Four Valley nonprofits are among those to receive $3.55 million in civic engagement grants through the Katz Amsterdam Charitable Trust.

The grantees were chosen for their work focusing on increasing voter access in communities of color, with an emphasis on voter registration and education, according to a press release.

The Katz Amsterdam Charitable Trust was launched in 2017 followed by the Katz Amsterdam Foundation to be a catalyst for eliminating inequities, increasing access to opportunity and improving outcomes for all.

“We are committed to funding organizations that help close racial gaps in voter participation, so we can move towards the promise of a multiracial and inclusive democracy,” Rob Katz, former CEO and executive chairperson of the board of Vail Resorts, stated. “These civic engagement grants are focused on increasing voter participation to help build community power and address the concerted voter suppression tactics that threaten to destabilize the foundation of our democracy.”

This is the eighth year Katz Amsterdam has awarded grants, with aggregate funding over the years totaling more than $56 million. Grants support not only civic engagement to help realize a multiracial democracy, but previous funding focused on improving community-developed behavioral health services for communities of color and reproductive justice.

The 2023 civic engagement grantees in Arizona are:

One Arizona: $200,000

One Arizona, located at 345 E. Palm Lane, in Phoenix, is made up of 30 organizations active all over the state. The nonprofit is nonpartisan and is focused on improving the lives of Arizonans, especially people of color and young people, by building a culture of civic participation. Visit https://onearizona.org/.

Arizona Native Vote: $150,000

The organization increases voter registration and civic engagement by educating rural and tribal communities about voter registration, elections, government and voting rights. Visit https://arizonanativevote.org/.

Arizona Center for Empowerment: $100,000

ACE is a nonprofit, member-led social justice organization that develops and mobilizes undocumented working youth and adults, students, and LGBTQ individuals to strategically take ownership and responsibility to advance economic, social, and racial justice. Visit https://www.empoweraz.org/.

Black Phoenix Organizing Collective: $100,000

The organization builds Black power through political education and leadership development, policy advocacy and civic engagement strategies that create strong, independent and self-reliant communities among inter-generational Black folks that centers queer and trans people, formerly incarcerated, disabled people, and Muslim immigrants and refugees. Visit https://blackphxoc.org/.