Grand Victoria Foundation relaunches as AMARA, refocuses on racial justice funding
Published 5:08 pm Wednesday, August 5, 2026
CHICAGO — The Grand Victoria Foundation has relaunched under a new name, AMARA, formalizing a shift toward funding racial justice work and black-centered organizations across Illinois.
The name, which stands for “A Movement Activating Repair and Abundance in Illinois,” was announced Wednesday at the start of Black Philanthropy Month, with a celebration planned Thursday at the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. The organization said the rebrand caps a strategic transformation that began following the racial justice protests of 2020, when the foundation began reorienting its grantmaking around black leadership, community power-building, and systemic change.
The foundation said the new identity comes as some philanthropic institutions have scaled back public commitments to racial equity initiatives amid political and legal pressure in recent years. AMARA’s leadership framed the rebrand as a doubling down on that focus rather than a retreat from it. The organization said its grantmaking will continue to support racial justice work led by and serving other communities of color across Illinois as well.
The name AMARA is drawn from the Nigerian Igbo word for “grace” and carries related meanings of “love” and “eternal” in other languages and cultures. The organization said the name reflects its belief that repair begins with love, is sustained by grace, and requires a long-term commitment to Illinois’ black communities.
“AMARA is more than a name — it reflects a movement rooted in repair, abundance and the power of black communities,” AMARA President Sharon Bush said in a statement. “When we invest in and support communities in determining their own futures, we help build a stronger and more just Illinois for everyone. In our next chapter, we will move more boldly — investing in black and brown leadership, sharing power with communities and helping set a more equitable model for philanthropy.”
Founded in 1996 as the Grand Victoria Foundation, the organization has awarded more than $184 million in grants across Illinois over its history. Its grantmaking is currently organized around 81 population centers in the state where at least 30% of residents are black, which the foundation said reflects its focus on investing in black communities as part of the state’s broader growth.
According to the organization, AMARA’s mission is to catalyze racial justice in Illinois by supporting the voices, power, and aspirations of black people and other communities of color. More information is available on the organization’s website.
