Bread & Roses Community Fund: Fueling Grassroots Change in Philadelphia

A Decade of Collaboration with EFNC to Build Justice from the Ground Up

September 03, 2025

Hello Friends and Neighbors,

At EFNC, we believe that real change happens when communities come together—when residents, organizers, and funders work side by side to address environmental and social injustices.

That’s why we’re proud to shine a spotlight on the Bread & Roses Community Fund, a foundation that has been moving money to grassroots organizations fighting for racial, economic, and environmental justice in the Philadelphia region for more than 50 years.

🌱 About Bread & Roses Community Fund

Bread & Roses is built on the principle of “Change, not charity.” Instead of traditional top-down giving, they fund grassroots groups doing the hard work of community organizing—from climate justice campaigns to racial and economic equity initiatives.

As Jordan Duran, Climate Justice Fund Program Associate, explained:

“Our goal is to move money to organizations that are dismantling harmful systems of oppression. The most effective way to do that is by funding those who are building power at the grassroots level.”

Recent Bread & Roses initiatives include:

  • Climate Justice Fund – 18 organizations funded this year with $15,000–$25,000 each.

  • Parents & Caregivers Fund – supporting families organizing for systemic change.

  • Phoebus Criminal Justice Initiative – investing in groups committed to criminal justice reform.

  • Upcoming Gender Justice Organizing Fund – launching this fall.

🤝 EFNC & Bread & Roses: A 10-Year Partnership

EFNC’s partnership with Bread & Roses began in 2015 and has grown into a powerful collaboration over the past decade.

Highlights include:

  • 2015: EFNC honored with the Tribute to Change Community Empowerment Award.

  • 2016 & 2017: Received two $10,000 grants to strengthen organizing work in Eastwick.

  • 2020: Awarded $20,000 through the Black Liberation Now Fund, building on previous recognition without a new application process.

These investments helped EFNC organize against harmful development projects, publish Eastwick’s only Community Assessment Report, and fight for environmental justice across issues like legacy dumping, flooding, and land use.

As EFNC Treasurer Joanne Graham put it:

“Bread & Roses has fostered a culture where people feel heard, respected, and supported. In a time when funding for environmental justice is shrinking, they remain the leading supporter of grassroots action in our region.”

⭐️ Spotlight Collaboration Podcast Series

EFNC is committed to intentional collaborations with organizations that share our mission of justice and empowerment. Through our Spotlight Podcast Series, we feature short interviews between EFNC board members and community partners making a difference.

In this episode, we sat down with Joanne Graham (EFNC Treasurer) and Jordan Duran (Bread & Roses Community Fund).

🎧 Watch & listen to the podcast here

🌟 The Giving Project: How You Can Get Involved

This fall, Bread & Roses launches the next Giving Project, focused on the Gender Justice Organizing Fund.

Participants join a transformative journey of:

  • Learning through political education.

  • Raising funds collectively for grassroots movements.

  • Building lasting community bonds while fueling justice.

Jordan described it best:

“The Giving Project is one of the most transformative programs we run. People not only raise hundreds of thousands of dollars but also undergo personal growth and build lifelong connections.”

If you’re looking for a way to make an impact while learning and growing, the Giving Project is the perfect opportunity.

📢 Get Involved: How You Can Support

  • Donate: Every contribution helps EFNC and Bread & Roses continue funding grassroots power. here.

  • Join the Giving Project: Be part of the Gender Justice Fund initiative this fall. here.

  • Stay Connected: Subscribe, attend EFNC meetings, and share this newsletter with neighbors and friends. here.

Our collaboration with Bread & Roses Community Fund is a testament to what happens when grassroots organizations and funders align—communities are empowered, systems are challenged, and justice becomes possible.

Together, we are building a stronger Eastwick and a more equitable Philadelphia.

With gratitude,
The EFNC Team