Morning Friends! This week’s tone is more somber than usual. This Friday marks the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and I’m finding myself reflecting, grieving, processing, wishing in as the memories of August 29, 2005 and its aftermath are front of mind this week.
Consider today’s newsletter the Katrina edition.
Table of Contents
The storm brought about and exposed many contradictions. Death & Rebirth. Exodus & Return. “Ephemeral & Eternal”.
The work of New Orleans-based Brandon “BMIKE” Odums, the artist & creator of Studio Be is a beautiful container for these paradoxes.
By the numbers:
Funding Opps: 50+
Job Opps: 90+
Contract Opps: 20+
Funding Opportunities 💰
Accelerator Program by Fast Forward
Who it's for: Fast Forward’s Accelerator supports early-stage tech nonprofits with funding, mentorship, and training. The program helps bridge the gap between the tech and nonprofit sectors through a tailored curriculum and peer community.
Funding Amount: $25,000
Deadline: 9/8/2025
How to Apply: Click Here
Salesforce Accelerator, Agents for Impact by Salesforce
Who it's for: The Salesforce Accelerator equips nonprofits with funding, cutting-edge AI technology, and pro bono expertise to create customized AI agent solutions. The program includes a 6-month accelerator with coaching, donated Salesforce products, and consulting from employee volunteers.
Funding Amount: $200,000 - $300,000
Deadline: 9/10/2025
How to Apply: Click Here
Camelback Fellowship by Camelback Ventures ← HIGHLY RECOMMEND 💪🏾
Who it's for: The Camelback Fellowship is a rigorous accelerator program that empowers early-stage entrepreneurs to create impactful solutions addressing systemic inequities in Education and Conscious Technology.
Funding Amount: $40,000 in funding along with coaching, connections, community, and curriculum support
Deadline: 9/10/2025
How to Apply: Click Here
Chinook Fund Grant
Who it's for: Chinook Fund provides grants ranging from $4,000 to $10,000 to grassroots social justice organizations in Colorado. The fund supports community-led efforts that address systemic oppression and promote long-term social change.
Funding Amount: $4,000 - $10,000
Deadline: 9/15/2025
How to Apply: Click Here
Cummings $30M Grant Program
Who it's for: Multi-year grants (3 or 10 years) supporting local nonprofits in Greater Boston area. Awards $30 million annually to 150 organizations with installments ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 per year.
Funding Amount: $30,000 - $300,000
Deadline: 9/17/2025
How to Apply: Click Here
Jobs & Fellowships 👨🏽💼👩🏽💼
Membership and Worker Benefits Coordinator (Part-Time)
Organization: U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives
Location: United States; Remote
Description: Support membership recruitment, renewals, and worker benefits programs for a national federation of worker cooperatives. Conduct member outreach, maintain databases, and help expand healthcare access for cooperative workers through benefits enrollment and support.
Deadline to Apply: Apply ASAP
Salary: $30,000
Link to Apply: Click Here
Executive Director, DOE Alumni Network, DOE Alumni Network
Organization: Environmental Protection Network
Location: United States; Remote
Description: The Executive Director will be the foundational leader responsible for launching, developing, and growing the DOE Alumni Network. This role involves driving strategic vision, building organizational infrastructure, cultivating relationships with alumni and stakeholders, and securing resources to achieve the network's mission of uniting former DOE staff in a collaborative community.
Deadline to Apply: Apply ASAP
Salary: $160,980 - $204,716
Link to Apply: Click Here
Director, Resilience & Disaster Response
Organization: American Institute of Architects (AIA)
Location: Washington D.C.; Remote
Description: Lead AIA's resilience and disaster response programs, developing education and resources for architects on climate adaptation and hazard mitigation. Manage member engagement activities, coordinate disaster response efforts, and advance climate action policy through coalition building with federal agencies and industry partners.
Deadline to Apply: Apply ASAP
Salary: $105,000 - $118,000
Link to Apply: Click Here
Director, Affordable Housing Investment
Organization: Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta
Location: Atlanta, GA; Hybrid
Description: Drive affordable housing funds' deal sourcing, diligence, and execution strategy for the Community Foundation's $230 million impact investment initiative. Lead investment evaluation, relationship management with partners, and portfolio monitoring while supervising team members and representing the Foundation externally.
Deadline to Apply: Apply ASAP
Salary: $175,000 - $185,000
Link to Apply: Click Here
Development Project Manager
Organization: MassDevelopment
Location: Boston, MA; Hybrid
Description: Lead and manage real estate development projects from acquisition through planning, permitting, construction, and disposition across Massachusetts. Coordinate revitalization of underutilized properties while working with local partners to implement community-focused development strategies.
