Nissan Foundation Begins 2020 Grant Cycle In Support Of Cultural Diversity

Applications are now open for the 27th annual grant cycle of the Nissan Foundation. Nonprofit organizations who wish to submit letters of intent have until the November 15 deadline to take advantage of the auto maker’s philanthropic arm that works to break down societal barriers and build inclusive environments.

“The Nissan Foundation commits to causes that promote and celebrate cultural diversity,” Parul Baraj, Executive Director of the Nissan Foundation. “We’ve been supporting nonprofits focused on building respect and greater civic spirit within communities for nearly three decades.”

Examples of grants awarded in 2019 include:

• $30,000 to the Tanenbaum Center for Religious Understanding in New York City to fund a campaign that generates public education materials to address fear, misinformation and prejudice. The aim is to counter divisive rhetoric within communities and promote critical thinking.
• $20,000 to the Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills, Michigan, to develop curriculum materials and teaching strategies that help English Language Arts educators explain the Holocaust with historical context and factual accuracy.
• $50,000 to the Nashville Public Library Foundation to support the delivery of a cultural awareness and engagement curriculum rooted in lessons learned from the Civil Rights Movement. The program leverages lessons from the past to inform culturally responsive interactions today.

Established in 1992, the Nissan Foundation was created in response to the civil unrest that occurred in Southern California following the Rodney King trial verdict. The anarchy that resulted was hard for Nissan to ignore as rioting took place close to Nissan’s former U.S. sales and marketing headquarters.

In an effort to remain green, applicants who wish to submit a letter of intent can do so online by visiting https://tinyurl.com/y5swsysb. Applications must be received by 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST on Friday, November 15. The Nissan Foundation will announce the names of the 2020 grantees in June 2020.