Empathy Building Initiative Grant

Empathy Building Initiative Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Acton Family Giving
Last Updated: January 08, 2026

Summary

The Empathy Building Initiative, led by Acton Family Giving, seeks to foster partnerships with organizations aligned with its mission. While currently not expanding its portfolio, it invites inquiries from potential partners. Eligible organizations must hold 501(c)3 status and align with specific giving areas. The initiative focuses on a national or broad reach and evaluates grant applications based on alignment and conversation. For more details, potential partners are encouraged to review the grants list available on their website.

Overview

NOTE: While we are not currently expanding our Empathy Building Initiative portfolio, we are always open to learn more about organizations and projects that are new to us, and welcome inquiries from prospective partners and others who seek to learn about our grantmaking. If you meet our basic eligibility requirements, please feel free to introduce your organization. This is not an application for funding, but an opportunity to share more about the great work your organization is advancing in the Empathy Building landscape. Introduction forms are reviewed and considered as a "collective" twice a year - in May and October. Empathy Building Initiative Thank you for your interest in partnering with us. Our team takes a proactive approach to identify potential grantees and collaborative opportunities by scanning the landscape for organizations aligned to priorities within our initiatives and program areas. We encourage you to review our grants list which includes our current partners for comparison.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Organizations must: Have 501(c)3 status or be a fiscally-sponsored projectAlign with one or more of our giving areas in our Empathy Building Initiative:Stories Animal Connection Areas of Exploration Good Fight GrantsHave a national or broad reach (statewide or expansive multi-region)Have a national or broad reach (statewide or expansive multi-region)Inclusion in our grantmaking is determined by an organization’s alignment, proximity to our Empathy Building Initiative’s mission and program area priorities, as well as how an organization's particular body of work compliments the efforts of our greater portfolio of current grantees. Please review each program area page for specific eligibility criteria. Grants are evaluated on a case-by-case basis through due diligence and conversation.

Ineligibility

We typically do not fund lobbying and activities to influence specific legislation, medical research, endowments, or individuals. In addition, we do not support organizations that discriminate against groups or individuals, or organizations that promote religious doctrine in the delivery of programs and services.Stories:We do not fund storytelling for the sake of advocacy, fundraising, or impact and marketing campaigns; organizations with the sole purpose of preserving or archiving stories; teaching the art of storytelling; direct support for artists or storytellers.Animal Connection:We do not fund organizations focused on animal rescue and protection; sustainable practices around farming, fishing, or food production; land trusts or environmental conservation efforts; direct support for animal services and animal caregivers.Areas of Exploration:We do not fund commissioned research, organizations that emphasize individual mindfulness and wellness practices, empathy as a lens for consumer research, empathy in artificial intelligence systems.