New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund Announces $3 Million in Grants to Nonprofits Across Massachusetts
New Investments Bring NCF Grantmaking Up to More Than $13 Million in Just Four Years BOSTON, MA — The New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund (NCF) announced today that it has awarded an additional $3 million in grants to organizations working to lift up Black and Brown communities across Massachusetts. This brings NCF’s […]
Minority business advocates applaud Jaylen Brown for amplifying the cause
August 5, 2024 As Celtics superstar Jaylen Brown launches a nonprofit whose mission is to close the racial wealth gap in and around Boston, existing incubators and funders with a similar focus are welcoming the high-profile spotlight he brings to this arena. Brown’s new nonprofit, called Boston Xchange (BXC), plans to back entrepreneurs of color […]
New Commonwealth Fund awards $3 million in grants to Mass. nonprofits addressing racial inequity
July 31, 2024 The New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund (NCF) announced Tuesdaythat it is awarding $3 million in grants tomore than 100nonprofits “working to advance racial equity” in Massachusetts. The organizations receiving this year’s awards are part of a diverse cohort: 82 percent are Black or Latino, and more than 60 percent identify as […]
What to know about the New Commonwealth Fund’s Disruption Dialogue event
July 25, 2024 Ahead of the annual Disruption Dialogue on Martha’s Vineyard, Dr. Makeeba McCreary, President of the New Commonwealth Fund, and Dr. Gisele Shorter, President and CEO of Nellie Mae Education Foundation, came to explain the importance of these deep conversations focusing on social justice. Watch the full interview on NBC 10 Boston’s The […]
Dr. Makeeba McCreary, president of the New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund, on empowering nonprofit leaders of color
July 2, 2024 In this episode of the Boston Business Journal’s PNC C-Speak podcast, Dr. Makeeba McCreary, president of the New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund, delves into how the organization is disrupting the philanthropy sector. Listen to the episode to hear more from Dr. McCreary about:
What Juneteenth means for many Black Bostonians
In this special hour, we take stock of this moment in Black Boston. With arguably more Black leaders in power, more investment dollars on the table for equity and inclusion, more diversity in elected officials and more frank discussion about race happening that at any time in the city’s modern history, we discuss whether the […]
How corporate America is prioritizing DEI investments
Companies pledged hundreds of millions of dollars to Black businesses and antiracism efforts in the wake of the George Floyd protests. But several years later, some corporate DEI programs have already been dismantled. Here’s a look at how some companies are holding to that commitment (featuring NCF Founder and Board Member Quincy Miller) Watch full […]
NCF Featured in Boston Magazine’s 150 Most Influential Bostonians
We’re honored to have so many members of the New Commonwealth Fund’s leadership team included in Boston Magazine’s 2024 Most Influential Bostonians list. Congratulations to: -Our President, Makeeba McCreary-Our Board Chair, Damian Wilmot-Our Founders, Quincy Miller, Pamela Everhart, and Corey Thomas-Our Advisors, Michael Curry, Esq., Darryl Settles, and Pratt Wiley-Our Founding Ally, Colette Phillips We’re […]
Neighborhood Birth Center aims to tackle maternal health disparities
April 18, 2024 Black birthing individuals have two to three times the maternal mortality and morbidity risk as white individuals. Nashira Baril, founder of the Neighborhood Birth Center in Boston, knows of the disparities in maternal health all too well. “There is a crisis in maternal health, and it bears down inequitably to communities of […]
Op-Ed: Four Things Philanthropy Should Do Differently This Black History Month
Feb. 6, 2024 By Makeeba McCreary February is Black History Month, an annual celebration when we sharpen our focus on the achievements of Black people in the United States. Since its inception in the 1970s, Black History Month has also served as a reminder of the sacrifices made by Black people and the structural racism […]
How one expert believes we can do philanthropy right this season
Dec. 8, 2023 It’s the season of giving — and not just presents. The holidays are huge for charitable donations, and some experts believe there’s a better way to give than traditional philanthropy usually promotes. Makeeba McCreary, president of the New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund and co-author of a WBUR Cognoscenti piece about equitable […]
‘She’s got it right’: Healey hangs two MFA paintings by Black artists in her State House office
Dec. 8, 2023 Governor Maura Healey selected two paintings, both by Black artists, from the Museum of Fine Arts to hang in her office as a continuation of her commitment to representing the state’s diversity in the State House’s artwork, according to a press release from her office. The paintings, “Black Tie” by Robert T. […]
The Legacy Pioneer Awards
Feb. 12, 2024 Black leaders in Boston and throughout Massachusetts were honored Monday at The Legacy Pioneer awards, which commend those who have broken down barriers, opened doors to economic opportunities, championed inclusivity and driven positive change across the city and state for minority owned and operated businesses. Legacy Pioneer honorees embody the evolving face […]
Op-Ed: Philanthropy doesn’t always get it right. Let’s re-think how we give.
