Read our annual reports to learn how Grassroots International has been accompanying social movements in defending human rights, responding to crises, mass mobilizing, advancing transformative visions, pushing the bounds of philanthropy, and more.
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Listed below, available to download, are the full set of previous MBI Newsletters.
Martín-Baró was: a prominent scholar who studied in Europe, the United States, and Latin America; a prolific writer of numerous books and more than 100 articles; and a gifted speaker. Working and living among the Salvadoran people, he dedicated his life to the cause of human rights, equality, and social justice in El Salvador. Recognizing the devastating impact of U.S. policy toward his adopted country, he visited and spoke to many U.S. organizations, stressing our obligation to speak out against U.S. collusion with the Salvadoran oligarchy and military. He had a profound influence on a wide range of academics ,and activists in the United States and beyond.
Through his advocacy, research, and rehabilitation programs, Martín-Baró worked to heal the individual and collective scars of war and oppression. Shortly before his death, he had made plans to open a polyclinic to serve children and adult survivors of torture and war. In addition to his solidarity with the people of El Salvador, Martín-Baró was also a central figure in efforts to establish an international network of individuals and organizations working at the intersections of human rights and mental health.
MBI was formed in 2019 when Grassroots International joined forces with the Martín-Baró Fund for Mental Health and Human Rights. This effort honored the legacy of Ignacio Martín-Baró, a social psychologist and Jesuit priest committed to human rights, collective healing, and liberation. Ignacio worked closely with those affected by the armed conflicts raging in his adopted country of El Salvador and throughout Central America throughout the 1980s. He challenged his colleagues to liberate psychology from oppressive paradigms coming out of the US and Europe. In 1989, Ignacio was among eight people murdered at the Central American University in San Salvador.
We are committed to keeping Ignacio’s legacy alive. His pioneering work continues to inform how we understand the intersections of healing and social justice and equity today, and his assassination reminds us of the necessity of supporting human rights defenders and protecting them in the face of ongoing attacks. Additionally, this initiative in Ignacio’s memory connects to a broader commitment of Grassroots International to support healing justice as a form of political resistance and self-determination.
To support the Martín-Baró Initiative for Wellbeing and Human Rights, you can donate here, or send checks to Grassroots International, with Martín-Baró Initiative (or MBI) in the memo line addressed to: Grassroots International, 867 Boylston Street, Suite 500 #1721, Boston, MA 02116
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For its 2024 fiscal year, Grassroots International embraced a plan for a robust continuation of grantmaking and other programs. By the middle of the year, better than expected revenue led the Board to increase grant programs by an additional $2M. Grassroots International’s grantmaking ended up topping $10M for the first time ever. Within that number is another record: over $4M in support to our partners’ core, multi-year projects. That milestone is especially meaningful, as it speaks to abundant growth in the category of grantmaking at the heart of Grassroots’ enduring commitment to social movements in the Global South. On a more sobering note, Grassroots marked another first in 2024: over $2M in emergency grantmaking, largely in response to the Gaza genocide. Grassroots’ commitment to our partners extends from the most hopeful through the hardest times.
Growth in grantmaking has been powered by strength in fundraising. Grassroots’ ability to sustain and nurture global movements draws on the shared vision and commitment of donors and other supporters. The solidarity and trust of that community, reflected in the high proportion of general support, frees Grassroots to focus on the work of grantmaking, education, and program activities. Together, we will continue to deliver solidarity and strength to social movements globally.
In the year ending October 31, 2023, Grassroots International reinforced frontline social movements with $8.6M in grants. Those grants encompassed emergency response as well as long-term programs for movement building, environmental justice, and social movement infrastructure. For the second year, Grassroots was able to fund social movements at a scale almost four times greater than the level three years ago.
In 2023, Grassroots had planned to extend grantmaking and other programs with an allocation of $3.6M from accumulated financial reserves. By the middle of the year, it was clear that fundraising would outperform expectations, and the Board approved a plan to increase grantmaking programs with an additional $1.8M allocation. Even after the additional spending, Grassroots ended the year with a surplus. The plan to spend down balances will continue into 2024, with a budget that reflects more ambitious grantmaking.
Grassroots’ ability to sustain and nurture global movements draws upon the shared vision and commitment of donors and other supporters. Their solidarity and trust allow Grassroots to keep its focus on the work of movements. A preponderance of general support also enables a high proportion of spending on grants, education, and program activities. With this support, Grassroots will keep building and strengthening its programs to be a continuing source of solidarity and strength to social movements globally.
