Campaign for A Just East Bay

Transforming good intentions into community impact

We’re building a network of supporters and partners dedicated to advancing social change.  

The Bay Area has a reputation for progressive action, innovation, and a unique social fabric that has given rise to generations of social movements. We believe in the “Beloved Community” of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a community free from poverty, hunger, and hate.  

But daily news headlines are evidence that the negative winds of conservatism, scarcity, power hoarding, and resource exploitation are prevailing. We have a long way to go to realize the vision of an inclusive, fair, and just society. 

We know something else is possible and community organizations in the East Bay are leading the way.  

These organizations and leaders are reshaping our community into one aligned with our values of inclusion, fairness, and justice. Our network is creating systemic change in Alameda and Contra Costa counties so that all residents have the economic, cultural, and people power to make choices for their own well-being. 

East Bay Community Foundation (EBCF) is a partner to the movement leaders materializing the vision of what we call “A Just East Bay.” 

The Campaign for A Just East Bay connects the potential of our donor community to the organizations and community leaders leading the way. Your donation to the Campaign supports our regional grantmaking strategies, our impact investing work, and our innovation in grantmaking. 

Your gift to the Campaign for A Just East Bay supports our vision and helps us continue our industry-leading work in philanthropy and impact investing as well as our pooled fund for strategic grants to nonprofits and movement leaders.  

EBCF is an essential community resource and a movement partner for racial justice and social change. We rely on the support of individuals to continue our work evolving philanthropy for generations to come. 

But we need your help! EBCF does not have an endowment large enough to sustain our work without outside support. Like many of our nonprofit partners, we must rely on contributions from community members, local corporate partners, and other foundations. While $600 million in assets under management may seem large, EBCF cannot use these restricted assets to fund its infrastructure and innovations, and the revenue from fees and investments is not enough to cover all the costs of this transformative work. 

This year, our Campaign goal is to raise $3 million from the community. 

Your contribution to the Campaign for A Just East Bay is a chance to benefit the community by helping sustain EBCF as a community resource now and into the future. 

Why EBCF?

Established in 1928 and named the “boldest community foundation” in 2019 by Inside Philanthropy, EBCF is a critical thread in the fabric of our region’s social sector. Throughout our work, systems change for a more inclusive, fair, and just society is our north star. 

Our grantmaking practices align with the principles of trust-based philanthropy, and many of our staff have come from social movements we fund. Their experience makes them experts on the issues affecting our community.  

Our commitment to racial justice, racial equity, and a fair and inclusive society is creating change throughout our organization, our community, and the field of philanthropy. Racial justice is a screening tool in our investment policy, and our four core program strategies center on racial justice and equity. Our hiring practices and staff engagement initiatives have resulted in a majority Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian American, Pacific Islander, South/Southwest Asian or Northern African team, at all levels of the organization.  

The Campaign for A Just East Bay is a vehicle for community transformation. 

Here are three elements of our unique strategy supported by your donation to the Campaign for A Just East Bay. 

REGIONAL GRANTMAKING STRATEGIES

IMPACT INVESTING STRATEGIES

INNOVATION IN GRANTMAKING