Fund for Change

Background

Fund for Change was created by The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore (The Associated) to provide grants to charitable organizations that work with low-income communities “in their efforts to redress such inequities and build a society that is democratic, equalitarian, and participatory.” ¹

The Fund for Change invests in community organizing and advocacy groups that support left-of-center issues including criminal justice reform, low-income housing, and environmental issues. ² It states on its homepage that “white Americans benefit from an oppressive system of laws, policies and practices that continue to disadvantage and inflict harm upon the Black community.” ³

Inside Philanthropy describes it as supporting “progressive policy reform and community engagement.” ⁴

Associated Organizations

The Associated is identified as a “supported foundation” of the Fund for Change. A supported foundation is an organization that has the power to “regularly appoint or elect a majority of the directors or trustees of the supporting organization.” ⁵The Associated, which reported over $46 million in total assets in 2023, advocates for “supporting and protecting Jewish communities in Baltimore, Israel, and throughout the world.” It’s part of the larger umbrella organization Jewish Federations of North America, which raises and distributes over $3 billion each year. ⁶⁷

In addition to The Associated, the Fund for Change 2023 tax filings names 43 related organizations, including the Goldsmith Foundation, the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, the Kesher Fund of the Cohen Fruchtman Krieger Family, the Joan G and Joseph Klein Jr. Foundation, and the Zanvyl and Isabelle Krieger Fund. All of these organizations name The Associated as its “direct controlling entity. ⁸ The Krieger Fund and the Fund for Change share several board members. ^{9 10}

It is a member of the Maryland Philanthropy Network, a Maryland association of philanthropists formerly known as the Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers. ¹¹

Funding

The Fund for Change reported 2023 revenues of $909,533 and expenses of $954,960, according to tax filings. ¹²

The Fund for Change awarded grants to 41 organizations in 2023. Grantees included Common Cause Maryland, Black Girls Vote, Communities United, Environmental Integrity Project, GreenLight Fund, Maryland Center on Economic Policy, Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative, National Center for Advocacy and Recovery for Behavioral Health, Out for Justice, and United Workers Association. ¹³

Leadership

Brooke Hisle is executive director of Fund for Change. She is also a board member of the Maryland Philanthropy Network and executive director for The Zanvyl and Isabelle Krieger Fund, a philanthropy focused on left-of-center initiatives. Grantees include Out for Justice, GreenLight Fund, Environmental Integrity Project, and Maryland Center on Economic Policy. ¹⁴

Previously, Hisle was a case manager at My Sister’s Place Lodge, which is a Catholic Charities program and a director for Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative, which is a coalition of health care consumers in Maryland focused on “health care for all.” ^{15 16 17}

Several board members are also board members of the Krieger Fund, including Andrew Cushnir, Jeanie Krieger Kahn, David Kandel, Marc Kahn, Betsy Krieger, and Karen Kreisberg. ¹⁸  Marc Kahn, Jean K. Kahn, Betsy L. Krieger, and David Kandel are related. ¹⁹

Cushnir became president of The Associated in April 2024. Previously he was an assistant director at the Anti-Defamation League, a practicing attorney, and an executive at the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles for 20 years. ^{20 21} He is a board member of the Krieger Fund. ¹⁸