Our History
The Social Equity Access Fund is a woman of color-founded and led initiative based on mutual trust, redistribution of assets, and equitable access to financial resources that wants to address the basic needs of an individual.
The fund was established in 2020 by EGB and LPL to get financial support to individuals and nonprofits who need it most, as quickly and easily as possible – without the typical barriers often found in the traditional philanthropy sector. Elsa is the current CEO and co-founder of the Social Equity Access Fund, originally created with Luisa Peña Lyons, who is now the CEO of The Bridge Forward Fund. The Fund was seeded by a visionary philanthropist as a philanthropic initiative that envisions a better, more fair world with increased access to social, racial, and economic justice for all.
We quickly recognized that social justice agents (both funders and nonprofit organizations) could only go so far as to recognize and understand everyone's needs, rights, and opportunities in diverse communities. To truly address everyday problems in people's lives, such as their health and well-being, their environment and access to resources, we need to get to know the communities better, the issues they face, listen to their pain, and empower them to come up with solutions.
We believed that direct support to those within struggling communities could have the most significant impact. We invested in hundreds of individuals with direct cash assistance in individuals and organizations supporting them that were struggling the most closest to those with lived experience – and we trusted them to know their needs and distribute funds with few limiting constraints. We empowered communities through a difficult time with targeted funding interventions that tackled the immediate issues they were facing at the moment. However, we knew more still needed to be done to lead to social change.
Our Current Work
In 2021 the Social Equity Access Fund rapidly deployed 40 grants to local, national, and international nonprofits to support emergency and capacity-building funding for many causes through a social equity lens. We work across a diverse portfolio of partner nonprofits, each working to address society's most pressing issues in Education, Economic Stability, Community Viability, and Individual Wellness. These are often the issues where systemic oppression manifests itself the most in policy and practice. We intentionally seek to support grassroots organizations and leaders of color whenever possible because we value their lived experiences and proximity to those they serve in the community at the fringes most vulnerable to being marginalized, discriminated against, or dismissed.
Our Approach
Inspiration
The Fund is inspired by the 10 Principles of Community-Centric Fundraising model for grantmaking, and focuses on tackling the Social Determinants of Health which believes the well-being of an individual or family encompasses more than their physical or mental health. Their housing, education, air quality, and the environment in their neighborhood can all affect their economic well-being and, therefore, their ability to access care. We seek to influence a whole set of systems changes rather than interrupt only one part. To address, support, and serve the entire person, the Social Equity Access Fund and all of us as philanthropists need to invest together in a holistic solution that addresses all the social determinants of health.
Principles
Make philanthropy more diverse, accessible, and equitable.
Balance the power between donors and grantees.
Break down silos and facilitate collaboration to foster capacity building.
Amplify voices and empower communities
Value transformation over transactions.
Team
Elsa Gomes Bondlow is a philanthropist and advisor to donors interested in making a deliberate long-lasting change in underfunded communities and on behalf of traditionally underrepresented voices, assisting them in amplifying their aspirations and empowering their own choices. She has had over 20 years of experience in Philanthropy and works to solve the world's challenges through a diverse, inclusive, and equitable lens. She is a natural-born connector, an international bridge builder, a professional fundraiser, and an empathetic social justice activist passionate about the nonprofit and philanthropic sector. She is motivated to empower leaders in building an inclusive culture of understanding while cultivating welcoming environments where all can fully belong, innovate and get effective results. Elsa is also a resource in advising, guiding, and teaching nonprofits how to engage funders in meaningful community work and inspire giving in ways that make a tangible impact.
Elsa was born and raised in Lisbon, Portugal; her career has taken her to many places. She resides close to Boston, MA, with her husband and child.