Berkeley, March 19, 2024 – GRIP Training Institute, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the lives of incarcerated individuals through healing and accountability, is thrilled to announce that it has been awarded a $2 million grant from MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving.
This recognition underscores the critical work undertaken by GRIP in serving incarcerated people in California and affirms the restorative justice field as a whole. This substantial contribution will be utilized to sustain and expand our operations over the next several years, supporting our scaling strategy to reach even more incarcerated people in need of healing and accountability.
"We’re honored to receive this award from MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving,” said Executive Director Kim Grose Moore. “This validates the courageous work that incarcerated and formerly incarcerated graduates of the GRIP program do to take full accountability for the harms they’ve caused, heal from their own trauma, and become true Peacemakers in their communities when they come home. This is critical work not only in the context of criminal justice reform but also as a vital contribution to real public safety. Our programs demonstrate that transformative change is not only possible but essential for building safer and more equitable communities."
As a community-based nonprofit organization, GRIP Training Institute is dedicated to preventing revictimization, repairing harm, and facilitating successful reintegration for individuals serving life sentences for violent crimes in California state prisons. Our Guiding Rage into Power (GRIP) program, a comprehensive year-long initiative, has been recognized as an evidence-based solution to promote positive outcomes for incarcerated individuals.
Guiding Rage Into Power (GRIP) class at San Quentin Prison
Yield Giving’s Open Call, launched in March 2023, sought applications from community-led organizations focused on improving well-being through foundational resources. GRIP Training Institute was selected as one of the Yield Giving Open Call’s awardees from a pool of over 6,000 applicants, reflecting the impactful nature of our work within the criminal justice system.
"We are excited that our partnership with Yield Giving has resonated with so many organizations," said Cecilia Conrad, CEO of Lever for Change. "In a world teeming with potential and talent, the Open Call has given us an opportunity to identify, uplift, and empower transformative organizations that often remain unseen.”
The rigorous selection process, which included peer review and evaluation by an external panel, culminated in GRIP Training Institute’s selection as one of the recipients of this prestigious grant. We are deeply grateful for the recognition of our efforts and the opportunity to expand our reach and impact within the communities we serve.
GRIP Training Institute
GRIP Training Institute serves incarcerated people in California. Our mission is to create the personal and systemic change to turn violence and suffering into opportunities for learning and healing. GRIP stands for Guiding Rage into Power (GRIP), a comprehensive, year-long healing and accountability program serving primarily people in California state prisons serving life sentences for violent crimes. To learn more, visit www.grip-traininginstitute.org.
GRIP Training Institute serves incarcerated people in California. Our mission is to create the personal and systemic change to turn violence and suffering into opportunities for learning and healing. GRIP stands for Guiding Rage into Power (GRIP), a comprehensive, year-long healing and accountability program serving primarily people in California state prisons serving life sentences for violent crimes. To learn more, visit www.grip-traininginstitute.org.
Yield Giving
Established by MacKenzie Scott to share a financial fortune created through the effort of countless people, Yield Giving is named after a belief in adding value by giving up control. To date, Yield’s network of staff and advisors has yielded over $16,500,000,000 to 1,900+ non-profit teams to use as they see fit for the benefit of others. To learn more, visit www.yieldgiving.com.
Established by MacKenzie Scott to share a financial fortune created through the effort of countless people, Yield Giving is named after a belief in adding value by giving up control. To date, Yield’s network of staff and advisors has yielded over $16,500,000,000 to 1,900+ non-profit teams to use as they see fit for the benefit of others. To learn more, visit www.yieldgiving.com.
Lever for ChangeLever for Change connects donors with bold solutions to the world’s biggest problems—including issues like racial inequity, gender inequality, lack of access to economic opportunity, and climate change. Using an inclusive, equitable model and due diligence process, Lever for Change creates customized challenges and other tailored funding opportunities. Top-ranked teams and challenge finalists become members of the Bold Solutions Network—a growing global network that helps secure additional funding, amplify members’ impact, and accelerate social change. Founded in 2019 as a nonprofit affiliate of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Lever for Change has influenced over $1.7 billion in grants to date and provided support to more than 145 organizations. To learn more, visit www.leverforchange.org.
For media inquiries, contact:
Sarada Tangirala
Communications and Marketing Director
GRIP Training Institute
510-301-4552
sarada@insight-out.org
Sarada Tangirala
Communications and Marketing Director
GRIP Training Institute
510-301-4552
sarada@insight-out.org
