CoThinkk employs Innovative 

Video driven grant application process 

for its’ 2016 Grants Awards

CoThinkk is accepting video grant applications for projects addressing critical social issues facing African-American and Latinx communities in Asheville and Western North Carolina. CoThinkk is the first of its kind in Western North Carolina, designed specifically to create supportive networks, accelerate systemic change and seed new initiatives through a shared leadership model that is both alternative and complementary to traditional philanthropy.

“In Asheville and Western NC there is a dynamic cohort of leaders of color doing extraordinary work with an explicit social change agenda focused on yielding positive, collaborative, and equitable outcomes for disenfranchised communities, but they don’t have access to critical resources,” says CoThinkk founder Tracey Greene-Washington. “We are excited to announce this is our first year of awarding grants and using video will create an easier access and entry point for leaders to submit proposals that are collectively working to improve our communities.”

Grant funds are available for community groups that sponsor programming that is led by leaders of color and supports African American and Latinx families and communities through education, economic mobility/opportunity, and leadership development, with particular emphasis on cultivating the energy, passion, and talents of the next generation to create an essential pipeline of leaders. Programs must serve areas within Asheville or Western NC. Grant amounts typically range from $500 to $1,000. In addition to the grant award, CoThinkk leadership will provide capacity building and leadership development opportunities for grant recipients including a free video and grant process workshop prior to the submission date. Applications are available beginning August 15. The deadline for submitting applications is noon September 15.  Please visit CoThinkk.org for more details.

Alongside grant awards, CoThinkk will also award four community leadership awards and highlight two community allies. Recipients of the award must be leaders of color who are playing a critical role in the social change ecosystem of Western NC and working to shift the narrative of communities of color. Nominations are due by September 1st and the public will weigh in during September 2-15. For more information and to submit nominations, visit CoThinkk.org.

The CoThinkk membership’s grant decisions and the community leadership award recipients will be announced at the CoThinkk Awards Night: Connecting Through the Roots on October 22nd, which is open to the entire community. For further information or questions, email CoThinkk at cothinkk@gmail.com.  To attend the CoThinkk Awards Night, please reserve your ticket here.