ABOUT US
OUR MISSION is to provide sustained support to organizing projects in the labor movement, broadly defined, including but not limited to rank-and-file reform efforts within unions. We aim both to sustain longtime movements with a track record of involving workers and to help jump-start new projects, in unions and in other forms of worker organization. We support projects that work to build power independent of the political parties and that rely primarily on their members and constituency for their support.
We are committed to building successful social movements, rooted in the multi-racial working class, for a democratic transformation of society and a sustainable future. We are committed to funding critically important projects and movements that our donors and initiators may presently support, and increasing our range as our funding grows.
WHY A NEW FOUNDATION?
Social Justice and Solidarity donors already contribute to movement organizations as individuals. Why start a new foundation? This is a good question – and we think we have good answers.
Pooling Our Resources for Greater Impact. We could each just give money to different projects. But pooling our financial resources increases our collective impact. Coming together allows us to give substantial grants to carefully targeted organizations and to grow our collective resources by responsibly generating investment income to fund even more donations.
We’re Growing. In mid-2025 we passed $1 million in grants awarded. We expect to award grants of over $600,000 in 2025. This is possible because of our growing group of wonderful donors.
Shared Vision & Experienced Leadership. Our board and collaborators have experience as leaders and Board members of projects and movements that organize for working-class power, including Labor Notes, TDU, and other movements.
Estate Contributions. Estate contributions are important for the movement’s future – but can also be risky. One-time large donations can sometimes distort organizations, and projects can change course or leadership in unanticipated ways. The SJS Fund is a vehicle for you to make estate donations with confidence that your contributions will reliably go to organizations that reflect your values and principles.
Money for Organizing, Not Overhead. The SJS Fund commits 99%of our resources to directly funding organizing projects. Most other foundations have large overhead costs, such as maintaining an office and staff in Manhattan.. Our contributors’ money is put to work supporting our goals.
Why Should You Join Us? Our founders committed significant personal resources to launch the SJS Fund, and our community of contributors is growing each year. We are reaching out to new donors and increasing the amounts and scope of our grants. Your contribution now or through your estate will be put to work building the movement, and will also help the SJS Fund attract other donors to put resources to work for social transformation.
OUR BOARD AND DONORS. Presently our Board consists of Pam Galpern, Ken Paff, Johanna Parker and Jane Slaughter. We work with additional collaborators to evaluate our work. Our donors are invited to have input on potential Board membership and on funding priorities.
FOUNDATION STATUS. The SJS Fund is a 501(c)(3) public foundation, incorporated in California. The SJS Fund’s EIN is 86-2889524. You can contact our treasurer, Ken Paff, at kpaff@sjsfund.org or our president, Johanna Parker, at jparker@sjsfund.org or other Board members regarding organizational matters.