Mobilize Power Fund

The Mobilize Power Fund is an initiative of the Third Wave Fund that supports gender justice organizations in the United States and U.S. territories. Third Wave Fund was established to resource youth-led movements focused on gender justice and operates under the fiscal sponsorship of the Proteus Fund. The Mobilize Power Fund was created in 2016 in response to urgent organizing needs, such as those provoked by North Carolina’s HB2, a transphobic bill. Since then, it has continued to offer rapid response funding to groups that need to adapt or pivot quickly in light of unanticipated challenges or opportunities in their organizing environments. This grant is designed to be flexible and responsive, providing up to $10,000 USD for single organizations and up to $20,000 USD for coalitions of two or more groups. It specifically supports initiatives such as rapid mobilizations, healing justice, conflict resolution and transformation, community accountability, mutual aid, emergency safety and security, direct actions, and other responses to immediate needs. The fund explicitly does not prioritize applications for budget shortfalls, general operating costs, fundraising, long-term or ongoing programming, or start-up expenses. Eligible applicants include organizations led by young women of color (both cisgender and transgender), and trans, queer, gender non-conforming, and intersex young people of color under 35. Organizations must be based in and serving communities in the U.S. or its territories and must have a total budget under $500,000. Applicants do not need to have 501(c)(3) status or a fiscal sponsor. Priority is given to organizations that are community-led and directly impacted by the issues they seek to address, and that utilize an intersectional gender justice lens. Applications can be submitted via written form, video, or phone. The application process has been designed to be accessible and screen-reader compatible, with accommodations available upon request. Application cycles are no longer rolling; instead, they are processed through set monthly deadlines. Deadlines for 2025 include: February 4, March 4, May 6, July 8, August 5, and October 7, with application portals opening roughly a month before each deadline. Applicants are generally notified within four to six weeks after the cycle closes and receive funds up to two months after approval. The review process prioritizes projects addressing incidents that have occurred within the past six months. After the application deadline, reviewers assess submissions based on urgency, alignment with gender justice values, community impact, and the applicant's connection to directly affected communities. The fund operates multiple cycles per year and is funded by individual donations, emphasizing community-supported resourcing. For support with the application or to request accommodations, applicants can email mpf@thirdwavefund.org or call 917-387-1262 ext. 920. The fund also encourages feedback on the accessibility of its application process. In 2025, the application questions were updated to better understand each organization’s needs, so returning applicants are advised to review the narrative prompts closely before reapplying.