One thing about Black women, they’ll get the job done.
Danielle Torain, a Baltimore-based attorney that leads local foundation Open Society Institute-Baltimore (OSI) found out that the incredibly impactful organization’s fundraising efforts would close.
She lept into action and raised around $20 million in combined contributions to support grantees who have long relied on OSI-Baltimore’s help. The funds came from the parents organization, the Open Society Foundations, to seed the fundraise.
“I know firsthand the amazing work grantees are leading,” Torain said in a news release shared with ESSENCE. “I also know that without intervention, the closure of OSI-Baltimore could present a disruption to critical work and organizing. It could also have a disparate impact on Black organizers and groups. It was important to me then that we went to extraordinary lengths to mitigate harm. Raising funds to support a responsible wind-down was the least we could do.”
For more than 25 years, OSI has been pivotal in leading policy changes that aim to dismantle systemic inequities across justice reform, education and health.
“As a past Advisory Board Chair and largest local contributor to the work of OSI–Baltimore, I am incredibly proud of the organization’s accomplishments over the last 25 years,” said Bill Clarke, president, Osprey Foundation in a news release. “The unquestionable success and unwavering dedication of the staff in fighting systemic racism and making Baltimore a better place to live and thrive has been a guiding light to me and my work worldwide. As difficult as it is to know the organization will be leaving the city, I am heartened by the responsible wind-down plans and investments that have been announced and look forward to continuing to work with local partners.”
“I am so proud of the initiatives and leaders OSI had the privilege of supporting over the last 25 years,” Torain added. “While OSI’s closure is certainly not the news I had hoped to share, I am thankful we are able to make this massive investment which will set grantees up for future success. I am also thankful to have had the opportunity to invest in a new initiative that will support community-based groups in OSI-Baltimore’s absence.”