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CoThinkk supports impactful programs in Asheville and Western North Carolina. 

Grant process for 2023 will open on August 15th! 

CoThinkk’s Eigth Annual Innovative Video Grant Process in 2023!

What systems do you desire to interrupt and re-imagine?

CoThinkk will be accepting video grant applications for projects addressing vexing social issues facing African-American, Black, Native, Latine, and AAPI communities. CoThinkk is a social change philanthropy organization specifically designed to create supportive networks, accelerate systemic change and seed new initiatives through a shared leadership model that is working to shift the narrative and mental models regarding communities of color in Western North Carolina. As a result of our collective efforts, we understand that access to resources is an essential component to support robust social change that has enough traction and sustained momentum to generate equitable outcomes and impact.

Consequently, CoThinkk has prioritized connecting people of color to resources as a core value and our video grant application process is meant to create an intentional vehicle to support community efforts.

“Leaders in our region are moving some of the most innovative strategies to address complex social change.  Their passion, commitment, and courage to drive transformational work is undeniable and access to critical resources can further amplify their efforts,“ says CoThinkk founder Tracey Greene-Washington.

This year in the context of a coming out of a pandemic and a global movement for Black lives, our motivation for evolving the grant fund has focused on supporting our network partners/community to hold this forward stance, take risks, and maintain a future-focused posture to support disruptive innovation, as a means to prepare leaders for what’s to come and position them to lead the change. At the core of CoThinkk, we focus on systems change work by shifting mental models and acting as a positive disruptor. In this moment where narratives are being interrupted, inequitable policies and practices are being revealed, and communities are willing to be bold; we are deeply committed to supporting our community to build a robust network of leaders and support them to interrupt systems on multiple levels of institutional structures to facilitate change. We are asking the question this year: what systems do you desire to interrupt and re-imagine?

Grant funds are available for community groups that sponsor programming that is led by leaders of color and support BIPOC, African American and Latine families and communities through education, economic mobility/opportunity, health and leadership development. Competitive applications should represent efforts that are working to build positive, healthy and equitable relationships and collaborations that are cultivating the energy, passion, and talents across generations and initiatives towards creating an essential pipeline of leaders. Programs must serve areas within Asheville and/or Western NC.

As a collective network we recognize that we are one organization of a groundswell of community led initiatives investing in a robust ecosystem of change in our community. We do not take community trust for granted and are explicit about our commitment to collaboration and not competition. CoThinkk will continue to support organizations, groups and leaders that are doing the heavy lifting within their/our neighborhoods and communities collectively and collaboratively centered in racial equity. So in the spirit of anchoring deep in our values, we will award 37 grants for $3,500 (each with an additional Kelly Goins self care award of $500). We are also currently developing a process to support the work in a deeper way, stay tuned for some exciting new announcements.  

In addition to the grant award, recipients will be honored with a Kelly Goins Legacy Award that will provide access to an additional $500 grant for wellness, self-care, and/or professional development that furthers social entrepreneurship. Kelly Goins, a passionate community leader, entrepreneur, and founding member of CoThinkk left an indelible mark on our community through her passion and tireless work to build the capacity of critical nonprofit organizations in our community-whom today are providing important programming and resources to support social change. 

In 2023, we will continue to support our robust community network in interrupting and reimagining systems: All recipients AND applicants will be eligible to receive free hours of Leadership Coaching from a network of CoThinkk Coaches and Coach Diversity Coaches and have access to pool of consultants team that can assist with supporting your work through July 2024. 

CoThinkk leadership will also provide additional capacity building and leadership development opportunities for grant recipients including a free video grant process workshop. Please RSVP for the video training below.

“Catching Dreams” CoThinkk video & Grant Process Workshop
“Capturando sueños”: Taller de video para aplicar a la beca de CoThinkk

In-person: August 30, 2023   –   Virtual: September 6,2023 

6:00-8:30 pm

 Take a look at our Catching Dreams video grant workshop slides below. 

1. Must be led by leaders of color (primarily BIPOC, Latine, and African American)
2. Programs must serve areas within Asheville or Western NC
3. Programming must support BIPOC, African American and/or Latine families and communities through education, economic mobility/opportunity, health & well-being or leadership development
4. Working to build healthy, positive and equitable relationships and collaborations.
5. Working to interrupt and re-imagine systems.
6. Applicants must have 501(c)3 status or have a fiscal sponsor. 
7. *UPDATE* Multi-Year Funding: We announced in 2019 that only current CoThinkk members will eligible for consecutive multiple year funding beginning in 2020. We will continue this for following grant cycles, if you are applying for a consecutive second, third, or fourth year grant you must be a current member of CoThinkk. To become a member, click here. 

All CoThinkk members and supporters are eligible to apply, but will not participate in the final decision-making process. Final grant recipients are selected and approved by CoThinkk members of color.

Applications available: August 15th, 2023

Application deadline: September 15th, 2023

Grant funds are available for community groups that sponsor programming that is led by leaders of color and supports BIPOC, African American and Latine families and communities through education, economic mobility/opportunity, and leadership development, with particular emphasis on cultivating the energy, passion, and talents of the next generation to create an essential pipeline of leaders. By investing in strategies that focus on education, economic mobility/opportunity, and leadership, we seek the following long-term impact:

Shifted Regional Landscape:

Change the economic, health, education, and poverty narrative for communities of color in Asheville and the surrounding region;

Create a paradigm shift that inspires a new picture of resilience for communities of color in Asheville and Western NC.

Strong Leadership Development/ Generational Impact :

Build and strengthen a leadership pipeline of African-American and Latinx individuals that are focused on social change for Asheville and Western NC;

Create and support new leadership opportunities within traditional and nontraditional institutions in Asheville while building new alliances to focus on issues unique to communities of color;

Build the capacity of leaders of colors to serve in important roles within the region and build an intentional community engagement strategy that is focused on inclusivity, equity, and diversity.

Collaboration: 

Build strong collaborations that work across racial and generational lines;

Cross sector collaboration and shared/aligned agendas;

Create opportunities for co-learning, volunteering, and using social, political, and economic capital as means to align agendas and activities towards social good.

Systems Level Change

Create strategies to help change the patterns of local/regional institutional practices that impede equitable outcomes.

Shift resources and power dynamics.

Change the narrative around the lack of leaders of color and change the patterns of local/regional institutional practices that impede equitable outcomes.

CoThinkk is dedicated to social change philanthropy by bringing together community leaders who care about the economic and social well-being of communities of color in Asheville and Western North Carolina. CoThinkk started in 2014 with the intention to implement investment strategies that address education, economic mobility/opportunity, and leadership development towards impacting some of the most critical social issues facing African-American and Latinx communities in Western North Carolina.