What We believe; What We do: An Overview
The Chinook Fund is a movement-building organization. We are recognized throughout the state of Colorado for our pioneering support of organizations that work to create a just, equitable and free society by transforming oppressive and discriminatory political, social and economic systems and institutions. Chinook supports organizations which are challenging the root causes of oppression, rather than treating the symptoms. We believe the root causes of our most serious social problems include entrenched, systemic, and institutionalized racism, sexism, heterosexism, classism, ableism and ageism.
Our mission statement reads:
The Chinook Fund is committed to the transformation of society into
one that promotes social justice and freedom from oppression,
including but not limited to: racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism,
ageism, and ableism.
Chinook's primary movement-building strategy is grantmaking. The organizations that Chinook has launched, by providing first grants, technical assistance, and long-term funding over their early years, are today the leaders of social change in our state. Chinook grantees which have achieved significant wins and made headlines include Colorado Progressive Coalition (Chinook provided the initial grant that launched CPC), 9-5 Colorado, Rights for All People, Padres Unidos, Metro Organizations for People, Congregations Building Community, Colorado ADAPT, Western Equality, and many others. In all, Chinook has distributed $1.7 million to grassroots organizations and community groups who are organizing for social change.
Gandhi once said "you must be the change you wish to see in the world." Chinook seeks to create a just world not only by funding social change organizations, but also by how we fund them. A diverse group of activists make all of our funding decisions. This means that Chinook is led by, and accountable to, the communities we serve - just as we require our grantees to be. And it means, as social change activists who have themselves experienced various forms of oppression, our committee members are ideally suited to determine whether an applicant meets Chinook's unique funding criteria:
- Organizations must be working to change a social, political or legal system or structure that excludes a large group of historically-oppressed people
- Organizations must be able to make a convincing case that their work will lead to permanent change
- The work must be led by the constituents the organization serves
- Organizations must have modest budgets
The committee works hard to ensure that Chinook channels its resources to the most effective, cutting edge agents of social change in the state.
We believe that racism, sexism, heterosexism and classism are interconnected, and that they damage both individuals and the progressive movement as we strive to make real change. We also believe that ending oppression requires individuals and institutions to acknowledge its existence and power. For this reason, Chinook provides social justice education to non-profits and community members.
More than just a funder, Chinook provides substantial technical assistance to its grantees. Groups that have never opened a bank account, much less applied for a grant, ask for guidance as they take the first steps toward becoming an organization. Chinook staff consult with current, past and future grantees on issues as wide-ranging as how to create an income statement and how to manage challenging interpersonal issues.
Our education programs teach people about oppression and power, not just about differences (diversity training), and our goal is transformation, not guilt. The Social Justice Awareness program provides anti-oppression training for organizations who want first to see clearly how racism, sexism and other forms of oppression influence their own organizational dynamics, and who then wish to transform those dynamics. Ultimately, this compassionate yet challenging training empowers people to free themselves to work with integrity and in greater alignment with their highest ideals. Our Social Justice Institute, which we provide in conjunction with Making Connections-Denver, is a leadership training program for residents of four low-income neighborhoods in Denver. It is designed to train them to use strategies to organize people to change the systems that negatively affect their lives.
Finally, Chinook provides visionary leadership in the philanthropic sector. A successful social justice movement requires not only leadership and direct action by grassroots community groups, but also the support and participation of people with access to money and power. From its inception, Chinook has identified and empowered progressive people of wealth to organize among their peers. We talk to donors and potential donors about their political interests, and then link them to the work of our grantees and other appropriate organizations. We encourage them to get involved in the work that is going on.
We have challenging conversations with our donors. We discuss with them what we are learning about dismantling the racism, sexism, heterosexism, and classism that exists in every group or institution. We encourage them to look at the organizations to which they belong through this lens, and to take action to change the unhealthy patterns that they see. And we talk to them about the importance of allowing and empowering the people who are most affected by an injustice to lead the movement for change - rather than using one's clout as a donor to control the movement. Whenever possible, Chinook plays similar roles with more traditional (and wealthier) foundations, talking about racism, sexism etc. within our movement, putting them in touch with grassroots community organizations, and explaining why effective, long-lasting social change must be led by the people.