Social Advocacy Grants

This funding opportunity provides $2 million to Free the Slaves to empower individuals with lived experiences of labor exploitation, enabling them to actively participate in shaping policies that prevent such abuses.

The Arts in Society Grant, funded by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), aims to leverage the arts to address civic and social challenges within Colorado communities. This program aligns with a broader mission of fostering community development and social justice through creative engagement, recognizing the arts as a powerful tool for societal change and problem-solving. The grant offers both financial and organizational support, indicating a commitment to not only fund projects but also to nurture the growth and impact of participating artists and organizations. The target beneficiaries for this grant are broad, encompassing Colorado artists, activists, nonprofit organizations, universities and schools, government agencies, human service groups, neighborhood organizations, and healthcare organizations. The program particularly encourages applications from individual artists and non-arts organizations, emphasizing inclusivity and a cross-sector approach. The impact goals are centered on empowering these diverse groups to collaborate on projects where artists, organizations, and a target community work together to address specific social issues, ultimately leading to positive community transformation. The program's priorities and focuses include fostering collaboration, building support networks, and illustrating the impact of arts in cross-sector projects. Grantees are expected to attend learning community meetings to build support and share resources, underscoring a strategic priority of community building and knowledge exchange among participants. Another key focus is the promotion of grantee work through various marketing channels, highlighting the program's commitment to showcasing successful initiatives and advocating for the value of arts in society. Expected outcomes and measurable results include the successful completion of projects within 24 months, with an emphasis on projects that demonstrably engage a social issue and involve collaborative efforts. The mini-documentary highlighting grantee work and participation in evaluation processes are crucial mechanisms for measuring and illustrating the impacts of the arts in these cross-sector endeavors. This suggests a strategic priority of OEDIT to document and disseminate the effectiveness of arts-based solutions to civic and social challenges, thereby validating and expanding the theory of change that art can be a catalyst for tangible societal improvement.

The Social Justice Fund NorthWest (SJF) is offering the 2024 Base Building Grant, aimed at strengthening grassroots organizations in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. This grant directly aligns with SJF's mission to foster social justice by investing in community organizing as a primary strategy. The program focuses on "Base Building," defined as a tactic that expands the number and engagement of people who share a vision for social justice and actively work to achieve it through organized strategies. This approach underscores SJF's strategic priority of empowering communities to drive systemic change. The grant targets organizations committed to community organizing and led by those most directly affected by the issues they address. Specifically, SJF prioritizes organizations with at least 51% leadership from Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities, or those working predominantly in reservation, rural, or small-town communities. The impact goals are to build collective power, widen the base of engaged individuals, develop strong leadership within communities, and implement effective long-term strategies. The expected outcomes include a critical mass of collective power capable of winning and defending policy, cultural, or institutional changes, as well as a diverse and actively engaged membership. SJF's community organizing framework emphasizes four key areas: Collective Power, Widening the Base, Leadership Development, and Strategy and Long-Term Planning. Under Collective Power, the focus is on building a diverse membership and achieving policy or cultural wins. Widening the Base involves fostering authentic relationships with those most affected, recruiting new people, and using varied, tailored communication methods, including face-to-face engagement. Leadership Development ensures clear entry points to leadership, accessible political education, and continuous engagement and agitation. Finally, Strategy and Long-Term Planning requires organizations to develop and adapt a comprehensive base-building plan with clear goals, timelines, infrastructure, and accountability structures. The grant, providing $100,000 over two years ($50,000 annually), is open to nonprofit organizations, tribal agencies, or fiscally sponsored groups with 501(c)3 or 501(c)4 status, or federally recognized American Indian tribal governments. This funding mechanism directly supports SJF's theory of change, which posits that sustained investment in community-led organizing, focused on these core elements, will lead to meaningful and lasting social justice outcomes in the specified regions.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations and municipal entities in Montgomery County, Iowa, to support impactful projects in areas like health, education, and community services.

This grant provides $100,000 over two years to grassroots organizations in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming that focus on building community power and leadership among diverse groups, with a priority for those led by BIPOC and working in rural or reservation areas.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to grassroots organizations and community initiatives in Austin that work to combat systemic inequities, particularly in areas like immigrant inclusion, homelessness, and displacement prevention.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations and municipal entities in Mills County, Iowa, to support projects that enhance community well-being in areas such as health, education, culture, and social services.

This program provides funding for businesses, nonprofits, community groups, churches, and educational institutions to implement projects that enhance neighborhood beauty, foster community engagement, and celebrate local culture in Jackson.

This funding opportunity supports local organizations in Lewis County to implement innovative programs that address the opioid crisis through prevention, treatment, and recovery initiatives.

