Social Advocacy Grants

The Philip L. Graham Fund is offering grants to organizations that provide direct services to individuals and families. The Fund's mission is aligned with supporting innovative and efficient organizations, and over several decades, it has invested significantly in the physical infrastructure, information technology, and transportation needs of local nonprofit organizations. This program seeks to continue that tradition by supporting organizations that fit within its giving priorities and focus areas. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are residents of Washington, D.C., and specific counties in Maryland (Charles, Montgomery, Prince George's) and Virginia (Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, and the cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park). The impact goals are to support direct services that address community needs within the Fund's focus areas, ultimately improving the lives of individuals and families in these regions. The Fund's priorities and focus areas include Health & Human Services, Education, Arts & Humanities, and Community Endeavors. Organizations seeking funding must align with these priorities and provide services that fall into one or more of these categories. The Fund's strategic priorities appear to be centered on strengthening the capacity of local nonprofits to deliver essential services and foster community well-being. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed, the Fund's long-standing investment in infrastructure and technology suggests an expected outcome of enhanced operational capacity and improved service delivery for grantee organizations. The theory of change seems to be that by supporting eligible 501(c)(3) public charities that provide direct services in key areas, the Fund can contribute to the overall health, education, cultural enrichment, and community development of the designated geographic areas. Eligibility criteria further underscore the Fund's strategic approach. Organizations must be 501(c)(3) public charities, serve residents within the specified footprint, and align with the Fund's priorities. Additionally, there are specific requirements for past applicants and grantees, ensuring a rotation of funding and accountability for previous grants. The Fund explicitly excludes requests from individuals, government agencies, certain educational institutions, and organizations involved primarily in advocacy or policy change, reinforcing its focus on direct service provision.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations, government entities, and educators working on impactful projects that benefit residents of La Porte County, Indiana.

The Batchelor Foundation Grant Program primarily supports programmatic grants, with occasional consideration for capital grants, focusing on aligning with the foundation's mission of community improvement in South Florida. The foundation prioritizes projects and programs with clearly defined, targeted outcomes, indicating a strategic approach to philanthropy that seeks measurable impact rather than broad support. This structured approach suggests a theory of change where targeted interventions in key areas lead to demonstrable positive changes within the community. The target beneficiaries of the Batchelor Foundation's grants are diverse, encompassing children, animals, and the natural environment. Specifically, the foundation supports programs that assist children in education, health, and general well-being. Additionally, it funds programs providing shelter, food, and medicine to animals, and initiatives protecting or educating the public about the natural environment. Some consideration is also given to charitable work for homeless programs and veteran services. These diverse areas of focus highlight the foundation's broad commitment to improving the welfare of vulnerable populations and the environment within its designated geographic region. The foundation's priorities and focuses are clearly articulated, emphasizing projects with well-defined outcomes. This strategic priority reflects a desire for accountability and demonstrable results from the grants awarded. The Batchelor Foundation places the highest priority on nonprofits located and providing charitable work in the South Florida counties of Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Monroe. This geographic focus underscores a commitment to local impact and a deep understanding of the specific needs within these communities. Expected outcomes and measurable results are central to the Batchelor Foundation's grant-making philosophy, as evidenced by its emphasis on proposals with "clearly defined, targeted outcomes." While specific metrics are not detailed in the provided information, the focus on "targeted outcomes" implies that successful proposals will articulate how their programs will lead to tangible and quantifiable improvements in the lives of beneficiaries or the health of the environment. The grant period is generally one year, suggesting a focus on short to medium-term impacts that can be assessed within that timeframe. The foundation's overall strategic priorities and theory of change appear to center on investing in well-managed, outcome-oriented programs that address critical needs in the South Florida community, thereby fostering a more educated, healthy, and protected environment for its residents and wildlife.

The "Strengthening Workers' Rights in Malaysia's Electronic Supply Chain" grant aims to provide $3 million for a project in Malaysia that supports workers and their organizations in advocating for improved occupational safety, health standards, and gender-responsive standards, while also addressing gender-based violence and harassment in the electronics sector through increased union participation and collective bargaining.

