The new rule (at bottom) requirement for My Brother’s Keeper grant eligibility states that applicants must be “national organizations defined as having active chapters or subawardees in at least 45 states.”
A letter expressing concern over the change, written by the national President of 100 Black Men of America, Inc., states that President Obama originally announced on February 24, 2014 that a group must have a “active presence” in 30 states — not 45. Brown’s letter requests a reversal of the rule change. See the entire letter here.
The change from 30 to 45 states would effectively mean that almost no Black civic, social or mentoring organizations, other than perhaps the NAACP, would be eligible for funding under My Brother’s Keeper. Only the NAACP has a “active presence” in at least 45 states.
The 45 state rule requirement would mean that small community based organizations would be out of the running for funding.
“I am writing to express our concern for the change in direction for the President’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative,” wrote Michael J. Brown, President of 100 Black Men of America, in a letter to the Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The letter was dated April 28, 2014.