Budding Fund

The Budding Fund is a program operated by the DC Fund that supports grassroots groups and organizations in Washington, DC that have previously received at least two grants from the DC Fund’s Grantmaking Team. The DC Fund, which focuses on resourcing community-led efforts to bring about systems change, created the Budding Fund to provide sustained support for organizations that have demonstrated commitment and progress toward systemic transformation. Through this initiative, the Fund seeks to maintain momentum in advocacy and organizing work led by changemakers of color who are often excluded from traditional philanthropic support structures. The purpose of the Budding Fund is to provide returning grantees with the financial and structural support necessary to continue and expand their campaigns for systemic change. Grants can be used by organizations to stabilize their operations, scale their activities, and work toward long-term sustainability. The program is also designed to foster collaboration among grantees and maintain strong, trust-based relationships between community partners and the DC Fund. The program aligns with the Fund’s mission to nurture community power and elevate local leadership capable of driving impactful, structural reform in the DC area. Funding from the Budding Fund ranges between $5,000 and $25,000. It is intended to support groups that are ready to build on existing work rather than initiate new, untested campaigns. Organizations eligible for this opportunity must have received at least two previous grants from the DC Fund’s Grantmaking Team and have annual budgets between $51,000 and $500,000. These criteria ensure that the applicants are established and have a proven track record in implementing community-led systems change initiatives. The evaluation process for the Budding Fund emphasizes applicants’ history of implementing systemic change work. Reviewers from the Grantmaking Team assess each applicant’s analysis of the issues at hand, the clarity and community grounding of their strategy, and the organization’s ability to carry out the proposed plan. This differs from the evaluation process for other DC Fund programs, such as the Sprouting Fund, which is more focused on new applicants and emphasizes potential over track record. Applications for the Fall 2025 cycle open on August 15, 2025, and close on September 26, 2025. Several virtual information sessions are scheduled before the close date, including sessions with English/ASL and English/Spanish interpretation. While these sessions provide valuable insights, there are no stated pre-application requirements such as letters of intent. Funding decisions are made in early November through a community-led process, with announcements and disbursements expected in mid to late November. To apply, interested organizations must first complete an eligibility quiz to access the application. There is no specific contact name, phone number, or email address provided in the source information. The grant program is not open to new applicants or organizations that have not been previously funded by the DC Fund at least twice. Instead, it is tailored to nurture the growth and development of existing grantee partners who are working to achieve sustainable, long-term change in their communities.