READY Community Foundations, part of ARC's READY Appalachia initiative, offers no-cost training to community foundations in Appalachia. Participants will build skills in financial management, fundraising, grantmaking, and strategic planning. Eligible foundations can apply for up to $25,000 in funding to implement capacity-building projects post-training. Applications are due by July 5, 2024.

This funding opportunity supports charitable organizations that provide quality education, healthcare, and human services to underserved communities, particularly in Grayson County, Texas.

This grant provides financial support to organizations in Northern Michigan that are led by or serve communities of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other marginalized groups to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

The POISE Foundation's Community Impact Grants are designed to support the Black community in achieving self-sustaining practices through strategic leadership, collective giving, grantmaking, and advocacy. This aligns directly with the foundation's mission to empower and uplift the Black community. The program offers small grants, typically between $1,000-$5,000, to nonprofit organizations in the Pittsburgh Region. These grants are generally for one-year durations and are specifically targeted at Black-led, Black-serving organizations. The target beneficiaries of these grants are nonprofit organizations serving the Black community in the Pittsburgh Region, with a focus on programs that lead to empowerment and self-sufficiency. The impact goals are broad, aiming to foster pathways from poverty to prosperity, advance educational achievement, create and develop Black businesses, support the well-being of young ladies, and strengthen Black families. This is achieved by investing in programs that build capacity, engage in civic participation, make decisions, and advocate for the well-being of Black communities and residents. The program prioritizes several key areas: Community & Economic Development, Education, Entrepreneurial Activities, Young Ladies, and Strengthening Black Families. Within these areas, there's a strong focus on community engagement, understanding issues, and promoting economic, social, environmental, political, and psychological well-being. For Strengthening Black Families, specific priorities include being family-driven, building family development, increasing family interaction, being culturally responsive, assisting with support networks, providing advocacy tools, and promoting family healing and wellness. Expected outcomes include increased civic participation, improved educational achievement for Black youth, growth in Black businesses and cooperatives, enhanced well-being for young ladies, and the restoration of the Black family as a core, thriving institution in Pittsburgh. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed in terms of quantifiable metrics, the foundation's theory of change is evident in its investment in programs that provide direct services and seek to bring about change that leads to empowerment and self-sufficiency within the Black community. The preference for Black-led organizations further demonstrates their strategic priority of empowering community-driven solutions.

The van Ameringen Foundation focuses on improving mental health services, particularly for those with limited financial means, within New York City and Philadelphia, and through national advocacy. Its mission is to increase accessibility to mental health services, offer preventive and early-intervention strategies, and advocate for systemic change. The foundation offers both general support and project-specific grants, aligning its funding directly with its core mission of fostering a more equitable and effective mental healthcare system for underserved populations. The primary beneficiaries of these grants are individuals and communities confronting significant mental illness, particularly those with limited financial means and opportunities. This includes people needing direct services like case management, counseling, psychotherapy, and psychiatric care, as well as those who benefit from systemic changes in law, public policy, and public perception. The impact goals are to enhance the mental health safety net, improve access to services, and create lasting, positive changes in mental healthcare delivery and perceptions. The foundation's priorities and focuses are clearly delineated into two main categories: Direct Service Grants and Non-Direct Service Grants. Direct Service Grants support programs that provide immediate and tangible assistance to individuals, such as housing, jobs, and various forms of mental health treatment. Non-Direct Service Grants encompass advocacy efforts to change policies, media/dissemination projects to share best practices and research, and training initiatives for mental health providers, advocates, and community members. The foundation explicitly does not fund programs for intellectual or physical disabilities, direct grants to individuals, endowment campaigns, capital projects, annual fundraising drives, or international activities. Expected outcomes include increased accessibility of mental health services, successful implementation of preventive and early-intervention strategies, and significant systemic changes with local or national impact. Measurable results could include the number of individuals served, improvements in patient outcomes, policy changes enacted, increased public awareness, and the number of mental health professionals trained. The foundation encourages innovative and practical proposals that demonstrate a clear path to achieving these outcomes. The foundation's strategic priorities are centered on fostering innovation and practical solutions within the mental health sector. Its theory of change posits that by investing in direct services, advocating for policy reforms, disseminating knowledge, and building capacity through training, it can effectively address disparities in mental healthcare access and quality. This multi-pronged approach aims to create both immediate relief for individuals and long-term structural improvements in the mental health landscape, primarily within its specified geographic areas and at a national advocacy level.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Kansas City, Missouri, that focus on promoting total abstinence from alcohol, supporting the elderly, caring for underprivileged children, and advancing education and social services.

