SJFN: Rapid Response Grants

The SJFN Rapid Response Grants provide up to $3,000 to grassroots organizations for urgent and unanticipated projects in response to political climate changes. These grants aim to support community-led initiatives, including emergency mobilizations and legal clinics. Organizations must be group-led, focused on community organizing, and primarily operate in specific states. Priority is given to groups led by people of color and those outside major urban areas. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

NOTE: Rapid Response grants are awarded monthly throughout the year until the funds are totally spent down. The application deadline is rolling but we encourage you to turn in your application by the 30th/31st of the month.
Rapid Response grants are small project specific grants of $3,000 to help grassroots organizations respond quickly to the changing political climate with actions and/or strategies that could not have been anticipated.
Examples of potential eligible projects:
Emergency mobilizations and community meetings in response to a recent police shootingOrganizing a community defense response to a recently announced white supremacist rally and marchPlanning a direct action at a corporate shareholder meeting that was just announcedRapid response legal clinics and know your rights trainings in response to Executive Orders or other sudden policy changesA rapid response canvassing effort to educate and connect with targeted community members about the dangers of a religious registry

Eligibility

Rapid Response fund will make grants to groups that meet the following criteria:Be an organized group of people (we do not fund individuals).This may include a non-profit organization with 501(c)3 or 501(c)4 status as determined by the IRS OR a federally recognized American Indian tribal government or agency OR an organization that is fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)3 or 501(c)4 organization or federally recognized tribal government.Groups that are not 501(c)3 or c(4) organizations and are not fiscally sponsored can apply, but must speak with an SJF staff person first.Are led by people who are most directly affected by the problems that the organization or project is addressing.Use a community organizing approachCarry out most of their work in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and/or Wyoming.Are facing an urgent issue or emergency situation that could not have been anticipated and was not part of the organization’s projected work, and therefore need to respond to something that could not have been planned for.Have a plan for how they will respond to the urgent issue or emergency situation.Have completed all past due year-end reports for any previous SJF grants.

Ineligibility

Examples of projects that would not be eligible for a Rapid Response grant:An ongoing campaign facing a new development that could have been predicted as a scenarioAnnual conferences, events, or operating expenses for ongoing organizing work.A fundraising campaign for an individualBudget shortfallsBail funds