RFC Granting Programs

The Rosenberg Fund for Children supports the educational and emotional needs of children and youth up to age 24 who are linked to targeted progressive activists. Grants can cover tuition, counseling, and other essential services to help beneficiaries thrive despite the challenges faced by their families. The fund emphasizes direct support to programs and providers, ensuring that assistance reaches those most affected by activism-related adversities.

NOTE: Message from the funder - It's not common for us to award grants to other non-profit organizations, but we'd be open to considering it if it fits within our scope.
Project Description
The Rosenberg Fund for Children provides for the educational and emotional needs of children (up to age 24) of targeted progressive activists, and youth (up to age 24) who are targeted activists themselves. In most instances, professionals and institutions directly receive the grants to provide services at no or reduced cost to beneficiaries.
Definitions/Limitations
The RFC defines “targeted” as someone who as a result of his or her activism, has:

• lost a jobsuffered physical or mental injury or disabilitybeen harassed or discriminated againstbeen imprisonedor died
• The RFC defines “progressive activities” as those taken to further any of the following beliefs:
• All people have equal worthWorld peace is a necessityPeople are more important than profitsSociety must function within ecologically sustainable limits
• What the Rosenberg Fund for Children Funds

Subject to financial considerations, the RFC funds such things as: counseling, school tuition, camp tuition, cultural lessons, after-school programs, prison visits, and supplies for college or a similar program to prepare beneficiaries for adult life. Whenever possible, the RFC prefers to make grants directly to programs or providers (e.g. tutors, dance teachers, summer camps, etc.), but when necessary will process grants as reimbursements to parents, legal guardians, or targeted activist youth.
The RFC provides four types of grants:

• RFC Regular Granting Program

This program provides up to $3,000 per child per year but no more than $2,000 awarded for the benefit of a child or youth and UP TO $7500 per family in one granting cycle. For example, someone who receives a grant of $2,000 in the spring is only eligible to apply for $1,000 in the fall; someone who receives $1,500 in the spring can apply for $1,500 in the fall. Subject to financial ability, the RFC will fund such things as:

• K-12 school tuition; camp tuition; counseling; cultural lessons; recreational programs; and after-school programs.

NOTE: there is a maximum of two providers per child per granting cycle and a completed computer request form (available on the applications page) MUST be submitted with all computer requests.
This granting program is open to the children of targeted activists and to targeted activist youth aged 18 and younger.
Carry It Forward Awards (CIF)
This program provides $600 per year to beneficiaries aged 19 through 24 to help with the cost of books and supplies associated with post-high school education and training. Beneficiaries submit receipts from the purchase of books and supplies for reimbursement.
Beneficiaries can receive up to four CIF awards. The RFC cannot reimburse receipts for tuition and fees. This program is open to the children of targeted activists and to targeted activist youth who fit within age guidelines. Beneficiaries can only receive one Carry It Forward Award per year. Beneficiaries can receive up to four CIF awards.
Development Grants for Targeted Activist Youth (TAY)
This program provides targeted activist youth ages 18 to 24 with special development grants of up to $1000 per year to further their education, support their emotional needs or develop their organizing skills.
Targeted activist youth are eligible for a maximum of four of these grants (one per year) which are intended to support their development as activists and their transition to adulthood.
Attica Fund Prison Visit Program
This program provides funds for children and youth up to age 24 to visit activist parents from whom they have been separated because the activist parent(s) has been imprisoned.
Beneficiaries can only receive one Attica Prison Visit Program grant per year. Attica funds are generally dispersed based on receipts submitted for reimbursement, up to $2,000 annually.

Eligibility

Applications may be submitted by parents, custodians, and guardians to benefit children in the United States whose parents’ pursuit of progressive values has left them unable to fully provide for that child as a result of being targeted as outlined above. In addition, the young adult children of targeted activists may submit applications on their own behalf.Applications may also be submitted by, or on behalf of, targeted activist youth (TAY) whose targeting has resulted in a significant adverse life impact.In special cases a Group Grant may be requested. A Group Grant application should be used if you wish to apply on behalf of a group of young people (if anonymity is required for personal safety) who meet our granting guidelines or if you wish to apply for a group focused on of serving the educational and emotional needs of children in a community that has experienced pervasive repression in response to the community’s resistance to oppression.

Ineligibility

The RFC is unable to consider grants for general living expenses, like housing, clothing, and food, or for those who have sufficient alternative sources of support. The RFC does not pay legal expenses.The RFC does not make grants to institutions that the Board believes operate in opposition to one or more of the beliefs listed above.