The National Park Services (NPS) African American Civil Rights Grant Program (AACR) will document, interpret, and preserve the sites and stories of the full history of the African American struggle to gain equal rights from transatlantic slave trade forward. The program funds history and preservation projects using the NPS report, Civil Rights in America, A Framework for Identifying Significant Sites, as a guide in determining the appropriateness of proposed projects and properties. AACR grants are funded by the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), administered by the NPS, and will fund a broad range of history projects including survey and planning, research and documentation, interpretation and education, and collections conservation. Grants are awarded through a competitive process and do not require non-Federal match.There are separate funding announcements for physical preservation projects and for historical research/documentation projects. Funding announcement P24AS00541 is for physical preservation of historic sites only; P24AS00540 is for history/research/documentation/survey/nomination projects. Please ensure you apply under the correct opportunity number for your project.FY2024 Public Law 118-42 provides $24,000,000 for the AACR Grant Program.

The Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa has established the Women's Fund Grant Program with the mission to support organizations and programs that benefit women and girls in Black Hawk County. This initiative aligns with the Foundation's broader goal of fostering long-term change and addressing critical issues within the community. The grant specifically targets issues that lead to systemic change for women and girls, aiming to create lasting positive impacts rather than just providing short-term aid. The primary beneficiaries of this program are women and girls residing in Black Hawk County, Iowa. The grant seeks to achieve significant impact by focusing on several key areas. These include enhancing leadership, cognitive, and knowledge skills through education and literacy programs; identifying and addressing healthcare issues specific to women and girls, encompassing mental, emotional, and physical health; providing concrete assistance for women and girls dealing with poverty and homelessness to help them secure housing and move out of poverty; and focusing on the safety of women and girls through violence prevention efforts in homes, schools, and communities. The Women's Fund Committee prioritizes grant requests based on several criteria to maximize its strategic impact. Top priority is given to requests that address barriers to racial equity and work to reverse systems of racism for women and girls in Black Hawk County. Additionally, the committee favors requests that address critical and urgent needs with solution-based approaches, demonstrate effective programming with significant direct impact, show innovative approaches to advancing women's and girls' growth and success, and leverage other funding or community support to amplify the grant's reach. While specific expected outcomes and measurable results are not explicitly detailed in terms of quantitative targets within the provided text, the focus areas and funding priorities imply a commitment to creating tangible improvements in the lives of women and girls. The "long-term change" emphasis suggests a strategic theory of change centered on addressing root causes of inequality and vulnerability. By funding initiatives in education, healthcare, poverty alleviation, and safety, the foundation aims to empower women and girls, improve their overall well-being, and contribute to a more equitable and supportive community environment in Black Hawk County.

This funding opportunity supports community-based organizations in Washington, DC, that provide programs in education, community safety, and economic development to improve the quality of life for local residents.

