Seeding Justice invites proposals from 501(c)(3)s and 501(c)(4)s engaged in community-driven public policy, advocacy, and community organizing focused on systems change in Oregon.

• Type of Award: Project Grant
• Award Amount and Duration: One-year grants up to $20,000. 
• Funding available: $160,000 in grant funds this cycle.
• Proposals due: November 22, 2024 by 5:00 PM PST 

Background

Funding advocacy is a crucial component of movement building—without it, organizations cannot engage in systems change at a large scale. Early in 2024, Seeding Justice funded its first round of grantees under the Seeding Advocacy program. In this opportunity, Seeding Justice will fund Oregon-based organizations that believe, like we do, that those most impacted by the pain of injustice are the ones best equipped to come up with solutions to the problems that affect them.

Funding Opportunity Overview

This funding is intended to support community-driven public policy, advocacy and community organizing that is focused on systems change at the local and statewide levels. 

Grant funding could be used for: 

• Community organizing and leadership development
• Communications and messaging
• Training and Member Education
• Campaign Development (research, coalition building, polling, etc.)

No part of these funds may be used to support or oppose any political party or candidate for public office. Funds must be used for charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes. 

An organization or project’s total grassroots lobbying budget should be larger to or equal to the amount requested from Seeding Justice.

SELECTION CRITERIA 

Seeding Justice will prioritize projects that:

• are led by Black and Indigenous people and other communities of color, especially those that identify as LGBTQIA2S+, immigrants and refugees, folks living with disabilities, people living with low incomes, folks that are currently or formerly incarcerated, houseless people, and those living in rural communities;
• address the root causes of injustice and focus on changing systems, not just addressing symptoms of problems;
• build collective power by using community organizing, leadership development, base building, policy advocacy, and/or other strategies;
• are intentionally anti-racist, anti-oppression, and intersectional in their thinking, approaches and solutions; and
• are led by the people most impacted.
• While we are accepting applications from groups of all sizes, our Grantmaking Committee has historically prioritized smaller, grassroots organizations. 
• Organizations and Tribal Nations that work on cultural and narrative power building rooted and in alignment with ancestral, Indigenous and traditional knowledge are especially encouraged to apply.

ELIGIBILITY 

In order to be eligible for funding, organizations must:

• Work must benefit those who call Oregon home; and
• Have 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) tax exemption, or have a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor, or be a Tribal Nation
• Have a history of public policy, advocacy, and community organizing. 

Organizations that received a Seeding Advocacy grant in early 2024 are eligible to apply. If you are unsure if that’s you, please contact us.

GRANT TYPES + AMOUNTS

Seeding Advocacy grants are project support grants. Project support grants are restricted to a specific project or fiscally sponsored group. Grants are for one year, unless otherwise stated in the grant agreement. Applicants can request up to $20,000.

Seeding Justice strives to fund groups at the full amount requested. However, our limited budget and the high number of applications we receive sometimes force us to make smaller awards.

PROCESS + TIMELINE

Applications must be submitted via our online platform, Submittable. 

After groups submit their applications, the Grantmaking Committee will review them and select the organizations that will receive funding. 

The timeline for this cycle is as follows:

Thursday, October 24, 2024 – Applications open

Wednesday, November 22, 2024 – Applications DUE by 5 p.m. PST.

End of December/Early January – Notifications go out

By end of January 2025 – Finalize grant agreements and Payment

HAVE QUESTIONS?

If you have questions, please send us an email and we’ll get back to you as quickly as possible.

If you experience technical difficulties with Submittable, please contact them directly at support@submittable.com.

Seeding Justice Rapid Response Grants

Our Rapid Response grants program is designed to provide current grantees with quickly deployed small grants to respond to emergencies and opportunities.

ELIGIBILITY
In order to be eligible for funding, groups must:

• be a current Seeding Justice grantee;
• have an annual operating budget of less than $700,000; and
• not have received another Rapid Response grant in the same fiscal year (Seeding Justice’s fiscal year is from July 1 to June 30)

Proposals for Rapid Response grants must clearly articulate the urgency for funds or immediate need of the organization. If the request is not urgent, we encourage groups to apply for our General Fund grants.
Rapid Response grants are not meant to address major climate or global catastrophes such as the COVID-19 pandemic, floods or wildfires. They are very small grants for unanticipated opportunities or challenges, such as attending conferences, purchasing needed technology, or getting some professional help when there’s a leadership transition in the organization.

GRANT TYPES + AMOUNTS
 

• Critical Response grants: Maximum of $4,000 for immediate and critical needs. For example, organizing community gatherings/meetings in response to traumatic events; unexpected challenges within the organization, such as an executive transition; or unique and timely opportunities, such as having an expert present to your organization.
• Travel grants: No more than $1,500 for organizations that are faced with unexpected travel-related expenses. Examples of things we would consider funding include registration fees and/or travel-related expenses for attending conferences, meetings, or events that were unplanned but that present a unique opportunity for the organization. Priority will be given to organizations based outside of the Portland Metro area.
• Technology grants: Up to $1,000 for grassroots organizations for unexpected technology needs. For example, replacing a malfunctioning computer, paying for technology that would allow your staff/community members to meet remotely, or renting equipment for a community gathering or training. Priority will be given to organizations based outside of the Portland Metro area.

PROCESS
Organizations may apply for Rapid Response grant funding on a rolling basis provided that funds are available. Seeding Justice replenishes the Rapid Response grant program each fiscal year on July 1 and January 1.
To the extent possible, we try to make Rapid Response grant funding available quickly, but we encourage groups, if at all possible, to plan ahead and apply for funds at least two weeks before they need the funds.

REPORTING
We do not require reports for Rapid Response grants.