Society: Disabled Issues / Disabilities

New Champions Fund Annual Opportunity Announced to Elevate Leaders of Color and Allies who Support Students with Disabilities

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BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PRWEB)

The Educating All Learners Alliance (EALA), a coalition of over 128 partner organizations led by InnovateEDU, is launching the second year of its New Champions Fund. The New Champions Fund allows EALA to provide an annual unrestricted $35,000 grant and access to a year-long mentorship program to a leader of color, or ally of the equity in education movement, who is actively working to support students with disabilities, including students who are also marginalized, come from underserved communities, or experience poverty. EALA will provide two additional $5,000 sub-grants to runners-up, as determined by the panel of nationally recognized New Champions judges.

This award aims to elevate the work and profile of emerging leaders doing exceptional work who may struggle to be recognized in traditional, national fundraising or communication efforts. The explicit intent of this grant is to diversify the organizations, voices, and approaches that are leading the conversation on serving all students. Winners will be selected by a diverse judging panel of national education leaders.

Dena Simmons, founder of LiberatED and 2022 New Champion, highlights the value of the New Champions grant, noting how the funding supported the vital work of LiberatED: “The New Champions grant was a wonderful opportunity to build with the larger InnovateEDU community and to continue centering youth voice in our work with the goal of creating the conditions for belonging, healing, and collective liberation for all children.”

Those who meet the primary requirements to apply to the New Champions Fund include:

  • leaders of community-based organizations (CBOs), schools and districts, non-profits, or for-profit organizations that are under $2 million in annual revenue*;

  • leaders of color or allies of the equity in education movement;

  • entities or individuals who are actively working to support students with disabilities, including students who are also marginalized, come from underserved communities, or experience poverty.


*for-profit organizations must be able to accept contributions from a non-profit organization.

“The New Champions Fund is an incredible opportunity for EALA to spotlight an emerging leader or organization in education who may not yet have had the opportunity to receive funding for their breakthrough idea,” said Treah Hutchings, EALA’s Project Manager. “With the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, EALA is committed to spotlighting and drawing attention to equity-driven leadership working to support students who learn differently.”

The winner of the New Champions Fund will be supported by EALA through the following key areas: a $35,000 unrestricted grant, a one-year mentorship provided to leadership to accomplish strategic goals, and focused work with EALA to spotlight the champion’s work through various media channels, podcasts, webinars, and national conferences.

Applicants can gain further inspiration from the 2022 New Champions Fund winner, LiberatED, and runners-up, STEM4Real and Dr. Charles Cole III, who exemplify the qualities and work to be supported through the New Champions Fund. To learn more about the critical work last year’s grantees do and how the New Champions fund has amplified their efforts, visit the New Champions Fund website.

The New Champions Fund application opens Monday, April 3rd, and will close on Friday, May 5th. For more information, visit EALA’s website.

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The Educating All Learners Alliance (EALA) is an uncommon coalition of organizations committed to resource sharing and community-building that supports the efforts of the education community to meet the needs of students with disabilities.

Press Contact: Rachel Lorch, InnovateEDU, rlorch@innovateedunyc.org

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