Jerry Greenfield National Grassroots Organizing Grant Program

Jerry Greenfield National Grassroots Organizing Grant Program

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Ben & Jerry's Foundation
Amount: Up to US $30,000
Last Updated: February 04, 2026

Summary

The Grassroots Organizing National Grant Program, funded by the Ben & Jerry's Foundation, supports small, community-led organizations in the U.S. working to confront social and environmental injustices. Grants of up to $30,000 per year are available for two years, prioritizing organizations with budgets under $350,000. The program emphasizes grassroots organizing and community empowerment, inspired by the legacy of John Lewis. Eligible applicants must focus on collective action and local leadership to drive social change.

Overview

NOTE: The process remains open for 2024 through October, when we pause to update our forms and details for the upcoming year. 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. 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. 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: The organization is led by the people directly impacted by the issues the organization works on, and those people have clear decision-making power.A plan with clear goals to gain rights, win collective political power and create positive community change.An assessment of the problem being addressed and best tactics to employ.Outreach, networking, and ally gaining activities that build support and momentum.Educational activities and events that inform and motivate and build support. We know that organizing can take many forms. Some grassroots organizing activities might include but are not limited to: Community & ally outreach Consistent, multi-faceted efforts to recruit and engage people in your work. Examples include sharing information and resources, public forums, canvassing, workshops, tabling at events, phone-banking, and media engagement. Leadership development of constituents Investing time, training and resources to cultivate innate leadership assets within people who historically haven’t had access to civic and community engagement opportunities or positions of power. Constituent empowerment & decision-making The organization is driven by the people impacted by the problem. Constituents define core values, identify and prioritize issues, and determine the appropriate course of action to solve them. Popular education An educational technique, based on the theories of Paulo Friere, designed to raise the consciousness of its participants and allow them to become more aware of how an individual’s personal experiences are connected to larger institutional or societal problems. Root cause analysis The practice of continually peeling back the layers of a problem and asking “why?” each one exists until the root cause(s) of the issue can be identified and targeted for change. Power analysis The process of identifying which individuals or entities hold the power to make decisions that positively and negatively affect an issue. Campaign development A game plan of action including tactics, materials, timelines and their intended audiences and effects. Mobilizing constituents & allies Moving people to take specific action toward achieving a common goal. Examples include attending rallies and protests, tabling at events, testifying at hearings, contacting public officials, speaking to the media and phone-banking. Coalition building Partnering with other organizations that have allied missions and interests with the goal of creating power in numbers. Non-violent direct action (NVDA) Public forms of protest for the purpose of demonstration, obstruction or dissent.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. To be considered for funding, each applicant organization must have:An annual operating budget under $350,000 Grassroots, base-building organizing as the primary strategy for creating social change Non-profit 501(c)3 status, or a fiscal agent with this status Be U.S.-based and U.S.-focused

Ineligibility

Areas not funded: Unfortunately, we cannot consider requests for:Direct services to individuals, i.e. food pantries, youth mentorship programsOrganizations with an International scope of work Organizations with an annual operating budget over $350,000Discretionary or emergency supportDonations or sponsorshipsPublic or private schools, colleges or universitiesActivities to elect specific candidates for public officeIndividuals, fellowships or scholarship programsLitigationCapital or endowment campaignsState agencies or government programsBusinesses or business associationsReligious activitiesArts or Media programs that are not linked to a clear grassroots organizing campaignOther foundations