The Boston Foundation invests over $4 million in six movement leaders in launch of new ‘Shifting Power, Advancing Justice’ partnership

Boston – The Boston Foundation announced today that six local nonprofit leaders have been selected as the inaugural partners in TBF’s Shifting Power, Advancing Justice focus area. The leaders and their organizations will receive over $4 million to advance their collective work to transform communities, drive systemic change, and foster innovation.

“These six movement leaders each play a central role in their organizations and in the broader community. They are difference makers, shaping collective action that improves lives and drives social and economic change,” said M. Lee Pelton, President and CEO of the Boston Foundation. “They each have unique approaches to that leadership and, with this new effort, we strive to create a partnership that respects and supports each of them and the organizations they represent to continue and amplify their transformative work.”

The Shifting Power, Advancing Justice focus area, part of TBF’s Amplifying Community Leadership pathway, strives to create opportunities for Boston’s grassroots leaders and movement builders to thrive in their work. The partnership provides each movement leader with $675,000 over three years in a combination of general operating support, wellness funding, technical assistance, and capacity building. In addition, the plan includes an emergency funding pool that can be accessed by any of the movement leaders and their organizations in times of crisis. During the process, the movement leaders will co-create the plans for their learning with TBF staff to ensure it serves their needs, goals and long-term vision.

“We know that sustainable, multi-year commitments of support provide vital confidence and stability to leaders and their organizations so they can build narrative, political, and economic power for their communities,” said Vetto Casado, Director of Shifting Power, Advancing Justice at the Boston Foundation. “We also know that our most valuable role can be played beyond the grant itself, providing a space and platform for these movement leaders to connect, plan and build community with each other to create a stronger, networked ecosystem for change.”

The movement leaders, whose biographies can be found on the Shifting Power, Advancing Justice page of the website, were celebrated at an introductory event as they began their initial onboarding and co-creation of the partnership. Over the coming months, each will craft their own work plans, with the Foundation seeking to provide support uniquely tailored to that work. The funding and support for these leaders will continue through 2026.