Deadline to Apply: Apply ASAP
Salary: $85,000 - $110,000
Link to Apply: Click Here
RFP & Contracting Opportunities 📑
RFP: Underwriting Support for Commercial Clean Energy Lending Programs
Issued By: Philadelphia Green Capital Corp (PGCC)
Scope: PGCC seeks qualified firms or individuals to provide comprehensive underwriting services for its commercial clean energy loan program. The selected underwriter will develop loan program guidelines and assess the financial and technical viability of loan applications for commercial-scale solar projects targeting non-profits, schools, and municipal institutions.
Budget: Not disclosed
Deadline for Proposals: 9/2/2025
Details & Submission Link: Click Here
RFP: Human Resources Consultant for Worker Self-Directed Organization
Issued By: Beloved Community Incubator
Scope: Beloved Community Incubator seeks a human resources consultant to develop their Worker Manual, key policies, and evaluation program for their worker self-directed nonprofit organization. The consultant will also support onboarding/offboarding processes, grievance resolution, risk management, and ongoing HR support for cooperative incubation work.
Budget: $10,000 - $25,000
Deadline for Proposals: 9/7/2025
Details & Submission Link: Click Here
RFP: E2 Emerging Leader Program Manager
Issued By: Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2)
Scope: E2 seeks a creative and driven consultant to identify, develop, organize and empower the next generation of business leaders for environmental advocacy. The position involves overseeing work with early and mid-stage business leaders and managing the E2 1Hotels Fellowship program.
Budget: $4,000 - $5,000/month
Deadline for Proposals: 9/15/2025
Details & Submission Link: Click Here
Lagniappe ⚜ (a lil extra)
Something that is often lost in the narrative about Hurricane Katrina is the aftermath. Not just the immediate weeks but as the weeks turn to months turn to years, we could not return to a world before “the storm”. What does it mean for those that came of age during this time, with the realization that they’ve been othered and discarded, referred to as “refugees” despite being American citizens, to be unwelcome in new schools across the country, to watch the President fly over the flooded parts Gulf Coast without the human decency to touch down? What does it mean for missed proms, graduation, football games? The illusion of this country caring about us was forever shattered.
News Scan: Updates to Track 📰
This is a hard-headed country y’all. And you know what they say about hard heads. 🫢Despite seeing catastrophic impacts of Katrina, the inept FEMA response, the infrastructure failures, and countless other climate disasters in recent years, we are in a moment of rapid defunding of FEMA with the expectation that states will carry the burden of response. 🤬
The FEMA Katrina Declaration is sounding the alarm bells:
“We dedicate this Katrina Declaration and Petition to 1) every life lost from disasters, 2) to the survivors who endured and rebuilt, 3) to every first responder and public servant who places service above self, and 4) to all the federal partners who serve alongside us to deliver our mission. Their sacrifices and courage strengthen our commitment to speak the truth, sound the alarm, and defend our mission of helping people before, during, and after disasters.”
These policy and research organizations have put together a comprehensive set of white papers commenting on the progress made in the 20 years since the storm in regards to racial disparities, infrastructure, the nonprofit sector, and resiliency.
Looking Ahead: Upcoming Events 🗓️
Date: 8/24/2025 - 8/31/2025
Location: Across the Gulf Coast: Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama
Host: Katrina 20 Week of Action
Description: “The Katrina 20 Week of Action (August 24–31, 2025) is a Gulf South–wide series of cultural, educational, and healing gatherings across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama marking two decades since Hurricane Katrina. Organized by the K20 Local Planning Committee, the week centers those most impacted and is guided by the principles of honoring, offering, change, healing, preparation, release, cleansing, and protection. With over 100 events along the Gulf South, we anticipate reaching over 50,000 people, K20 commemorates the past, uplifts our communities in the present, and builds momentum for a liberated, resilient future—because together, #We Are the Storm.”
Sign Up: Click Here
⚡️ Recharge ⚡️
WE ARE STILL HERE
The Gulf Coast is exceptional. As a Louisiana-native, I’m biased, but truly there is deep sense of humanity that exists back home. I believe this is due in some large part to the paradoxes we face beauty & terror and joy & grief. This shared sense of humanity is behind the cultural practices of speaking when you enter a room, of looking folks in their eyes, or cleaning up the storm drains (catch basins) on your block. We’ve been through hell and back, we’re still here and fighting for futures we deserve.
The Gulf Coast is unexceptional. The catastrophe we experienced was due to the devaluing of human lives as rich and complex as yours, inadequate infrastructure, anemic local, state, and federal response, environmental and economic disparities. Whether its a Superstorm Sandy, the Altadena Fires or Hurricane Helene, the climate crisis impacts us all. Let’s continue to organize, to build, to imagine, because in all of us is still the courage to love.
In solidarity,
Trace