Category Archives: Justice

Business & Human Rights Accelerator

The Business & Human Rights Accelerator is a six month program to assist businesses participating in the UN Global Compact as they establish a human rights due diligence process.

Participants may join the program through one of 50 In-Country Tracks which are conducted in the local language and time zone, a Regional Track in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, or a Global Track conducted in English. Applications are due by December 20, 2024 and the program will start in February 2025.

Eligibility

Businesses of all sizes are encouraged to participate in the Accelerator. To be eligible, they must be:

  • Engaged with a Global Compact Country Network or willing to join
  • Willing to identify human rights risks and impacts within their business operations
  • Committed to developing an Action Plan to address the human rights risks identified
  • Able to appoint two representatives to attend sessions and participate in events
  • Able to appoint an executive-level representative to provide support and participate in high-level events
  • Committed to completing the program and incorporating what they learn into their strategies and operations

Program Benefits

Accelerator participants will learn how to:

ACLS Digital Justice Grants

American Council of Learned Societies

ACLS Digital Justice Grants are awarded by the American Council of Learned Societies with funding from the Mellon Foundation. They support projects that advance  justice and equity in digital scholarly practice across the humanities and interpretative social sciences.

In addtion to the monetary award, all grantees will have the opportunity to collaborate with the Nonprofit Finance Fund. Applications for Digital Justice Seed Grants and Digital Justice Development Grants are due by December 3, 2024 at 9:00 PM ET.

Eligibility

Grant funds must be administered by an institution of higher education in the United States. At least one principal investigator must be a scholar in the humanities and/or the interpretative social sciences, but they do not have to have a PhD or a faculty position.

Eligible projects must:

  • Critically engage with the interests and histories of people of color and other historically marginalized communities
  • Cultivate greater openness to new sources of knowledge and strategic approaches to content building and knowledge dissemination
  • Engage in capacity building efforts
  • Be made as widely available as intellectual property constraints allow

Grant Types

Seed Grants

Seed Grants of $10,000 – $25,000 are available for projects in the start-up or prototyping phase. Projects must explore or experiment with new materials, methodologies, and research agendas by way of planning workshops, prototyping, and/or testing products.

Development Grants

Development Grants of $50,000 – $100,000 are available for projects that can demonstrate  significant preliminary work and a record of engagement with and impact on scholarly and/or public audiences.

Allowable Expenses

Grant funds may be used for:

  • Salaries and faculty release time
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Equipment and software
  • Digitizing or cataloging analog materials
  • Collaboration with international partners

Grant funds may not be used for:

  • Indirect costs
  • Purely pedagogical projects
  • Straightforward translations
  • Textbook writing and editing only
  • Creative works only

Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples

The Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples supports Native American led organizations through four grant programs: Community Vitality, the Flicker Fund, Thriving Women, and Land, Water, and Climate.

Applications for $500 – $50,000 are due by December 2, 2024 at 11:59 PM PT.

Eligibility

Seventh Generation grants are open to federally recognized Tribal Nations and 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations who:

  • Have 80% or more Indigenous Peoples leadership at the Board of Directors or other decision-making entity, an Indigenous Executive Director or Project leaders, and Indigenous Peoples engaged throughout all aspects of the organization.
  • Are grounded in and led by the Indigenous Peoples who are most impacted by the project.
  • Nurture and center the culture, language, traditional knowledge systems, and healthy lifeways of the Indigenous Peoples involved in the project.

Community Vitality

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Community Vitality projects involve cultural revitalization, knowledge sharing, cultural transmission, and intergenerational kinships. Pathways for culturally grounded practices and social justice include:

  • Traditional wisdom and cultural knowledge
  • Traditional foodways
  • Community-based healing
  • Language revitalization and creative expression

Flicker Fund

The Flicker Fund responds to the critical needs of Indigenous communities vulnerable to the impacts of crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. Pathways for ensuring Native Peoples thrive include:

  • Basic and urgent health
  • Historic and cultural teachings 
  • Traditional healing practices and remedies

Thriving Women

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Thriving Women supports projects to prevent and address gender oppression, promote matrilineal centered traditional health and coming-of-age ceremonies, and develop the next generation of leaders. Projects focused on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit (MMIWG2S) are also encouraged.