This grant provides financial support to Jewish charities and other organizations in Atlantic County, New Jersey, focusing on charitable, religious, scientific, literary, or educational initiatives.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Kentucky focused on reducing overdose deaths and improving recovery services for individuals at high risk of substance use harms.

The San Diego County Bar Foundation (SDCBF) provides grants with the mission of improving public awareness of the legal system, enhancing the administration of justice, and facilitating the delivery of legal services. This is achieved through the strategic distribution of its funds to legal aid and public interest non-profits operating within San Diego County. The Foundation's core belief is that justice serves as a critical equalizer in society, and it acts as an effective conduit for the legal community to engage in law-related philanthropy, thereby strengthening the profession and benefiting San Diego County. The SDCBF's primary beneficiaries are underserved and vulnerable individuals and communities within San Diego County who require access to legal aid and public interest services. The Foundation aims to achieve equal access to justice, increase public awareness of legal needs, and advocate for those who are marginalized. By investing in these organizations, the SDCBF seeks to create a healthier and stronger community environment by ensuring that legal services are available to those who might otherwise be unable to access them. The Foundation's priorities and focus areas revolve around its core values: Access to Justice, Service, Accountability, Integrity, and Permanence. It diligently supports legal and non-legal communities through its grant-making process and ongoing fundraising efforts. The SDCBF emphasizes service by focusing on equal access to justice, public awareness, and advocacy for the underserved, coupled with ongoing education. Accountability is demonstrated through conscientious stewardship of funds, ensuring that donor contributions benefit designated community partners, with sustainability guaranteed through a growing endowment. Integrity is upheld through honesty, civility, and fairness, maintaining a strict no-conflict-of-interest policy. Permanence is secured by preserving the Foundation's longevity and ensuring its legacy through continuous endowment growth. Expected outcomes include a more equitable justice system, increased public understanding of legal rights and resources, and a strengthened network of legal aid and public interest organizations within San Diego County. Measurable results would involve tracking the number of individuals served by grant recipients, the types of legal services provided, and the impact of these services on the community. The SDCBF's strategic priorities are deeply rooted in its theory of change, which posits that by investing in legal aid and public interest organizations, and by fostering law-related philanthropy, it can ensure access to justice, enhance the legal profession, and contribute to the overall well-being of San Diego County, ultimately serving as a model bar foundation nationwide.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island that provide essential services in human services, education, arts, and responsible journalism, particularly focusing on the homeless and youth.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and initiatives that empower women and girls in Marinette County, Wisconsin, and Menominee County, Michigan.

The Lake County Community Foundation Fall Grant focuses on two key priority areas: Leadership Development and Animal Welfare. The Foundation's mission is aligned with fostering a stronger nonprofit sector through leadership development opportunities that benefit Lake County's broader nonprofit community, rather than individual organizations. For animal welfare, the Foundation, through the Lake County Humane Society Fund, seeks to cultivate innovative approaches and address unmet needs for animals in Lake County. This grant embodies the Foundation's commitment to strategic investments that strengthen the community. Within Leadership Development, the Foundation prioritizes projects that build a pipeline of competent, emerging leaders for the county's nonprofit sector. A crucial aspect is increasing access to quality programming for leaders of color and other underrepresented groups, ensuring a diverse and inclusive leadership base. The ultimate goal is to equip leaders to better serve their nonprofit organizations, clients, and communities, thereby amplifying their collective impact across Lake County. This approach reflects the Foundation's theory of change, which posits that investing in leadership capacity will lead to more effective and sustainable social impact. For Animal Welfare, the grant targets organizations dedicated to the needs of animals in Lake County. The focus is on innovative approaches to support animal welfare and addressing needs where the applicant is the sole service provider. This area aligns with the Foundation's broader aim of addressing critical community needs and fostering a compassionate environment for all residents, including animals. The expected outcome is improved animal welfare through targeted interventions and support for organizations making a significant difference in this area. The Foundation's strategic pillars of Economic Justice, Community Ownership, and Rapid Community Response guide the evaluation criteria for all applications. Successful proposals will demonstrate alignment with these pillars and respond to high-priority needs identified by current Lake County data. The Foundation also emphasizes diversity and equity within applicant organizations, seeking staff, leadership, and boards that reflect the communities they serve. Furthermore, strong, documented partnerships, the potential to leverage other resources, and a high probability of affecting significant change over the next three years are key considerations, along with cost-effective service delivery and a proven track record of achieving outcomes. These criteria underscore the Foundation's commitment to impactful, sustainable change.

