Next Gen Giving Circle Grant

The 2025 grant cycle from the Next Gen Giving Circle (NGGC) continues the organization’s longstanding commitment to supporting financial equity, particularly for communities affected by racial and economic injustice. NGGC is a membership-based giving circle focused on trust-based philanthropy. Since 2020, the organization has provided over $190,000 to support small, BIPOC-led nonprofits in the Greater Washington region. Its members aim to dismantle traditional barriers to funding by supporting organizations that have been historically excluded from wealth-building opportunities. This year’s grant round centers on promoting financial security for individuals most directly impacted by systemic inequities. NGGC recognizes that not all individuals have access to essential resources like loans, high-wage employment, homeownership, or entrepreneurship. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these disparities, and NGGC’s funding approach is designed to strengthen the financial infrastructure within under-resourced communities. To that end, they are offering general operating support to small nonprofits whose annual budgets do not exceed $750,000. Eligible applicants must be organizations working in the Greater Washington region. Grants are unrestricted, meaning funds do not have to be used for specific programs, and grantees are not required to submit post-award financial reports. In addition to funding, all applicants can opt-in to receive six months of free capacity-building support through NGGC’s partnership with Spur Local. Further, NGGC provides an automatic small renewal grant the following year to current grantees, requiring no new application. The application process is intentionally streamlined and accessible. It opens for 6–8 weeks, and only five narrative questions are required. Applications are accepted in English and Spanish, and alternative formats such as video or audio responses are permitted. The current application is open and will close on July 31, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET. Organizations that are ineligible will be notified within two weeks of submission. Applicants may also schedule a 15-minute one-on-one chat with a Giving Circle member to assess fit and eligibility. All applicants will be informed of their status by September 30, 2025. Finalist organizations will then be invited to a virtual meeting with NGGC members in October. Voting by NGGC members will determine the grantees and award amounts, which will be finalized in November 2025. Funds are scheduled for disbursement before the end of December 2025. Grantees benefit from NGGC’s trust-based approach, which prioritizes partnership and mutual accountability over burdensome administrative requirements. The grant program is not rolling, but it is recurring on an annual basis. Past grantees have included a wide range of organizations serving communities of color and low-income populations. Awards have ranged from $2,500 to $15,000, with an average of $7,000. NGGC provides transparent information about its review criteria and scoring rubric, and encourages all interested organizations to apply before the deadline. For questions or additional details, applicants may contact NGGC at info@nextgengivingcircle.org.

Applicants may schedule 1:1 chats with Giving Circle members to assess fit and eligibility.