Our Story
Inspired by our namesake tree—bearing witness to the land long before colonization—we launched the Cypress Fund in 2019.
It all began with conversations among David Roswell, Maggie Heraty, and progressive donors nationwide, alongside close collaborations with organizers in North Carolina.
Based in Durham since 2014, David and Maggie have dedicated themselves to redistributing inherited wealth from generations of extraction.
Their journey started with Resource Generation, where they organized young people to support grassroots movements, combat classism, and advocate their authentic selves within the Solidaire Donor Network. Rooted in a redistribution framework, David and Maggie envisioned a grantmaking institution led by the communities it empowers. Joined by skilled organizers Bryan Perlmutter and Chi-Ante Jones, with extensive experience in movement-building, donor organizing, fundraising, and grant-making, the Cypress Fund began to take shape.
Months of discussions and interviews with organizers and funders deepened our understanding of the region's social justice landscape. In October 2019, we convened twenty movement leaders from the Carolinas to collectively shape the vision, strategy, and governance of Cypress Fund.
Today, as Cypress Fund takes root and grows, we draw strength from the histories of susu’s and cross-class, multi-racial freedom struggles led by those most impacted. We honor the resilient ecologies and communities that define the South, continuing to forge a path toward equity and justice for all.
