Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Fund
The Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Fund is one of the most critical and tangible ways ASAP is working towards our vision of a more just, equitable, inclusive, and diverse adaptation and resilience field.
Established in 2021 through a contribution from ASAP’s permanent staff members, the Fund has two purposes for 2022-2023:
- Providing financial support for adaptation professionals to engage in professional development and capacity-building activities.
- Compensate people for their time as they contribute their knowledge, expertise, and labor to our network programs.
Apply or Donate to the Fund
Sponsored by the American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact
Thank you to the American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact (AmFam Institute) for providing the ASAP JEDI Fund with a $10,000 sponsorship in April 2023 to catalyze the Fund’s third year.
Recipient Success Stories
The Fund is a necessary pillar in our work to fulfill the commitments articulated in our JEDI Statement :
- Deconstructing barriers in our membership structure and engagement model to become more inclusive and accessible.
- Supporting all frontline communities developing adaptation resources from their lived experience and traditional knowledge.
- Ensuring that other adaptation resources are accessible and welcoming to all communities.
- Lifting up stories of, and empowering, leadership from communities and critical areas of adaptation practice which are poorly represented in adaptation leadership.
How can I support the JEDI Fund?
Donate to the Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Fund . Help us build a more diverse adaptation and resilience community, share this with your friends and colleagues.
Why does ASAP need a JEDI Fund?
The Fund advances justice by acknowledging that Black people, Indigenous peoples, and people of color have not been afforded the same opportunities to enter and thrive in the adaptation field, and seeks to correct that injustice by providing incentives for, and removing barriers to, participation in the field.
The Fund supports equity by explicitly allocating resources to ensure all current and aspiring adaptation professionals have access to opportunities and resources to support their professional development, such as by accessing fee-based events.
The Fund supports diversity by creating distinct pathways for a more racially and ethnically diverse group of people to connect with the ASAP network, such as by being paid to write for our Adaptation Voices program.
The Fund supports inclusion by prioritizing the experiences, wisdom, and needs of Black people, Indigenous peoples, and people of color in the way we allocate money.
Who - and what - is eligible?
ASAP Members can submit requests to the JEDI Fund to cover fees for conferences, webinars, trainings, courses, or other events or education opportunities.
- Funds are available to individuals (not organizations).
- Individuals must self-identify as Black, Indigenous, Persons of Color, or having limited financial resources.
- Individuals must be members of ASAP. ASAP membership is available through a pay-what-you-can membership fee which starts at $0.
- Eligible events/opportunities are ones that include climate change adaptation/climate resilience content as described here or as justified by the applicant. Events may be hosted by ASAP or by an external organization.
Any individual may apply to use monies from the JEDI Fund for compensation for writing for an ASAP publication, speaking at an ASAP-led event, participating in an ASAP working group, or serving as a mentor in the ASAP Mentorship Program.
How are the funds allocated?
By race and ethnicity
- 70% of funds are reserved for Black People, Indigenous people, and people of color to address injustices caused by discrimination based on race and ethnicity.
- 30% of JEDI Fund monies are available to address disparities caused by lack of financial resources that can exist for people of all races.
By activity
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25% of funds are available for compensating individuals for past contributions to ASAP programs.
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40% of funds are available for compensating individuals for current contributions to ASAP programs.
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35% of funds are available for professional development awards.
For more details please see the 2022-2023 JEDI Fund Award Policy.
How to apply?
To apply for this fund, please email ASAPAwards@adaptpros.org with the following information:
- If you are seeking support for professional development and capacity-building activities: Full name, statement of self-identification: “I am eligible to receive funds because I identify as…”, name and description of activity you are requesting funds for. Provide dates and links if applicable, dollar amount you are requesting, how this activity will support your adaptation work or professional growth as an adaptation professional (1-4 sentences). Please let us know if you reside and/or work in the United States (this will not affect your ability to receive an award). If you reside in multiple countries, please list them all.
- If you are seeking compensation for a past contribution to an ASAP program: Full name, statement of self-identification: “I am eligible to receive funds because I identify as…”, name of ASAP activity for which you are requesting retroactive compensation, amount you are requesting (1-2 sentences). Please let us know if you reside and/or work in the United States (this will not affect your ability to receive an award). If you reside in multiple countries, please list them all.
- If you are a staff member or member leader seeking to compensate an individual for their contribution to an ASAP program: Full name of recipient, statement of recipient’s self-identification: “This person is eligible to receive funds because they identify as…”, name of ASAP activity for which you are requesting to compensate this person, amount you are requesting (1-2 sentences). Please let us know if you reside and/or work in the United States (this will not affect your ability to receive an award). If you reside in multiple countries, please list them all.
Requests are accepted monthly on a first come, first served basis and are due on the 20th of the month. Applicants will be notified by the last Friday of each month. Funds will be distributed on or around the 15th of the following month.
Annual request limits:
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Limit for individual professional development activity: $200
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Limit for individual compensation: $300
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Total dollar limit for a single individual: $600
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Limit on number of distributions to a single individual: 2