Category Archives: Justice

Barbara McDowell Foundation

The Barbara McDowell Foundation provides grant funding for legal fees related to specific social justice cases in the United States.

Letters of Intent will be accepted June 1-15, 2024 for a grant term of October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025. LOIs submitted before June 1st will be rejected.

Eligibility

This grant is open to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations to pay legal fees for social justice cases filed between October 1, 2022 and December 31, 2024.

Criminal cases, individual claims, and amicus briefs are not eligible.

Key Issues

The McDowell Foundation is focused on cases related to:

  • Access to benefits
  • Children’s rights
  • Disability rights
  • Discrimination
  • Domestic violence
  • Due process
  • Environmental justice
  • Healthcare
  • Homelessness
  • Housing
  • Native American rights
  • Prisoner’s rights
  • Refugee and immigration rights
  • Veteran’s rights
  • Voting rights

Ideal cases will:

  • Address one of these areas of interest
  • Have a significant impact on the well being and civil liberties of disadvantaged Americans
  • Set a significant legal precedent

Scoring Criteria

All LOIs will be scored based on:

  • Alignment with mission
  • Social justice impact
  • Financial need

Food Justice for Kids Prize

The Food Justice for Kids Prize from the Newman’s Own Foundation supports projects in the U.S. and its territories under two focus areas: Indigenous Food Justice and Nutrition Education and School Food.

Up to 10 applicants (5 for each focus area) will receive as much as $50,000 in 2024, with the chance to receive an additional $50,000 in 2025. Applications are due by June 11, 2024.

Eligibility

This funding opportunity is open to:

  • 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations
  • Organizations with a 501(c)3 serving as a fiscal agent
  • Federally recognized Native American tribes
  • Federally recognized Urban Indian Organizations
  • Public schools and school districts
  • U.S. governmental entities

Focus Areas

Indigenous Food Justice

For the purpose of this grant, ‘Indigenous’ means Native American, Native Alaskan, or Native Hawaiian. Projects must wholly or primarily benefit children 18 and under and may focus on:

  • Increasing access to and rematriation of affordable and nutritious traditional foods
  • Transferring control of food resources to Indigenous communities for the benefit of their children
  • Enhancing Indigenous children’s ability to respond to their needs for healthy, culturally relevant foods
  • Generally supporting food justice for Indigenous children

Nutrition Education and School Food

Photo by Pavel Danilyuk: https://www.pexels.com/photo/students-on-their-lunch-break-8423436/

Projects under this focus area should support community-based direct service and sustainable practices. Projects must wholly or primarily benefit children 18 and under and may focus on:

  • Developing programs for children to learn about, grow, gather, and/or cook healthy, nutritious, culturally relevant foods
  • Ammending school policies and practices to increase access to healthy school meals
  • Generally supporting nutrition education and/or healthy school food

Newman’s Own Foundation Community Fund

Donations to the Newman’s Own Community Fund are pooled and used to award additional funding on a quarterly basis. Grantees are eligible to receive these funds which are awarded based on member votes.

We Are Together International Prize

The We Are Together International Prize supports initiatives from around the world that are working toward social change through volunteering.

Applications for $10,000 and other benefits are due by May 20, 2024. Submissions may be in English or Russian.

Eligibility

This prize is open to citizens of any nation who are 18 years of age or older and registered nonprofit organizations.

Award

Recipients or laureates will receive:

  • $10,000
  • Expert support
  • Meetings with high-ranking guests, leading experts and public figures in the winning countries
  • The chance to share their project with the world
  • The opportunity to take part in the International Forum of Civil Participation

Focus Areas

  • Healthcare and Emergency Response – Physical and mental health, promotion of physical activity, blood donation, and assisting people during disasters
  • Ecology and Sustainable Development – Environmental protection and education, green economy and technology
  • Equal Opportunities and Social Justice – Improving the lives of vulnerable populations

A.J. Muste Memorial Institute Social Justice Fund Grant

The A.J. Muste Memorial Institute Social Justice Fund Grant supports grassroots organizations in the United States doing activist work.

Applications for up to $10,000 are due by April 22, 2024 at 3:00 PM ET.

Eligibility

This grant is open to registered and unregistered nonprofit organizations in the United States with an annual operating budget of less than $500,000. Applicants may use a fiscal sponsor.