The City of Alexandria Arts Grants program aims to foster artistic excellence and provide engaging arts experiences for both residents and visitors of Alexandria. This initiative aligns with the city's broader mission to strengthen its creative capacity, enhance the stability of local arts organizations, and cultivate a vibrant urban environment through high-quality artistic creation and presentation. The program seeks to ensure diverse opportunities for meaningful engagement with the arts across the city. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are non-profit arts organizations based in Alexandria that have been in existence for at least one full year. The program also supports individual artists and other entities contributing to the arts within the city limits. The impact goals are centered on improving the capacity and stability of Alexandria-based organizations and enriching the cultural lives of its residents and visitors. The program prioritizes supporting organizations that create, perform, and present works of artistic excellence and innovation. It also focuses on diversifying opportunities for residents to engage with the arts and fostering a vibrant urban environment. Projects must take place within Alexandria's city limits between July 1 and June 30 of each fiscal year. Expected outcomes include a stronger creative sector in Alexandria, with increased opportunities for residents to participate in and experience the arts. The program anticipates an improvement in the stability and capacity of local arts organizations, leading to a more dynamic and culturally rich city. Measurable results will likely be tied to the number and diversity of arts programs offered, the audience reach, and the organizational health of grant recipients, though specific metrics are not detailed in the provided text. The funding structure provides grants up to $12,500, not to exceed 50% of the total program budget, and requires a 1:1 cash match. This co-funding model encourages community investment and ensures a shared commitment to the success of arts initiatives. The grant period for approved projects runs from July 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024, indicating a focus on specific, shorter-term program support. The theory of change appears to be that by investing in local arts organizations and artists, the City of Alexandria can directly enhance the cultural landscape, engage its community, and strengthen its overall creative economy.

This fund provides unrestricted financial support to grassroots organizations focused on improving abortion access and reproductive justice, particularly those overlooked by traditional philanthropy.

The AJ Muste Foundation is offering grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 to grassroots activist projects in the US, particularly those with small budgets and limited access to mainstream funding, focusing on social justice issues such as immigration, prison abolition, racial and LGBTQ rights, economic exploitation, and anti-war efforts.

The Dao Prize, funded by the Daofeng and Angela Foundation in conjunction with Young America’s Foundation’s National Journalism Center (NJC), is an annual award designed to recognize excellence in investigative journalism. The program's mission aligns with fostering high-quality journalism, particularly in investigative, local, and multimedia formats. While the specific mission of the Daofeng and Angela Foundation or the NJC's broader strategic priorities are not explicitly detailed as a 'theory of change' in the provided text, the establishment of this prize clearly indicates a strategic priority to support and elevate journalists who produce impactful and well-researched stories, thereby contributing to an informed public and a robust journalistic landscape. The target beneficiaries of the Dao Prize are U.S.-based news publications and individual journalists, including those working for Substack pages, YouTube channels, podcasts, and other multimedia outlets. The impact goals are to encourage and reward exceptional journalistic work, particularly in areas often overlooked or under-resourced, such as local and multimedia journalism. By providing substantial financial awards, the prize aims to empower journalists and outlets to continue their critical work, thereby strengthening the foundation of American journalism and its ability to hold power accountable and inform communities. The program prioritizes excellence in investigative journalism, with additional categories specifically recognizing outstanding local and multimedia journalism. This focus ensures that the prize not only celebrates groundbreaking investigations but also acknowledges the vital role of community-focused reporting and innovative storytelling formats. Expected outcomes include a rise in the quality and quantity of investigative, local, and multimedia journalism, as well as increased recognition and financial stability for journalists producing such work. Measurable results include the annual selection of a grand prize winner receiving $100,000, along with runners-up and winners in the local and multimedia categories each receiving $10,000. The prize's impact can be measured by the caliber and reach of the winning stories, the ongoing careers of the recognized journalists, and the visibility of the award itself in encouraging future submissions and high standards. The explicit criteria for evaluation—based on a ten-point scale across five main categories—ensure a rigorous and transparent selection process, reinforcing the prize's commitment to recognizing true excellence.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Greenville County, South Carolina, focusing on animal welfare, human services, and programs for veterans.