Pathways for gender and social justice include:

  • Birthkeeping, motherhood, and kinship
  • Honoring the rights of Mother Earth
  • Reclaiming a world without violence against women, girls, and two-spirits
  • Women and girls’ cultural vitality and leadership

Land, Water, and Climate

Land, Water, and Climate grants support traditional land and water stewardship, advance the right of Free, Prior and Informed Consent, protect sacred spaces, and promote climate change adaptation. Pathways to ecological justice include:

  • Climate action for future generations
  • Land back – Water back
  • Renewable energies
  • Sacred places and sacred relationships

Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants

Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants support projects that benefit disadvantaged communities by building climate resilience and the capacity to address environmental and climate justice issues.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will award grants in two tracks – Community-Driven Investments for Change and Meaningful Engagement for Equitable Governance. There is no cost share requirement for either track. Applications are due by November 21, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET.

Eligibility

This grant is open to partnership between two community-based non-profit organizations (CBOs) or between a CBO and a:

  • Federally-Recognized Tribe
  • Local government
  • Institution of higher education 

Program Objectives

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  • Providing resources for community-driven projects to address environmental and climate challenges in disadvantaged communities
  • Investing in strong cross-sectoral collaborations working with and for communities with environmental and climate justice concerns. 
  • Unlocking access to additional federal and non-federal resources to advance environmental and climate justice goals
  • Empowering communities and strengthening their capacity to drive meaningful positive change
  • Strengthening community participation in government decision-making processes

Grant Tracks

Track I: Community-Driven Investments for Change

The EPA expects to award approximately 150 Track I grants of $10-20 million each to address specific, community-driven environmental justice issues.

Objectives

  • Increasing community resilience through climate action activities
  • Reducing local pollution to improve public health
  • Centering meaningful community engagement
  • Building community strength
  • Reaching priority populations
  • Maximizing integration across projects

Requirements

Climate Action Strategy

At least one project must focus on at least one of these strategies:

Image by Admiral_Lebioda
  • Green Infrastructure and Nature-Based Solutions
  • Mobility and Transportation Options for Preventing Air Pollution and Improving Public Health and Climate Resilience
  • Energy-Efficient, Healthy, and Resilient Housing and Buildings
  • Microgrid Installation for Community Energy Resilience
  • Community Resilience Hubs
  • Brownfield Redevelopment for Emissions Reduction and Climate Resilience
  • Waste Reduction and Management to Support a Circular Economy
  • Workforce Development Programs for Occupations that Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Air Pollutants
Pollution Reduction Strategies

At least one project must focus on at least one of these strategies:

  • Indoor Air Quality and Community Health Improvements
  • Outdoor Air Quality and Community Health Improvements
  • Clean Water Infrastructure to Reduce Pollution Exposure and Increase Overall System Resilience
  • Safe Management and Disposal of Solid and Hazardous Waste
Community Engagement and Collaborative Governance Plan

This plan should address:

  • Past Community Outreach and Engagement Conducted
  • Community Engagement Plan Implementation
  • Collaborative Governance Structure
Community Strength Plan

This plan should address:

  • Maximizing Economic Benefits of Projects
  • Displacement Avoidance

Track II: Meaningful Engagement for Equitable Governance

The EPA expects to award approximately 100 Track II grants of $1-3 million each. Projects should facilitate the participation of disadvantaged communities in the development and implementation of environmental justice policies and programs.

Project Examples

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  • Educational and Training Programs 
  • Environmental Advisory Boards (EABs)
  • Collaborative Governance Activities 
  • Participation in Governmental Funding and Budgeting Processes 

NDN Collective Community Action Fund

NDN Collective supports Indigenous communities, organizers, and movements to defend Native rights and protect their natural resources. Their Community Action Fund provides one-time, short-term urgent response funding for direct action.

