FAQ
How Can We Help You?
Below are some answers to common questions you may have. Let us know if you require additional information
Why did you form?
Our founder has had an "it's better to give mindset" for as long as he can remember. His father was a disabled police officer, so he grew up modestly with a perspective on financial challenge and community concern. Being more analytical and less relationship bound, he gravitated toward technical and research-oriented endeavors early on. However, in May 2020, after 20 years of establishing his technology career and developing his investing wherewithal, he sought out his first nonprofit, Raphah Institute, and began contributing his database technology knowhow.
However, while there, he immediately noticed an ongoing need in the community for life essentials. Remembering his younger years and inspired by his father's altruistic ways, he soon found himself contemplating additional ways he could help. At some point, he got the idea of helping to pay for societal need by increasing the amount he was saving for retirement. Feeling a sense of urgency, he began to question the need to wait for retirement.
He realized he could begin to offer the community his investment thoughts and demonstrate the power of God in his life by birthing what he thought of as a "pre-foundation" that would eventually mature in to a "foundation". He planned to slowly fund it over time, share the journey along the way, and would invite others to do the same. He reached out to a couple of old college friends and shortly thereafter "The Social Justice Fund" was born.
How long have you existed?
We think of ourselves as a "pre-foundation" and our motto is "driving positive change for life". We were established in February 2021. We like to think that we are working hard to do our part to help make the world a better place. We are a slow and steady bunch with lofty goals that we believe will come to pass in the coming years, decades, and beyond.
How do I apply for a "grant"?
We do not use a formal "grant" application process. Instead, we have an internal selection process. We may reach out to organizations under consideration with questions to help us better assess contenders, but in most instances we will simply make a donation when the time comes for a "grant" to be awarded.
Please contact us if you have a social justice related program that you would like for us to know about!
What do you mean by "social justice"?
Although our organization is not in and of itself a church or other religious type organization, we were founded by a Christian. As a follower of Christ, the answer to this question is fairly straightforward. Our God is loving, kind, merciful, righteous, holy, and just. We follow God's way in seeking to make right that which is wrong. We use scripture to define what is "right".
Jesus Christ lived a perfect, sinless life and died a sacrificial death and rose again to make right what was wrong. Jesus cared for the outcast and reached out with compassion to all. He physically, mentally, and spiritually rescued those in need.
Below are some inspirational verses from the bible which align with our beliefs:
"The Rock, His work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he." (Deuteronomy 32:4)
"Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you." (Psalm 98:14)
"Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute," (Psalm 82:3)
"Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, and please the widow's cause," (Isaiah, 1:17)
"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8)
"now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack - that there may be equality (2 Corinthians 8:14)
"For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing" (2 Corinthians 8:3)
"So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity" (2 Corinthians 9:7a)
What does "driving positive change for life" mean?
Our motto is "driving positive change for life". We use the term "driving" to mean distribution of capital and the establishment of a foundation through a "pre-foundation" to support social justice based programs and initiatives.
By "positive change", we mean a mechanism in which to balance inequities that exist. That mechanism is rooted in God and the personal growth borne from a love of Him.
By "for life", we mean that this is a belief that lies in eternity (Jesus Christ) and for all lives we touch. This is not something that exists for a single cause or person, but rather it continues endlessly and belongs to all of us.
What happens if your investments lose money?
In the long term, we will not lose money. However, in the short term, drawdowns and losses will happen. We wish we could say that we never lose, but that is simply not the case nor is it possible. Every now and then we will be wrong in our thesis or the market environment will be exceptionally challenging. However, well researched investors focused on value generally have a record of success. Therefore, the longer we invest, the less likely we are to be in a losing position.
That said, we should also mention that there is an intellectual and emotional intelligence to succeeding as an investor. We find that being successful involves expecting and accepting the inevitable drawdown periods. For many, this is not an easy thing to do. However, if you have a strong conviction or rationale for owning a business, then it makes it much easier to hold and even buy at opportune times.