grassroots organizing
National Grant Program
We believe those most impacted by inequity and injustice are in the best position to develop solutions. Our intent is to achieve a better future for all by providing support to community-based, grassroots organizations confronting social and environmental injustice. We are inspired by Civil Rights icon John Lewis’ admonition, “Speak up, speak out, get in the way. Get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”
The National Grassroots Organizing Program (NGO) offers two-year unrestricted, general operating support grants of up to $30,000 per year, with an average grant size of $20,000 per year, to small (budgets under $350,000), constituent-led grassroots organizations throughout the United States and its territories.
APPLICATIONS FOR 2025 ARE NOW OPEN.
As we use a rolling process, you may submit anytime throughout the year.
“Speak up, speak out, get in the way. Get in good trouble. Necessary trouble.”
— John Lewis
Funding CONSIDERATIONS
OUR APPROACH TO FUNDING
While our broad goals are to further social and environmental justice, our primary purpose is to support the local leadership and grassroots organizing activities of our grant partners rather than any specific issues the organizations are addressing. We are interested in supporting groups that are carrying out activities that build support and collective action to address impacts of inequity and injustice in their communities.
We are guided by common principles of community organizing which we look for in proposals. In general these are:
We know that organizing can take many forms. Some grassroots organizing activities might include but are not limited to:
Expand to see definitions.
AREAS NOT FUNDED
UNFORTUNATELY, WE CANNOT CONSIDER REQUESTS FOR:
- Direct services to individuals, i.e. food pantries, youth mentorship programs
- Organizations with an International scope of work
- Organizations with an annual operating budget over $350,000
- Discretionary or emergency support
- Donations or sponsorships
- Public or private schools, colleges or universities
- Activities to elect specific candidates for public office
- Individuals, fellowships or scholarship programs
- Litigation
- Capital or endowment campaigns
- State agencies or government programs
- Businesses or business associations
- Religious activities
- Arts or Media programs that are not linked to a clear grassroots organizing campaign
- Other foundations
Requirements
TO BE CONSIDERED FOR FUNDING, EACH APPLICANT ORGANIZATION MUST:
- Have an annual operating budget under $350,000
- Use grassroots, collective-action organizing campaigns as the primary strategy for creating social change
- Be a non-profit with 501(c)3 status, or have a fiscal agent with this status
- Be U.S.-based and exclusively U.S.-focused
ApplicAtion Process
CAREFULLY REVIEW THE
Considerations, Restrictions & Requirements
PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF ALL THE ITEMS LISTED ABOVE
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CREATE AN ACCOUNT
OR LOGIN TO YOUR EXISTING ACCOUNT (bottom-left)
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COMPLETE THE
APPLICATION
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Participate In Conversation
If Committee Members are interested in learning more, your organization will be contacted to schedule a video conversation with our Committee.
Deadlines
THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR 2025 IS NOW AVAILABLE.
Beginning November 1st, 2024 the 2025 grant applications will be available and can be submitted at any time.
Frequently asked Questions
BEFORE YOU APPLY
ELIGIBILITY QUESTIONNAIRE
APPLICATION
AFTER YOU APPLY
Grant Partner Highlights
![Within what looks like a march or protest, a young black male holds a red and black banner with an older black woman. The banner reads: Human Rights Coalition.](http://benandjerrysfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Human-Rights-Coalition.web_.jpg)
![Artistic drawing of man holding a portrait of a loved one who is incarcerated. A circular shape behind the man appears like a sun, with a note saying, "27 years behind bars, for the action of another, and every day, I wish you were home"](http://benandjerrysfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/EFM-Alfonso-sb300-poster.web_-768x1024.jpg)
![Latina/Latino youth stand and kneel together with handmade signs supporting immigration form. In front of them is a colorful sign saying, "Citizenship for All"](http://benandjerrysfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Adelante-Student-Voices.web_-1024x768.jpg)
![A group of people walk along a sidewalk holding a white banner with black painted words across that reads: Eviction Kills. There are cartoon images of skulls on the banner. A protester leads the group holding a loudspeaker.](http://benandjerrysfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Homes-For-All-StL-1024x683.jpg)
![A group of black workers and white allies stand on a city sidewalk with signs and a banner that reads: Black Workers Matter](http://benandjerrysfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BWM-In-Street-1024x765.jpg)
PAST Grant Partners
The documents below feature lists, by year, of the organizations we’ve funded in the past. Not only is it inspiring to see all of the impactful work happening all over the country, reading through these brief descriptions is a great way to better understand the types of organizations we support.