Applications will be accepted on a continual basis until October 31, 2024 at 5:00 PM CT. The average grant is $15,000 for up to 6 months, but can be as much as $40,000.

Eligibility

Location

This grant is open to applicants from:

  • The United States
  • Canada
  • Mexico
  • Puerto Rico
  • American Samoa
  • Guam
  • The Northern Mariana Islands
  • The U.S. Virgin Islands

Applicant

Applicants must be:

  • Indigenous-led non-profit organizations  
  • U.S. based Tribes, tribal non-profit entities, or tribal programs
  • Alaska Native Villages or their non-profit entities 
  • First Nations or Inuit/Metis communities, groups, and organizations based in Canada 
  • Indigenous communities, groups, and organizations based in Mexico
  • Individual Indigenous people leading direct action or movement building work

Applicants may work with a fiscal sponsor.

Allowable Activities

Grant funds may be used to engage in non-violent direct action, such as marches, camps, or boycotts. They may also be used for community-based response to climate connected natural disasters such as flooding, fires, and earthquakes.

Allowable Expenses

Grant funds may be used for:

  • Travel
  • Climate response items
  • Supplies
  • Equipment
  • Consultants
  • Contractual services
  • Staff

Versacare Foundation Grants

The Versacare Foundation supports programs that fit with their mission and that of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Priority is give to organizations working in the geographic regions where the Church has a presence.

They provide funding through three grant programs:

Impact Grants are by invitation only. Interested applicants must submit a Concept Note by October 31st to be considered. If invited, the final application will be due by December 31st. Catalyst and Venture Grant applications are also due by the end of the calendar year.

Eligibility

This grant is open to faith-based organizations and other 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations. Priority will be given to organizations located or operating in:

  • North America
  • Central America
  • Caribbean Islands
  • Colombia
  • Venezuela
  • Micronesia

Applicants must also have been in continuous operation for at least two years prior to the application due date.

Grant Programs

  • Catalyst Grants are intended to give organizations and programs a financial boost when needed. This is also the most appropriate grant for schools.
  • Venture Grants are for financially stable programs with clearly stated goals and objectives as well as mechanisms for objectively assessing results.
  • Impact Grants are for creative programs with a proven track record of success and outside partners.

Project Priorities

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Versacare is particularly interested in supporting programs that address:

  • Church community engagement
  • Disadvantaged or underserved communities
  • Youth and young adults
  • Women and children’s efforts
  • Social justice
  • Humanitarian efforts
  • Health and wellness
  • General education and science education

Impact Fund Recoverable Legal Grants

Impact Fund Recoverable Grants assist with out-of-pocket litigation expenses for legal cases with the potential to have a significant impact on social, economic, or environmental justice.

Letters of Inquiry for $10,000 – $50,000 are due by October 8, 2024. If invited to submit, full applications will be due by November 5. Cases that end with a fee or cost recovery will be requried to repay their grant with 7% interest.

Eligibility

Applicant

This grant is open to:

  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Solo practitioners
  • Small law firms

Case

Grants are typically given to class action suits, but cases that will potentially have a significant impact or lead to meaningful law reform may also apply.

Allowable Expenses

Grant funds may be used for:

  • Discovery-related costs
  • Filing fees
  • Expert witness fees
  • Deposition transcripts
  • Records fees
  • Scientific analysis
  • Court reporter fees
  • Interpreters
  • Visual materials
  • Class notice costs
  • Mediation fees
  • Travel costs

Funds may not be used for overhead, staff salaries, or attorney’s fees.

Sony Create Action Grant

The Sony Create Action Grant supports social justice and community focused nonprofits in the United States.

Applications are due by September 30, 2024 for submissions including an Action Plan describing how they will address social justice issues through photography, videography, filmmaking, or a related field.

