The San Francisco Foundation has a long track record of investing in communities and building the capacity of Black, Indigenous, and People-of-Color (BIPOC) -led organizations. As part of our commitment to advance racial equity in the Bay Area, today we are announcing that one of our longtime grantees and partners, Justice Outside, will take over management of our Youth Access to Nature program beginning on January 1, 2022. Justice Outside is a woman-of-color-led organization that advances racial justice and equity in the outdoor movement.
The San Francisco Foundation launched the Youth Access to Nature Fund in 2016 to provide youth of color access to meaningful experiences in nature, to help them become strong leaders and students, and to improve their mental and physical health. During its six-year incubation period at the foundation, thirty-five organizations received more than $7 million in grants from a pooled-donor fund at the foundation, and 125,000 youth received hands-on, transformative experiences in the outdoors. In addition, organizations have participated in quarterly capacity-building trainings to build stability and grow the diversity of the field.
“We are thrilled that the Youth Access to Nature program will join our cohort of programs working to advance racial justice and equity in the outdoors and environmental movement,” says Kim Moore Bailey, President and CEO of Justice Outside. “We are confident that with Youth Access to Nature, we will continue to advance our vision of a just world where Black, Indigenous, and Communities of Color experience safety, health, and abundant joy through meaningful relationships with one another and the outdoors.”
Over the past six years, Justice Outside has closely partnered with Youth Access to Nature to provide capacity building trainings to grantees and to host donor convenings. The organization has been a recipient of multiple grants from the Youth Access to Nature Fund to build their own organizational capacity and advance their leadership development programs.
“What began as a single SFF donor’s investment in helping kids connect with nature has blossomed into a multi-donor fund that will now be owned and directed by the communities it is serving,” says Francesca Vietor, Youth Access to Nature’s Program Manager at the San Francisco Foundation. “Justice Outside is the perfect partner to take Youth Access to Nature to the next level and to ensure that all young people have the opportunity to get outdoors and thrive.”
As of January 1, 2022, Justice Outside will begin operating the Youth Access to Nature program, including all fundraising activities and grantmaking decisions.
We strongly encourage donors to continue supporting Youth Access to Nature’s meaningful work by making donations directly to Justice Outside. San Francisco Foundation donors are encouraged to speak to their philanthropic advisor about making future gifts to Youth Access to Nature.
- Grantees and grantseekers can review our FAQs below, or contact Laura Rodriguez at Justice Outside (laura@justiceoutside.org).
- Donors can contact Francesca Vietor fvietor[at]sff.org with questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
I have a current grant from YAN that will conclude in 2022. Will I be eligible to apply for a new grant in 2022?
Yes, Youth Access to Nature’s new operating organization, Justice Outside, will invite your organization to review its grantmaking guidelines. If your organization is eligible, you can submit an application for a new grant in spring 2022.
I have a YAN multi-year grant that was initiated by San Francisco Foundation (SFF). Who do I submit my progress reports to for subsequent payments?
If you have a multi-year grant with SFF, going forward, please submit your reports to Justice Outside. Your grant payments will continue to be issued by SFF.
I do not currently have a YAN grant. How do I know if I am eligible to receive one?
Please review Justice Outside’s grantmaking guidelines.
I am a current YAN grantee. Will I still receive capacity-building trainings?
Yes, Justice Outside will continue to coordinate capacity-building trainings for the YAN grantee cohort.
Aside from the Youth Access to Nature Fund (which is now managed by Justice Outside), does SFF offer any other grants related to the environment and nature?
SFF does not have any other grantmaking programs specifically dedicated to the environment and nature. Learn more about our SFF’s equity grantmaking and other funding opportunities.
Who do I contact if I have questions?
Beginning January 1, 2022, please contact Laura Rodriguez at Justice Outside (laura@justiceoutside.org) should you have any questions about the Youth Access to Nature program.
