Open Society Foundations: Police Associations Leading 21st Century Policing
The Open Society Foundations work to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens. To achieve this mission, the Foundations seek to shape public policies that assure greater fairness in political, legal, and economic systems and safeguard fundamental rights. On a local level, the Open Society Foundations implement a range of initiatives to advance justice, education, public health, and independent media.
The Open Society Foundations invite local fraternal and sororal police associations in the United States to submit proposals for projects they wish to work on to increase trust between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve. The Foundations’ aim is to make grants to local police associations to support them to implement projects that relate to the recommendations of the President’s Taskforce on 21st Century Policing delivered to President Obama in 2015.
Applications from organizations which demonstrate the following qualities are encouraged:
- Desire to increase trust between police officers and the communities they serve
- Desire to undertake a project that directly relates to or aligns with the recommendations of the President’s
- Taskforce on 21st Century Policing
- Demonstrated mindfulness and strategies for the politics involved in conducting the project
- Understanding of the capacity and assistance needed to conduct the project
- Demonstrated good governance and financial practices
- Strategy to continue and scale-up engagement following the project
- Spirit of innovation and willingness to try new approaches
- Projects that involve the participation of communities of color and women
Open Society Foundations can provide funding for projects as well as support technical assistance costs. Proposed projects can include community projects, trainings, advocacy, and public awareness campaigns.
Amount: There are no minimum or maximum amounts, but the anticipated grant range is $25,000-$200,000.
Eligibility: Fraternal and sororal organizations of sworn police officers at the local level from any part of the United States are invited to apply. National organizations will not be considered, although local chapters may apply. Individual police officers or teams of police officers may not apply unless they do so in their capacity as official representatives of local police associations. Local police associations do not need to have formal legal status in order to be eligible to apply. Police associations that represent police officers of color or women police officers are particularly encouraged to apply. Associations may participate in more than one proposal.
This post was filed under: