BA NIA Named to Racial Justice and Equity Fund’s 2026 Grantee Cohort
We are honored to share that BA NIA has been selected as a 2026 grantee partner of the Racial Justice and Equity Fund (RJEF)—a fund housed within the Early Childhood Funders Collaborative that is dedicated to shifting power, resourcing grassroots leaders, and advancing racial justice across the full ecosystem of child and family well-being.
This year’s cohort brings together 10 community-rooted organizations from across the country that are working at the intersections of maternal health and birth justice, immigrant justice, housing, food security, economic and reproductive justice, mental health, civic engagement, and community organizing. Together, these groups reflect RJEF’s commitment to trusting community wisdom and investing in leaders who are closest to the challenges—and the solutions.
A National Network Rooted in Community
Racial Justice and Equity Fund (RJEF)’s 2026 grantees span rural, urban, Southern, Indigenous, and coastal communities, bringing deep cultural grounding, lived experience, and bold leadership to their work. The cohort includes:
A Luta Sigue (TN)
Around Birth Collective (CA)
BA NIA (IL)
BEN Initiative (NM)
Dreamers Mothers in Action (VA)
Make It Work Nevada (NV)
ME (MS)
Native American Women’s Dialogue (WA; serving AK and MT)
Sanctuary Now Abolition Project (LA and multi-state)
SHINE Sisterhood (HI, NY, CA, GA)
Each organization embodies RJEF’s belief that children do not thrive in isolation—they thrive when families are supported, identities are affirmed, and communities have the power and resources to shape their own futures. We’re honored to join this cohort of incredible organizations.
Why This Matters
Through a participatory, trust-based approach, RJEF provides unrestricted, multi-year funding to organizations with budgets under $1 million—prioritizing those under $500,000—so groups can meet urgent community needs while building long-term resilience and capacity. Just as importantly, RJEF invests in relationships across the cohort, cultivating shared learning, solidarity, and collective power across states and movements.
With this second cohort, RJEF now supports 20 grantee partners across 22 states, helping to build a growing, community-led network advancing justice, care, and collective well-being for children and families nationwide.
At a time when funding for life-sustaining programs continues to be cut and families face increasing instability, this investment sends a powerful message: what becomes possible when philanthropy listens, follows community leadership, and chooses to invest differently.
Standing in Collective Power
At BA NIA, we are proud to stand alongside this extraordinary group of organizations and grateful for the opportunity to deepen our work in partnership with communities across the country. We thank the RJEF for their support, we will continue advancing Black maternal health, strengthening families, and working to reduce infant and maternal mortality—one birth at a time. Together, we are building an ecosystem where all children, families, and communities can grow, belong, and flourish.