Established in 1992, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) is a cultural and educational research center focused on civil rights developments in Birmingham. As national conversations on race and social justice continue to highlight the need for more education, training, and advocacy, BCRI is positioned to serve as a national and global hub for people to more deeply understand the history of the civil rights movement and access the training and resources needed to challenge systems of oppression. Historically, BCRI has largely relied on city funding for operational and programming support to fulfill its mission. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing financial crisis, BCRI has developed a plan to drive a $25 million fundraising campaign over the next five years that will expand its services.
To support this effort, the Birmingham Office of Social Justice and Racial Equity and BCRI will partner with FUSE Executive Fellow John-Paul Chaisson-Cardenas for one year to advance BCRI’s mission by solidifying a scalable business model, crafting and implementing a strategic planning process, and identifying and implementing sustainable fundraising strategies. With these efforts, BCRI will be poised to take on a leading role in the national conversations on social justice and racial equity.
