Douglass Project Named 2023 Catalyst Impact Partner by Stand Together Foundation
The Frederick Douglass Project for Justice, recognized for commitment to bottom-up empowerment, receives up to $300,000 in grants over next three years to accelerate their impact and transform how society thinks about ending poverty.
The Frederick Douglass Project for Justice (Douglass Project) was selected to join Stand Together Foundation’s highly selective Catalyst Impact Grant Program to accelerate their impact and transform how society thinks about ending poverty in America.
Through its flagship Prison Visitation Program, the Douglass Project creates a bridge of understanding through structured meetings and respectful conversations between incarcerated people and members of free society. This initiative fosters learning, builds powerful human connections, and ignites a mutual transformation that enriches lives and reshapes our broader community.
Catalyst Impact Grant Program participants will receive Principle Based Management™ coaching and consulting and a grant for as much as $300,000 over three years to grow their impact. This grant program is part of a $30 million initiative to support 100 nonprofits fighting poverty by 2025. Each organization will also receive access to and participate in a new customer-first measurement approach Stand Together Foundation has created to understand and differentiate their impact.
“We are delighted to have been selected to join STF’s Catalyst Impact Grant Program. In 2024, the Douglass Project will be expanding to even more states and facilities. Having the support of the Catalyst Impact Grant team and the broad resources the program provides will surely help increase our efficiency and our impact,” said Founder and President Marc M. Howard.
The Douglass Project was identified and selected to participate in the Catalyst Impact Grant Program for their demonstrated commitment to bottom-up empowerment rather than top-down control to advance new and better approaches to breaking cycles of poverty. By prioritizing the humanity of the justice involved in correctional facilities through the county, the Douglass Project is working to transform the criminal legal system so it is more equitable, compassionate, and just.
“We are excited to welcome our newest cohort of Catalyst Impact Partners who have consistently exemplified our principles in action,” said Evan Feinberg, executive director at Stand Together Foundation. “From personal and academic support for families to health care to strengthening cross-cultural communities and beyond, these leading nonprofits are transforming philanthropy and how we tackle poverty in America. We look forward to deepening our partnership and amplifying their unique approach to truly empower people to realize their full potential.”
Impact Partners will be expected to:
Build the movement toward empowerment. Reject one-size-fits-all and pioneer a future driven by empowerment among philanthropists and nonprofits.
Advance a vision and management culture that empowers rather than controls. Impact Partners will focus on leveraging Principle Based Management (PBM) to empower their employees to empower the people they serve. PBM provides a holistic approach to making decisions, solving problems, and creating value for individuals and society.
Model a “customer-first” impact vision. Impact Partners will participate in Stand Together Foundation’s pioneering measurement approach to understand impact through customer feedback.
Click here to view a full list of Catalyst Impact Partners. Click here to learn more about the program.
About Stand Together Foundation
Stand Together Foundation is committed to breaking the cycle of poverty in America by driving change from within communities. We are building a community of social entrepreneurs who believe in people, work from the bottom up, and unite with anyone to do right. Since 2016, we have committed over $180 million and counting to fuel the innovation of nonprofits throughout the country to build stronger, safer communities where all people can learn, contribute, and realize their full potential. Our goal is to help nonprofit leaders maximize their impact to transform more lives – breaking cycles of poverty. Learn more at StandTogetherFoundation.org.