The Institute’s priority is to support organizations:

  • Doing direct activism work
  • With diverse, representative, and democratic leadership structures
  • With limited access to more mainstream funding sources

Focus Areas

The Institute is particularly interested in projects focused on:

  • Ending violence at the U.S./Mexico border and the criminalization of migrants
  • Redefining the criminal justice system and policing
  • Confronting institutionalized violence based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender expression
  • Ending economic exploitation and systemic poverty
  • Ending state sponsored terrorism

Funding Limitations

Grant funding may be used for general operating support or project support. It may not be used for:

  • Academic research
  • Economic development projects
  • Direct social services
  • Capital campaigns
  • Art, theater, film, or video projects not directly tied to activism or organizing
  • Legal defense or litigation
  • Scholarships

Genentech Health Equity Innovation Fund

The Genentech Health Equity Innovation Fund supports projects that address inequities faced by people of color in the U.S. when accessing healthcare. Projects should focus on bold new ideas that consider the structural racism at the root of the problem.

Applications for up to $750,000 are due by April 15, 2024. The typical grant period is 18-36 months.

Eligibility

This funding opportunity is open to:

  • 501(c)3 and 501(c)6 nonprofit organizations
  • Public schools, colleges, and universities
  • Public hospitals
  • Federally recognized Native American Tribal governments

Focus Areas

Photo by Antoni Shkraba: https://www.pexels.com/photo/doctor-talking-to-a-patient-6749742/

Projects should focus on at least one of the following:

  • Neuroscience and brain health
  • Oncology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Cardiovascular and metabolic disease

Objectives

  • Increasing rates of screening and diagnosis while promoting care continuity
  • Widening the capacity and accessibility of specialty care services and linkages to critical non-clinical services
  • Enhancing the quality, safety, and experience of care for patients
  • Shifting institutional and system-wide policies and practices to deepen long-term accountability for equity

Evaluation Criteria

All applications will be evaluated based on:

  • Leadership representative of the target population(s)
  • Addresses systemic barriers to health equity with a focus on racism
  • Directs resources to impacted communities and empowers them to make decisions
  • New and creative approaches to addressing the issue with the goal of taking sustainable, scalable action
  • Proposes to quickly share information gathered to further other work in the field

Dovetail Impact Foundation

The Dovetail Impact Foundation practices Christian stewardship by supporting projects in 35 countries that promote human flourishing. They currently fund through their Domestic Portfolio in Texas, Scale Portfolio, and Acceleration Portfolio.

Grants are by invitation only, but interested organizations may introduce themselves at any time.

Eligibility

Funding through the Domestic Portfolio is available to nonprofit organizations in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties in Texas.

Funding through the Scale Portfolio is available to nonprofit organizations in Africa, India, and Southeast Asia, typically with an operating budget of $500,000 – $5 million.

Funding through the Acceleration Portfolio is available to nonprofit organizations in Africa, typically with an operating budget of less than $300,000.

Fundamental Principles

Dovetail looks for three fundamental principles in the organizations with which they partner:

  1. The ability to accomplish a lot with a little
  2. The potential to impact millions of people
  3. A sustainable model of operations, not entirely reliant on private philanthropy

Ideal partners will also have:

  • A unique, well defined mission
  • A 3-5 year strategic plan
  • A business model that demonstrates increased efficiency over time
  • Evidence of impact or a plan to measure results
  • A strong, effective Board or the intention to establish one
  • Strong executive talent with a coachable spirit

Funding Limitations

Dovetail typically does not fund requests focused on:

  • The Arts
  • Disaster response
  • Higher education
  • Events
  • Endowments
  • Scholarships
  • Individual assistance, such as tuition or emergency aid

Third Wave Fund: Mobilize Power Fund

The Mobilize Power Fund is a grant program from the Third Wave Fund, which provides rapid response support to gender justice organizations in the U.S. and its territories. This money is intended to help groups act in the face of unanticipated opportunities or threats.

Applications for up to $10,000 ($20,000 for partnerships and coalitions) are accepted and reviewed five time a years. Due dates for 2024 are March 5, May 7, July 2, September 3, and October 1.

Eligibility

This grant is open to organizations in the United States and its territories, with or without a 501(c)3 nonprofit designation. Applicants must, however:

  • Be led by transgender or cisgender women of color and/or trans, gender non-conforming, and intersex people of color under age 35
  • Be working on issues of gender inequity, gender-based violence, homophobia, or transphobia
  • Be responding to a time sensitive opportunity or threat that necessitates a change in regular operations
  • Be focused on strategies that strengthen the community in which they’re working
  • Have an annual opperating budget of less than $500,000

Allowable Activities

Grant funds may be use for:

  • Marches or rallies
  • Bail or legal fees
  • Leadership training
  • Mutual aid
  • Healing justice work
  • Unanticipated legislative or ballot initiative campaigns

Grant funds may not be used for:

  • General operating support
  • Regularly scheduled activities
  • Budget shortfalls

Submission Options

Applicants have the option to submit their project narrative in written or video form or through a phone interview with a Fund representative.

  • Written narratives must be no more than four pages
  • Video narratives must be no more than 10 minutes long
  • Phone interviews may be scheduled by emailing programs@thirdwavefund.org or calling 917-387-1262 ext. 806 before the last Tuesday of every month. Availability of this option will be based on the number of requests each month. Priority will be given to groups for whom a written narrative is inaccessible.

