Advancing Social Change and Creating an Enduring American Legacy
Fund II seeks to preserve the African-American experience; safeguard human rights; provide music education; preserve the environment while promoting the benefits of the outdoors; and sustain critical American values such as entrepreneurialism.
Fund II Foundation was established in 2014 for the purpose of making grants to public charities that improve the daily lives and long term potential of those in Black and Brown communities. To date, we have awarded more than $265 million, all with the goal of creating an enduring and uniquely American legacy.
Our programs and investments prioritize creating pathways to opportunity by disrupting systems and providing access for all to a more equitable and sustainable future.
Grant Making
Fund II Foundation is deeply committed to the preservation, protection and prosperity of minority communities. Since 2014, we have awarded more than $265 million in grants to a range of nonprofits that align with our mission to honor the African American experience, support human rights, bolster music and arts education, safeguard and honor the environment; and sustain critical American values such as entrepreneurism.
internXL
Personal connections have long been the mainstay of professional success, hampering the dreams of far too many talented and skilled young people. internXL upends this practice, offering a cadre of pre-screened entry-level talent for employers that advance diversity and inclusion goals and provide on-ramps to quality jobs for students. internXL’s internship-matching process guides the first steps of a successful career for highly qualified Black and Brown future leaders.
Restoration Retreat
Cradle to Greatness
Black Maternal Health
Fund II Foundation is committed to advancing Black Maternal Health Equity by educating, empowering, and mobilizing Black birthing people, families, and birthworkers. Through six task groups, they aim to transform medical education, engage partners and males, establish a maternal health institute, launch an education campaign, clarify policy initiatives, and serve vulnerable pregnant people. The foundation focuses on U.S. southern communities, home to more than half of the U.S. Black population, and invites individuals to share their Black Birth Story of Hope to advance Black maternal health. Visit the Black Maternal Health tab to learn more.
Focus Areas
We have awarded nearly 80 grants across eight focus areas: Education; Cultural Preservation; Health; Music & Arts; Social Justice; Career Readiness; Environment; and Digitization. Taken together, Fund II Foundation grant-making works toward building a limitless future for all Americans.
The largest share of Fund II Foundation grantmaking has been in the area of Education, which we believe is the door that opens the worlds of self-discovery, self-sufficiency, and prosperity.
Our work seeks to offer Black and Brown youth those opportunities and experiences that will spark imagination, build confidence and develop the study habits that will guarantee future success.
By many measures, African American health outcomes are dismal when compared to American averages. From chronic illnesses and their treatment to maternal health and the COVID-19 pandemic, Black patients’ experiences often are harmed by ill-informed research and practitioners’ lack cultural competence. Moreover, Black and Brown communities face unique mental health challenges that are too often dismissed or viewed harshly.
The Health focus area seeks to improve these outcomes and to alleviate emotional and economic strife. Put simply, if our communities are not able to live healthy lives, they are not able to dream and achieve.
We believe in the power of community-led solutions and investing in initiatives that address systemic barriers and promote equity for Black individuals and communities.
We believe diversity and inclusion in philanthropy are crucial to creating real, lasting change.
Recognizing the importance of environmental preservation and sustainability has always been our priority.
Through our grant making efforts, we aim to support initiatives that promote environmental justice, enhance access to green spaces, and address the disproportionate impacts of environmental degradation on Black communities to ensure that future generations can live in healthy, safe, and equitable communities.
For too long, the history of African Americans has been downplayed or dismissed, warping the perspective of all Americans about Black contributions to our country’s culture, society and economy.
Through our Cultural Preservation grant making, we seek to highlight Black excellence and to preserve and share key figures, works of art and locales that illustrate African Americans’ foundational role in the American story.
Our work seeks to offer Black and Brown youth those opportunities and experiences that will spark imagination, build confidence and develop the study habits that will guarantee future success.
We believe music and the arts have the power to inspire, heal, and bring communities together. Our grants support initiatives that provide opportunities for Black artists and musicians to showcase their talents, as well as programs that bring the arts to Black communities.
Fund II Foundation is committed to supporting and promoting the work of Black artists and musicians, fostering a vibrant arts community, and being a catalyst for change in the music and arts space.
Education and training are seen as critical components in creating pathways to sustainable careers and financial stability. We provide grants to organizations and programs that address systemic barriers to employment through job skills training, career counseling, and job placement services.
Access to well-paying jobs is essential for building thriving communities and everyone deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential and achieve their dreams.
Our grants support programs that digitize historical records, archives, and artifacts related to Black history and culture, making this information more widely available to researchers, educators, and the general public.
We are proud to play a role in preserving and promoting Black history, ensuring it is never lost or forgotten, and more accessible to all.
The Fund II Impact
Fund II Foundation was established in 2014 for the purpose of making grants to public charities. To date, Fund II Foundation has made grants worth over $265 million to a broad range of public charities.
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