Eligibility

This grant is open to social justice and community focused 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations who received less than $500,000 in annual donations in 2022 and 2023.

Award

Ten grantees will receive:

  • $50,000
  • $50,000 worth of eligible Sony Electronics products
  • Collaboration with Sony’s photographer/videographer to produce promotional photos/video for the organization, its Action Plan and the grant program

Review Criteria

All applications will be reviewed based on:

  • Action Plan relevance and use of creatives/creators (25%)
  • Action Plan proposed impact (15%)
  • Effectiveness of Budget Plan (40%)
  • Sony electronics product needs description (10%)
  • Application clarity and cohesiveness (10%)

HUD Eviction Protection Grant Program

The Eviction Protection Grant Program from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development supports organizations providing legal services to low income tenants at risk of eviction.

HUD expects to make approximately 25 awards of $500,000 – $2.5 million each. There is no matching requirement. Applications are due by August 20, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET.

Eligibility

Applicant

This grant is open to:

  • State, county, and municipal governments
  • Special district governments
  • Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
  • Public and nonprofit private institutions of higher education
  • Nonprofits with or without a 501(c)3 designation
  • Native American tribal organizations

Public and tribal housing authorities are not eligible.

Activities

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Eligible activities include:

  • Legal representation, counsel, and advice
  • Tenant advocacy
  • Post-eviction housing stability services
  • Court navigation services
  • Tenant education and outreach
  • Referrals and services to avoid eviction and minimize post-eviction impacts
  • Development, improvement, or evaluation of tools, processes, education materials and trainings, and eviction prevention and protection programs

Program Goals

The objectives of this program are to:

  • Increase housing stability for low-income tenants by providing funds to organizations offering no cost legal assistance to those at risk of eviction.
  • Support eviction protection strategies using equitable, community-driven strategies to serve those at greatest risk of eviction – Black and Brown people, people with limited English proficiency, people with disabilities, households with children, and people in rural communities.
  • Support the development and implementation of evidence-based strategies to make housing more equitable and justice oriented.
  • Evaluate legal assistance strategies and outcomes to develop evidence for means of preventing eviction and making housing more stable for renters

Allowable Expenses

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Grant funds may be used for:

  • Compensation and fringe benefits for employees for time spent on this specific project
  • Materials specifically for this project
  • Necessary equipment
  • Necessary travel expenses
  • Translation and interpretation services
  • Litigation costs
  • Outreach, education, and marketing materials

Funds may not be used to pay rent and other housing costs

The Workers Lab Innovation Fund

The Innovation Fund is a five month virtual fellowship sponsored by The Workers Lab. Participants engage in 12-15 hours of coaching and training per month for which they receive a stipend.

Applications are due by July 15, 2024 at 11:59 PM PT for a fellowship from October 2024 – March 2025. Three final winners will be announced in April 2025; they will receive up to $200,000 and a full year mentorship.

Eligibility

This fellowship is open to individuals and organizations in the United States with a valid United States Tax ID or social security number. This includes:

  • For profit companies
  • Social enterprises
  • Cooperatives
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Unions and government-aligned entities
  • Individual entrepreneurs

Topic Areas

The Innovation Fund is focused on two topic areas for 2024.

Climate Justice is Workers’ Justice

Projects under this topic should concentrate on addressing climate change and/or environmental justice while also attending to workers’ rights. These project should:

  • Bolster the transition to a green economy through high quality work
  • Modernize industries on the frontlines of climate change
  • Address the needs of workers most impacted by climate change

Worker-Centered Gen AI Solutions

Projects under this topic should apply artificial intelligence to improve working conditions and create new opportunities for workers. These projects should:

  • Empower workers
  • Make economic stability more equitable
  • Promote worker health and safety

Allowable Expenses

Grant funding is fairly flexible so long as funds are going toward the proposed project. Up to 15% of grant funds may be used for indirect costs.