TLDR:
– A U.S. federal appeals court panel suspended the Fearless Fund’s grant program for Black women business owners, ruling it discriminatory.
– The ruling is a victory for conservative groups fighting corporate diversity programs.
Fearless Fund grant program is discriminatory, appeals court rules : NPR
A U.S. federal court of appeals panel suspended a venture capital firm’s grant program for Black women business owners, ruling that a conservative group is likely to prevail in its lawsuit claiming that the program is discriminatory. The ruling against the Atlanta-based Fearless Fund is another victory for conservative groups waging a sprawling legal battle against corporate diversity programs. The case was brought by the American American Alliance for Equal Rights, a group led by Edward Blum, the activist behind the Supreme Court case that ended affirmative action in college admissions.
The ruling has stirred up polarized opinions among liberal and conservative judges. The court ordered the Fearless Fund to suspend its Strivers Grant Contest, offering $20,000 to Black women-owned businesses, for the remainder of the lawsuit. The ruling is being viewed as a bellwether for programs aiming to level the playing field for racial minorities and other historically disadvantaged groups.
The legal debate over corporate diversity programs is ongoing, with possible implications for charitable giving and philanthropy organizations. The fear is that limiting such programs could hurt opportunities for underrepresented groups.
