Rapid Response Fund for Movement Building Grant

The Rapid Response Fund for Movement Building provides urgent financial support to grassroots organizations addressing social justice for low-income residents and people of color. Offering grants of $3,000 to $20,000, projects must show immediate community impact and demonstrate a commitment to racial and economic equity. Applications are processed within 30 days, with projects needing completion within six months. Priority is given to small organizations and collaborative efforts that empower marginalized communities.

The Rapid Response Fund for Movement Building provides quick-turnaround funds to frontline social justice organizations that are strengthening the voice and power of low-income residents and people of color. The fund offers grassroots organizations small, one-time grants within 30 days of receiving a funding request.
Grant size and duration
One-time grants of $3,000–$20,000 for discrete projectsIf approved, grant will be processed within 30 days of application receipt.The project must be completed within six months of receiving the grant.
Guidelines – projects must demonstrate the following to be eligible for funding:
Timely and urgent: Your organization must be responding to an unanticipated catalyzing event or urgent external challenge.Opportunity for immediate impact: The project is strategic with a clear timeline and goals, with the desired outcomes having the potential to positively affect the community right away.Clear focus on racial and/or economic equity: Your project specifically addresses racial and/or economic inequities. It should demonstrate a clear equity framework, explicitly responding to the unique needs, challenges, and strengths of marginalized communities.Movement- and power-building: The project must aim to build the voice and power of people of color or other marginalized communities.Representative leadership and staff: The project must be led by those who are most impacted by the racial and economic inequities that the effort aims to address (e.g. communities of color, immigrants, refugees, formerly incarcerated residents, youth, low-wage workers, people with disabilities, low-income residents, LGBTQ community members, etc.).

Eligibility

Basic eligibility Geography: funding requests must serve residents in one or more of the following five Bay Area counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo.Tax exempt status: Organizations must have an IRS 501(c)(3) tax exempt status or be a fiscally sponsored project of another nonprofit entity. 501(c)(4) organizations will be considered but must submit additional lobbying documentation.

Ineligibility

The foundation cannot make grants to individuals.Applications that promote interpersonal violence, structural violence, institutional violence, or forms of genocide will not be considered for review.Funding will NOT be provided for:Nonprofit general operating supportOngoing program supportCapital improvementsBudget shortfalls or fundraising eventsPreviously planned or long-term campaignsFunding gaps due to internal organizational emergencies, such as office vandalism, resignation of an executive director, or sudden loss of funding

Organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status or fiscally sponsored projects (501(c)(4)s considered with additional lobbying documentation). Requests must serve residents of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco and/or San Mateo counties. No grants to individuals.