Announcing Our January Grantee
After much research, vetting and discussion, we’re proud to announce our January nonprofit grantee: Making Contact.
Founded in 1994, Making Contact is an independent non-profit organization committed to investigative journalism, in-depth critical analysis, the promotion of civic participation and the dissemination of educational material. What began as a 13-week experiment in highlighting progressive community perspectives has become an enduring platform for underrepresented groups and community voices.
Making Contact’s primary production, an award-winning 29-minute weekly magazine/documentary-style public affairs program also named “Making Contact,” is heard on over 140 radio stations across the USA, Canada, South Africa, and Ireland. Recent episodes have covered critical topics such as overcoming issues of unconscious bias and entitlement, confronting the role of gender in mass shootings, and the challenges facing children and spouses of the incarcerated.
With the decline of local journalism and the recent pressure on independent press of all varieties, the work Making Contact does in highlighting local, independent perspectives is absolutely critical.
How did Vocal Minority choose Making Contact? After honing in on a Free and Strong Press as our January focus, we asked ourselves these questions:
- Is the organization fighting to protect equity and justice in America?
- Will a collective donation make an impact on the organization’s work?
- Is the organization in good financial standing?
The answer to all these questions was a resounding yes:
- Making Contact is focused on a ‘bottom up’ approach to journalism, highlighting underrepresented voices and focusing on the connections between local and global events.
- Making Contact is having an impact, with their show syndicated across over 140 local radio stations in 39 states and 4 countries.
- Making Contact’s modest revenue of $330K means that our grant will make a difference.
- Making Contact is in good financial standing, receiving funding from a range of sources.
These questions form the criteria by which we research and vet all nonprofits.
For the remainder of January, we will be collecting donations for Making Contact, and come February we will turn to our next focus area and begin the search for our next amazing nonprofit grantee. (If you have suggestions, we’re all ears at hello@vocalminority.us or our Facebook group).
It’s hard to believe that Vocal Minority is only 2 months old. With our first grant just recently delivered, this has all become very real, and we’re excited to keep the momentum rolling with another great organization. We are humbled and honored to be taking this journey with you.
Join us here: http://vocalminority.us/join
