responsibility for the real risks and costs of their activities, becoming agents for positive social change; and/or
- Build crosscutting alliances that support systemic or institutional solutions while creating the social basis needed for their implementation.
Applicants for Collaborative Initiative funds should send Letters of Inquiry to the relevant program area(s) or to the Office of the President.
