Shared Roots Year End Giving

While many investors in Missouri’s politics may be focused on the 2020 Election as they read the news each day, our year-end giving is an opportunity to look up from the page and see how the work of building a strong, inclusive and responsive democracy transcends partisan politics.

The Missouri Wins Investor Network, an alliance of donors based in Missouri, and the Shared Roots Donor Alliance, comprised of donors with roots in Missouri who live elsewhere, are partnering to provide these opportunities for anyone that wants an expanded, engaged and fully inclusive Missouri electorate in 2020.

The following year-end giving opportunities are non-partisan projects, based in 501c3 organizations eligible for tax-deductible giving.  All contributions will be tax-deductible, and can come from family foundations or count toward required minimum distribution from IRAs and SEPs.  We are able to accept donations of stock or by credit card or check. These funds are housed at the Tides Foundation, our national partner with more than 40 years experience stewarding major donor resources with accountability and integrity.

Option 1: PUT MY GIFT WHEREVER IT’S NEEDED MOST

I want to make an unrestricted gift to non-partisan work in Missouri through the Shared Roots Education Fund. Please allocate it where it’s needed most to close funding gaps and make exciting work happen. Give online by credit card. Download this form to give stock or cryptocurrency.  Checks should be made payable to Tides Foundation/Shared Roots Education Fund and sent to Tides Foundation, PO Box 29903, San Francisco, CA 94129-0903

Additional Options: target your gift for specific projects

Photo credit: In 2018, local groups in partnership with the Black Progressive Action Coalition registered tens of thousands of voters throughout Missouri. Local groups participating included Missouri Faith Voices, Shirley’s Kitchen Cabinet, Jobs with Justice and others.

Voter Registration:  Closing the Registration Gap for an Inclusive Electorate

This project will invest in proven programs to register those both new to voting or that have moved and need to update their registration. Our initial goal of $90,000 projects more than 8,000 new registrations and an expanded program of $460,000 should bring more than 24,000 registrations.

Using this link your donation will be directed to Voter Registration efforts in 2020 through the Shared Roots Education Fund at the Tides Foundation.  Give online by credit card. Download this form to give stock or cryptocurrency. Checks should be made payable to Tides Foundation/Shared Roots Education Fund and sent to Tides Foundation, PO Box 29903, San Francisco, CA 94129-0903

Photo credit: In 2018 Shirley’s Kitchen Cabinet in Kansas City organized public forums to amplify the voice and power of black women.

Black Civic Participation 

A geographically diverse network of black-led grassroots community organizations have built strong leaders and membership bases.  This fund will invest in black-led organizing projects that ensure the full and powerful participation of black communities in not only St. Louis and Kansas City, but also small-town and rural communities of color. 

$375,000 funds salaries and development support for five Black organizers leading critical organizing and voter engagement work in local organizations across Missouri.

Using this link your donation will be directed to Black-led civic participation efforts in 2020 through the Shared Roots Education Fund at the Tides Foundation. Give online by credit card. Download this form to give stock or cryptocurrency. Checks should be made payable to Tides Foundation/Shared Roots Education Fund and sent to Tides Foundation, PO Box 29903, San Francisco, CA 94129-0903

Photo credit: From a St. Louis rally on comprehensive immigration reform organized by a diverse coalition of local groups.

Immigrant Community Civic Participation Fellowships

Missouri currently has no single organization focused on the participation of immigrant communities in voting.  This program would invest in civic engagement fellows based in immigrant community-based organizations focused on social services or cultural programs, and support their civic engagement work through a statewide cohort model.  $153,000 would put experienced senior field management in place for the cohort and additional $90,000 raised would support an additional community based fellow.

Using this link your donation will be directed to Immigrant Civic Engagement Fellowships in 2020 through the Shared Roots Education Fund at the Tides Foundation. Give online by credit card. Download this form to give stock or cryptocurrency. Checks should be made payable to Tides Foundation/Shared Roots Education Fund and sent to Tides Foundation, PO Box 29903, San Francisco, CA 94129-0903

Photo credit: Rising activism by students in Missouri has taken on climate change, gun violence and organizing for new rights for students themselves, including the right to organize as campus workers.

College and High School Student Organizing

Recent years have seen a surge of youth participation in public life.  Organizing and protest on issues like climate change, student debt, gun violence deserve investment to support that energy making it to the ballot box in 2020.  $100,500 would put the coordination and training in place to ensure voter registration and civic engagement on at least 5 campuses, ranging from flagship universities and commuter campuses.  Each additional $10,000 will support the work of a new lead organizer and activist team on a new campus.

Using this link your donation will be directed to College and High School Student Organizing in 2020 through the Shared Roots Education Fund at the Tides Foundation. Give online by credit card. Download this form to give stock or cryptocurrency. Checks should be made payable to Tides Foundation/Shared Roots Education Fund and sent to Tides Foundation, PO Box 29903, San Francisco, CA 94129-0903

We have also set up the following links to direct your year-end major giving in other ways:

I want to fund work in a specific community: St. Louis, Kansas City, Columbia, Springfield or Rural Missouri 

I want to fund non-partisan work on a specific issue:  Reproductive Rights, Criminal Justice Reform, Voting Rights, Re-Districting Reform, Health Care Access, Workers Rights