SPF: The Discretionary Fund Grant

The Southern Partners Fund's Discretionary Fund Grant aims to support grassroots community organizing for social, economic, and environmental justice in the Southeastern United States. It provides financial resources and technical assistance to rural organizations and leaders focused on transformative change. Eligible applicants include self-governed rural groups engaging in advocacy and community development. The fund prioritizes education reform, immigration rights, and voter engagement, allowing up to two requests per year, with a maximum award of $3,500.

Purpose
Develop and nurture grassroots community-based leaders and organizers. Build the capacity of their organizations. Strengthen rural communities and people. Develop equitable peer relationships, which support real transformation toward a just society.
Please note over the next four years SPF will focus on three primary issue areas in its grantmaking: Education Reform; Immigration Rights; and Voter Engagement
Existing grantee partners as well as organizations new to SPF may apply for funding. All applicants should fall within the scope of the SPF mission and guidelines: grassroots community organizing for economic, social and environmental justice, in rural communities in the South.
Discretionary support includes (not limited to) grants for capacity building, community organizing events and/or activities, and voter engagement activities. There are three primary funding areas within discretionary
General Discretionary: community organizing activities or small projects that aim to create change in SPF’s 12-state region.Technical Assistance: capacity building, strategic planning, organizational development, trainings and technology upgrades.Travel Assistance: conference travel and participation or civic engagement activities.
Discretionary fund resources are limited. Organizations may submit a maximum of two requests per year for a total reward of $3,500 per year.

Eligibility

Who We Fund:The Southern Partners Fund focuses on rural community organizing in the Southeastern United States (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia). The organizations and projects that we fund strive for progressive fundamental change. These groups must be:Rural community groups in the Southeastern United States,Self-governed by members of the targeted rural population, andUsing Grassroots Organizing strategies on issues of social, economic and environmental justice that enable community members to become decision-makers.

Ineligibility

What We Do Not FundDirect ServicesBuilding and land acquisitionsLegal feesRegranting to intermediary organizationsUrban organizations