The Neighborhood Empowerment Grant, offered by Kansas City, Missouri, is a program designed to foster community engagement, enhance neighborhood identity, and improve public safety and overall quality of life. The program aims to reduce violent and other crime, spur neighborhood investment and development, and address code violations through Association and resident-led projects. While the text doesn't explicitly state a "foundation" in the traditional sense, the city's strategic priority is clearly aligned with empowering local neighborhoods to address their unique challenges and build stronger, safer communities from within. This grant serves as a direct mechanism for the city to achieve its broader goals of urban improvement and resident well-being. The primary target beneficiaries of this grant are not-for-profit Neighborhood Associations registered with the City of Kansas City and the State of Missouri, or those partnering with registered associations. The impact goals are comprehensive, aiming to improve resident health and safety, enhance dignity, support aging in place, and address other necessary quality of life repairs. By empowering these associations, the program seeks to create a ripple effect, positively impacting all residents within the participating neighborhoods. The grant prioritizes several key areas to achieve its objectives. These include promoting active participation and involvement of residents through community engagement, celebrating unique neighborhood identities, enhancing community safety through public safety strategies, facilitating necessary repairs and upgrades for quality of life enhancements, reducing violence and other crimes, encouraging internal and external neighborhood investment, and implementing measures to reduce code violations. These focus areas collectively form a strategic approach to holistic neighborhood development and improvement. Expected outcomes and measurable results include a reduction in violent and other crime, increased neighborhood investment and development, a decrease in code violations, and an overall improvement in residents' health, safety, and well-being. The program's theory of change posits that by empowering local associations and residents to lead projects focused on these priority areas, communities will experience enhanced value through stronger partnerships, leading to increased strength and stability. The grant aims to facilitate positive interactions and outcomes, fostering resident collaboration and improving messaging within the neighborhoods. The current round of funding offers $400K for local projects, with a maximum of $20K per applicant, indicating a commitment to supporting numerous community-led initiatives.

The Art Project program, administered by the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council (ARAC), is a targeted funding mechanism that provides grants up to $5,000 to eligible organizations for meaningful arts activities. The program is specifically designed to foster artistic creation, performance, exhibition, and publication, as well as the presentation of arts events, often through collaborations with other entities or individuals. While a formal mission statement for ARAC is not detailed, the program's explicit focus on "relevant, meaningful arts activities with value to the community" clearly aligns with a foundational philanthropic goal of enriching the local culture and enhancing overall community well-being through supporting local artistic expression. The program's target beneficiaries include a specific set of organizations that are vital to the community's infrastructure: state-registered and federally recognized non-profit organizations, accredited schools, tribal governments, and units of government. Both individual artists and arts organizations are eligible to apply. Geographically, the beneficiaries must be primarily based in one of seven specific Minnesota counties—Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, or St. Louis County (outside Duluth)—or within the four Tribal Nations of Bois Forte, Fond du Lac, Grand Portage, or Leech Lake (within Itasca County). All Duluth organizations are eligible regardless of budget size, while organizations outside Duluth must have had prior year arts operating expenses of $40,000 or more; smaller groups are directed to a complementary program. The overarching impact goal is to support the arts landscape of this defined region by ensuring resources reach established organizations and communities. The strategic focus of the grant prioritizes activities that directly involve the creation, performance, exhibition, or publication of new artistic works. Funds are flexible and can cover essential supporting infrastructure, including art supplies, administrative and volunteer costs, and advertising, marketing, and promotional materials. To ensure the funds primarily support artistic output, purchases for equipment or technology are permitted only if they are integral to the artistic project and constitute less than 25 percent of the total request. This emphasis on direct artistic output and supporting necessary operational and promotional expenses ensures the grants have a tangible impact on the regional arts community. The expected outcomes and measurable results revolve around fostering a more vibrant cultural environment by increasing access to and participation in arts activities within the designated service area. Though not explicitly quantified, the ARAC's theory of change is inferred to be that by strategically funding projects which create new artistic works, present public arts events, and support the operational needs of qualifying arts organizations, they will successfully stimulate cultural engagement. The strategic distribution of resources is managed by key funding limitations, including the maximum grant of $5,000 and an overall cap of $25,000 per organization per fiscal year across all ARAC programs, which ensures broad distribution and support for a diverse range of projects and organizations. Furthermore, the requirement that projects must begin within six months helps ensure timely implementation and community benefit from the funded activities.