The DC Bar Foundation's 2025 Access to Justice (ATJ) Grants Program is designed to fund civil legal services for low-income residents and those in underserved areas of the District of Columbia. This program aligns directly with the Foundation's mission to increase access to justice, specifically by providing free civil legal services. The grant targets nonprofit legal service providers within the District of Columbia, focusing on specific categories: underserved areas, housing-related matters, and supporting a shared legal services interpreter bank. The overall goal is to address the most pressing civil legal needs of vulnerable District residents, ensuring they receive necessary legal assistance that they might otherwise be unable to access. The primary beneficiaries of the ATJ Grants Program are District residents with low income, as defined by HUD income limits, and those considered "underserved." Underserved individuals include those who lack adequate and affordable access to legal services due to factors like neighborhood, geographic area, language, culture, ethnicity, religion, or life situation. The program also specifically considers special populations such as individuals in correctional facilities, those experiencing or fleeing violence, and unhoused individuals. The impact goal is to expand the number of DC residents receiving legal assistance, enhance the accessibility of these services, and prevent duplication of services across the District. The Foundation prioritizes proposals that address underserved areas, housing-related issues, or support a shared legal services interpreter bank. Furthermore, priority is given to projects that are likely to expand the number of residents receiving legal aid, avoid service duplication, increase accessibility, and expand pro bono participation by recruiting, training, and supervising law firm attorneys. The Foundation also seeks proposals that strategically leverage DCBF resources to expand efforts by other service providers or provide services that might not be supported by other funding sources, and those that test innovative approaches to achieve these priorities. Expected outcomes and measurable results for funded projects include significant amounts of legal services delivered, measured by volume and type of services, the number of DC residents assisted, and the number of cases accepted. Projects are expected to increase access to services in underserved areas, as measured by the percentage of proposed legal services provided in areas with high concentrations of low-income or underserved residents. High goals for outreach and training are also expected, measured by the number of efforts, individuals reached, and materials distributed. Finally, projects should demonstrate increased engagement of pro bono attorneys and law firms, measured by recruitment, training, and growth in participation. Organizations applying for funding must have systems in place for quality, efficiency, and effectiveness, including self-assessment methods, and demonstrate a strong capacity for delivering the proposed services with a high likelihood of sustainability beyond the grant period.

The Equity Funds, a discretionary grantmaking initiative by Community Foundation Boulder County, are designed to address various needs across Boulder County. These funds align directly with the Foundation's mission to enhance community well-being by engaging donors in philanthropy and distributing grants to support diverse groups. The initiative comprises three distinct funds: BRAVO, Open Door, and Veterans, each with specific strategic priorities and target beneficiaries, all contributing to the broader goal of building resiliency and fostering opportunities within the community. The BRAVO Fund specifically targets Latino communities in Boulder County, aiming to improve their quality of life by promoting social justice, strengthening Latino leadership, and empowering them through philanthropy. Priority is given to projects that bolster the arts, environmental, health and human services, civic, educational, and cultural aspects of these communities, particularly those initiated by Latinos. The expected outcome is to support community-led initiatives that build resilience and foster active voices, with approximately $6,500 available for grants this year, with minimum grants of $1,000. The Open Door Fund focuses on supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) individuals and allies in Boulder County. Its strategic priorities include supporting the strengths and needs of LGBTQ+ individuals, building community, fostering collaboration, and providing support for organizations serving this population. The fund prioritizes new and emerging ideas that contribute to systemic change, with a preference for primarily LGBTQ+-focused organizations. With approximately $50,000 available this year, and minimum grants of $1,000, the fund aims to cultivate a stronger, more inclusive LGBTQ+ community and facilitate dialogue with the broader community. Finally, the Veterans Fund is dedicated to supporting Boulder County Veterans and their families through grants to community partners. This fund's mission is to support the strengths and needs of Veterans and transitioning service members, build community among them, foster education about Veterans’ issues, and provide support for relevant organizations. Priority is given to projects and organizations demonstrating strong Veteran involvement in planning and implementation. The fund has approximately $11,500 available for grants this year, with minimum grants of $1,000, aiming to create, sustain, or expand programs and projects that directly benefit Veterans and their families. Eligibility for all funds requires grantees to be IRS 501(c)(3) public charities or governmental entities, with funds used exclusively for activities within Boulder County or benefiting its residents, ensuring local impact and alignment with the Foundation's charitable objectives.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in West Michigan focused on enhancing education, environmental sustainability, arts and culture, and community health for historically under-resourced populations.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to community organizations and agencies to enhance treatment and recovery services for individuals with substance use and co-occurring disorders, particularly in underserved areas.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations that deliver comprehensive outpatient treatment and recovery services for youth and young adults facing substance use and mental health challenges, particularly those from underserved populations.