Community leaders

What Koch is doing to battle injustice.

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When injustices hold people back, our entire country suffers. That’s why Koch has worked for decades to advance programs and policies aimed at disrupting the barriers that have led to our two-tiered society that is failing America’s most vulnerable and holding people back from reaching their extraordinary potential. And it’s why we and our partners have made a long-term commitment supporting efforts to help our country more fully embrace the ideals of equal rights, inclusion and empowerment.

Tragically, since its inception, our society has failed to live up to its promise of equal rights and justice for all. But every time we’ve made progress to better live up to these ideals, America has had a positive influence on the world.

We stand with those who are peacefully speaking up and acting constructively to remove the barriers that persist in our society, including barriers that institutionalize racism and unjustly hold so many people back.

It’s up to each of us to face these systemic problems that leave so many behind – to have the courage to look within ourselves and work with others to improve the culture and society as a whole.
Signature of Charles Koch and Dave Robertson

Koch supports hundreds of individuals and organizations that seek to break down the barriers that hold people back, through its support for the Stand Together philanthropic community and other organizations across the country. At the heart of this work is a commitment to equal rights and a belief in the inherent dignity of every person. Koch is committed to breaking down these barriers to unleash the potential of every person through support of youth development programs and scholars across the country, to reform the criminal justice system through initiatives such as our pro bono legal efforts, and to help entrepreneurs achieve their potential through business development support.

We commit to you that our actions will remain grounded in integrity, humility and mutual respect as we strive to do even more to help overcome these obstacles. If we are to grow stronger, listening critically and receptively to the personal experiences and perspectives of others is fundamental.

 

Koch’s support for Stand Together and other partners helps hundreds of organizations in communities across the country in the struggle for equal justice, dignity and opportunity. Here are just some examples.
Racial Justice
Economic Justice
Educational Opportunity
Criminal Justice
  • In Dallas, Urban Specialists works to fight racial injustice and build bridges between law enforcement and the community.
  • In Baltimore, Thread fosters strong relationships between individuals to break down barriers.
  • In Chicago, Youth Guidance works with primarily African-American youth in communities hit hardest with poverty and violence to provide counseling and mentorship to overcome barriers.
  • The Race and the American Story project at Arizona State University is building 30 scalable university programs to help students engage in civil dialogue about racial injustice.
  • In partnership with the Future of Storytelling Bridging Divides award, the Charles Koch Institute supported the creation of a virtual-reality experience that puts audiences in the shoes of protestors during the civil rights movement. Equality Labs in North Carolina and the Police Foundation used this content in communities to build trust and cohesion.
  • Investments in and donations to the National Center for Civil and Human Rights – of which Georgia-Pacific was one of the original founders. 
  • The National Urban League and Urban League of Greater Atlanta. For years, we’ve sponsored the National Urban League Annual Conference, hosting sessions on criminal justice reform and entrepreneurship and funding investments that support workforce development.
  • The King Center, including raising funds for needed repairs to the roof of Ebenezer Baptist Church. Both Mrs. Coretta Scott King and Martin L. King III have participated in employee forums at GP Center.
  • The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, an advocacy group based in D.C. that encourages people to participate in the census and register to vote.
  • The National Council of Negro Women, whose mission to empower women of color, their families and communities we partner with and support.
Employee opening store
  • In Wichita and Kansas City, the Create Campaign provides business development support for minority founders and urban entrepreneurs.
  • Dfree advocates for financial empowerment in the Black community through a partnership with Dr. DeForest "Buster" Soaries, a noted civil rights leader.
  • SCLC/W.O.M.E.N., INC. is dedicated to addressing issues of social action, community and economic development in Atlanta by donating to various events and luncheons. For more than 20 years, Georgia-Pacific has supported this volunteer organization. In addition, GP sponsors Southern Christian Leadership Conference events at the national level. 
  • Koch and the Charles Koch Foundation established and supports the UNCF/Koch Scholars Program through a $25 million grant, which offers scholarships, mentoring, networking opportunities and university grants to UNCF’s 37 member institutions across the U.S. The program has provided nearly 3,000 merit-based awards to Black undergraduate, graduate and post-doctorate students seeking scholarship assistance.
  • Georgia-Pacific supports UNCF Southeast's annual scholarship fund, which contributes to more than 1,100 students across four Atlanta Historically Black Colleges & Universities: Spelman College, Morehouse College, Clark-Atlanta University and the Interdenominational Theological Center.
  • 100 Black Men of America is the largest African American-led mentoring organization in the country. GP supports their youth leadership mentoring program and their Annual Conference, which includes 101 chapters across the country.
  • Koch Industries and the Charles Koch Foundation are donating $25.6 million to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund — one of the largest-ever gifts to that organization — funding scholarships and establishing the Center for Advancing Opportunity. Koch companies recruit talent from this program for careers across the country.
  • National Summer School Initiative is providing high quality educational content from the best educators nationally to tens of thousands of students this summer.
  • Urban Prep Academy is a small, independent, tuition-based private K-8 school serving predominantly Black students. Koch's funding provides scholarships for qualifying students, regardless of socioeconomic status.
  • 50CAN National Voices Program is elevating the impact of diverse new voices in education policy and programs.
  • yes. every kid is focused on public policy change that respects the dignity of every student by ensuring that funding follows each student for his or her education.
  • Youth Entrepreneurs provides transformational learning opportunities for the most vulnerable students.
  • Western Governors University Labs is designing new models that increase access to diverse students, including traditionally underrepresented student populations, through inclusive access policies.
  • Real Men Real Heroes is an after-school group mentoring program where male role models, including Koch employees, help boys ranging from 3rd through 5th grade.
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters pairs a family or adult individual with a local youth to provide guidance and build life-changing friendships through time spent together.
  • Rise Up For Youth mentors and empowers youth across Wichita, Kansas, to unlock their potential and live a life of purpose. Koch employees serve on the board and volunteer to support programming opportunities.
prison fence

Stand Together connects social entrepreneurs with passionate partners and the resources necessary to make a greater difference. If you have ideas or want to connect, send inquiries to MakeADifference@StandTogether.org.

See more ways we’re dismantling barriers.