Lush Charity Pot Grants

Lush awards grants funded through sales of their Charity Pot Hand and Body Lotion to grassroots organizations around the world. They support causes that are often overlooked and underfunded in the areas of Animal Protection, Environmental Justice, and Human Rights.

Applications are accepted on a continual basis for requests up to $15,000.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

  • Registered and unregistered nonprofit organizations and NGOs
  • Indigenous groups
  • Community groups

Applicants must have an annual revenue of $500,000 or less.

Funding Limitations

Grant funds may not be used for:

  • Air travel
  • The cost of attending a training, meeting, or other event
  • Non-vegan or vegetarian food
  • Scholarships
  • Event sponsorships
  • Bail

U.N. Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery

The United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery provides assistance to the more than 40 million people enslaved worldwide. Through their grants program, they fund civil society organizations who provide humanitarian, psychological, social, legal, medical, and financial help to survivors.

Applications are accepted annually from January 15th – March 1st for projects to occur the following calendar year. Awards range from $15,000 – $35,000. Organizations may submit requests for continual funding for up to five years, but they must submit a new application each year. Applications may be submitted in English, French, or Spanish.

Eligibility

This grant is open to civil society organizations with at least two years’ experience working in the of contemporary enslavement.

Governmental, parliamentary or administrative entities, political parties, and national liberation movements are ineligible.

Allowable Expenses

The primary focus of grant funds should be on providing direct assistance to survivors of contemporary enslavement and their families. No more than 15% of the award should be used for administrative costs and grant funds should not exceed 2/3 of the total project budget.

Funds may be used for training and seminars to improve professionals’ ability to assist survivors of enslavement. Speakers’ fees cannot be paid with grant funds, but pre-agreed fixed honoraria for trainers can.

Priority Areas

Priority consideration will be given to projects that focus on:

  • Reparations
  • Empowerment
  • Integration through the provision of direct aid such as medical, legal, and educational assistance

Application Requirements

Applicants who have not previously received a grant must include:

  • Curriculum vitae of staff to demonstrate that they have relevant experience
  • Statutes and organizational structure
  • Valid legal registration certificate of the organization (if available)
  • Proof of nonprofit status (if available)
  • One reference letter and contact details for two additional references
  • Bank statements from the previous three months
  • Most recent annual report
  • List of principal members of the directorate or board of trustees
  • Five case studies of individuals recently assisted or to be assisted

All budget numbers should be in U.S. dollars.

Transformative Care Agendas in the Global Majority

Transformative Care Agendas in the Global Majority is a program from the SAGE Fund. It supports projects that address the way the care economy is subsidized by women, girls, and gender nonconforming people at the expense of their own educational and professional goals. The lack of investment in care systems also negatively impacts those who need those services and who lose their agency and autonomy as a result.

SAGE expects to award 8-12 grants of $100,000 – $150,000 each for project periods of 12-18 months. Initial applications and concept notes are due by January 29, 2024 and must be completed in English. The Fund will then work with applicants on the short list to develop a full proposal.

Projects must focus on the Global Majority, which is defined as, “the group of people in the world who do not condier themselves or are not considered to be white.” More than 80% of the world’s population are part of the Global Majority.

Eligibility

Applicant

This grant is open to legally registered charities or organizations who have designated a legally registed charity to serve as their fiscal agent. This may include:

  • Civil society organizations (including NGOs)
  • Community-based organizations
  • Worker organizations
  • Networks, coalitions, and partnerships
  • Research centers or think tanks in the Global Majority with strong links to activism

Geography

Image by Albrecht Fietz

Projects must take place in Africa, Asia, Latin America and/or the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

SAGE is unable to fund projects in:

  • Afghanistan
  • Belarus
  • Cuba
  • India
  • Iran
  • North Korea
  • Russia
  • Syria
  • Ukraine (Russian-Occupied Territories)
  • Yemen

Objectives

Program

The Transformative Care Agendas in the Global Majority program aims to:

  • Promote the value and importance of care through public investment and support/provision from the state, community care, and for-profit institutions
  • Shift care systems to provide economic security and protections to care workers through labor laws, policies, and regulations
  • Strengthen coalitions within the care sector and with other movements (e.g. labor, feminist, migrant, and environmental) to advance a care agenda at all levels

Projects

Image by Sam Chen

Funded project should achieve at least one of the following:

  • Advance new models to support care systems and economies that increase the role of the state, invest in community care systems, and/or regulate for-profit care providers
  • Address structural barriers to care worker protections, such as economic security, safe working conditions, and social protections
  • Identify and engage with social movements to form alliances which can advance the care agenda