Staff Reports
The Greater Washington Community Foundation (GWCF) is at the center of yet another controversy, proving that when it comes to grants, it’s not what you know but who you are. The so-called “Health Equity Fund” run by this organization has raised eyebrows among conservative watchdog groups like Do No Harm, who allege that the program is nothing short of a racially discriminatory cash giveaway.
According to reports, GWCF’s Health Equity program prioritizes funding for organizations led by people of color—especially those in the BIPOC (that’s Black, Indigenous, and People of Color for those blissfully unaware) community. The application process is as straightforward as a tax code: applicants must submit a “letter of intent” that requires them to disclose the race, gender, and ethnic background of board members. It appears that fulfilling the grant’s requirement of demographic fit is just as critical as the health initiatives they plan to implement, raising a few eyebrows about whether the mission is truly about improving health outcomes or merely pushing the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion agenda.
Laura Morgan, a senior director at Do No Harm, didn’t mince her words when she suggested that GWCF seems more interested in ramping up racial division rather than actual improvement in people’s lives. Why bother fixing real problems when you can have your pick of applicants based solely on how well they check the diversity boxes? It’s almost as if these funds are less about helping those in need and more about ensuring the “correct” people get the money, all under the guise of “equity.”
One would think that with a staggering $55 million available for these grants—payouts scheduled to run until March 2026—the focus would be on tangible health improvements that affect everyone. Instead, the GWCF appears to favor lofty proposals aimed at economic mobility and community wealth-building, while shoving reality to the back seat. It’s a case of big ideas with little follow-up, as anyone who’s familiar with the jellyfish-like flexibility of government-funded initiatives can attest.
The GWCF has made it abundantly clear that its priorities lie in handing out those funds to left-leaning nonprofits. Organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union and NARAL Pro-Choice America are among the lucky beneficiaries, which begs the question—how does this relate to health equity? Are grants being diverted to high-sounding causes that are simply buzzwords for political agendas, rather than focusing directly on health improvements for everyday citizens facing real issues?
Left-Wing Nonprofit Steered 'Health Equity' Grants Based On Race, Watchdog Says https://t.co/IY8mxLRLgN
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) August 26, 2024
In just one year after launching its initiatives, GWCF reported that a hefty 41% of grants went to “black-led organizations,” while a mere 17% trickled down to “latino/x-led organizations.” What happened to the idea of merit-based assistance? Meanwhile, the promised results—like job training and economic initiatives—sound great on paper but leave many wondering how this wealth redistribution will truly benefit those struggling with actual health disparities. It turns out that attempting to achieve equity through selective funding may just be funneling resources into another ideological black hole.