Nov. 27, 2023 By Makeeba McCreary and Bob Giannino Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday, when individuals around the world contribute to causes they believe in. Since its founding in 2012, it has grown into a global movement. In the United States alone, more than 20 million people collectively contributed over $3 billion to nonprofits in 2022 — more than […]
Social justice groups are ‘already solving the problems.’ Now they need more from philanthropists, panelists say.
Sept. 21, 2023 For philanthropic leaders, simply talking about social justice issues is not enough to move the needle. Instead, two of the state’s leading humanitarians said Thursday at the Globe Summit that using your platform to support grassroots advocacy groups already doing the work is necessary and will take social justice work further. “It’s all […]
Op-Ed: A Blueprint For Tackling Inequity In Philanthropy
Sept. 18, 2023 In the summer of 2020, Americans across the country were united in outrage over the murder of George Floyd and prepared to confront systemic racism. Corporations pledged more than $200 billion in funding to racial equity initiatives. Politicians were suddenly unafraid to say “Black Lives Matter.” For a moment, it felt like real change […]
Jaylen Brown wants to create a ‘Black Wall Street in Boston’. What would that look like?
Aug. 14, 2023 By Shirley Leung For decades, Black entrepreneurs and business leaders in Boston have worked without much fanfare to create jobs and wealth for their community. Then Jaylen Brown uttered these five words: “Black Wall Street in Boston.” After signing a $304 million extension with the Celtics, the richest in NBA history, Brown […]
New Commonwealth Fund names four new directors
Aug. 7, 2023 The New Commonwealth Fund, an organization invested in Black and brown communities, has named four new directors from the worlds of healthcare, financial services and professional sports. The New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund, or NCF, says its new directors are: former New England Patriots captain Devin McCourty; healthcare executives […]
What this Juneteenth means for Black Bostonians
June 19, 2023 – re-aired on June 19, 2024. Juneteenth observes the date that news of the Emancipation Proclamation reached a group of enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, two and a half years after it was issued. In this special hour, we take stock of this moment in Black Boston. With arguably more Black leaders […]
What this Juneteenth means for Black Bostonians
June 19, 2023 – re-aired on June 19, 2024. Juneteenth observes the date that news of the Emancipation Proclamation reached a group of enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, two and a half years after it was issued. In this special hour, we take stock of this moment in Black Boston. With arguably more Black leaders […]
New Atrius Health Equity Foundation awards $1 million to local organizations
June 8, 2023 A recently created foundation has announced two large grants focused on closing health disparities in the state. The $1 million in funding will go to the Health Equity Compact and the New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund, two organizations led by industry leaders of color in Massachusetts that are working […]
Op-Ed: George Floyd’s murder ushered in big talk of equity and justice. 3 years later, this work is still a matter of life and death
By Makeeba McCreary May 30, 2023 Last week marked three years since George Floyd’s murder. In the weeks and months that followed the tragedy of that day, it seemed as though America had finally woken up, finally seen the way that racism pervades every system in our country. The anguish and the rage of people […]
Op-Ed: Three lessons for philanthropy in addressing systemic racism in health care
May 12, 2023 By Makeeba McCreary Racism is embedded deep within America’s public health infrastructure as it is in so many systems in our county. COVID-19 was an introduction to this fact for many white Americans. They saw—in some cases for the first time—how the inequities in our health systems are deadly for people of […]
Boston businessman following through on promises made after death of George Floyd
Feb. 2, 2023 BOSTON – Damian Wilmot is on a mission. Just two weeks after the death of George Floyd and during the height of the pandemic, he picked up the phone and called a handful of other Black and Brown executives around Massachusetts. Collectively, they launched the New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice […]
This Fund Wants to Dial in on Discriminatory Justice Policy in Massachusetts. Can It Succeed?
Jan. 17, 2023 Is it possible to track systemic racism and its impact, specifically in terms of youth justice? That’s one of the questions Boston University’s Center for Antiracist Research is hoping to answer with the support of the New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund (NCF) and United Way of Massachusetts Bay and […]
