Grants for Change

Grants for Change

Program Type: Grantmaking and community organizing program

Geographic Scope: Maine (Wabanaki Territory)

Focus Areas:

Racial justice organizing and activism

Black liberation and Indigenous sovereignty

Community building, grassroots organizing, and advocacy

Policy change

Healing and rematriation through traditional and Indigenous wisdoms

Liberatory cultural practices including arts, earth protection

Funding Priorities:

BIPOC-led and -serving organizations that dismantle racial injustice in institutional, structural, and systemic forms

Organizations strengthening communities through traditional and/or Indigenous wisdoms and liberatory cultural practices

Organizations led by, serving, and/or organizing in solidarity with Black and Wabanaki communities

Prioritizes Black and Wabanaki-led and -serving organizations and BIPOC-led groups working in solidarity with Black and Wabanaki communities

Eligibility Requirements:

Working exclusively or primarily in Maine

Programming primarily serves and supports BIPOC communities

BIPOC-led organization, group, or coalition

Implementing programs that advance racial justice locally or statewide

Organizational operating budget under $2,500,000 (not required for groups with Wabanaki Tribal Government or Tribal entity sponsorship)

To establish BIPOC-led status: must meet at least 2 of 3 criteria for past 2 years:

- BIPOC staff leaders (50%+ in leadership roles)
- BIPOC board members (50%+ in governing decision-making roles)
- BIPOC organizers (50%+ of on-the-ground, community interfacing staff/volunteers)

Award Structure:

Multi-year, unrestricted, general operating support

12 organizations selected annually

$15,000 per year over 3-year period ($45,000 total)

Funded organizations participate in peer learning, training, capacity-building, and community outreach activities

Background:
Since 2016, Grants for Change has committed $3,915,000 in unrestricted, general operating support to 74 organizations in Maine. For a three-year period beginning in 2022, committed to providing over $1.5 million in multi-year funding.

Contact: lia@maineinitiatives.org

Address: 57 Exchange Street, Suite 100, Portland, Maine 04101

Phone: (207) 607-4070