Georgia Grassroots Justice Funding

Georgia Grassroots Justice Funding is sponsored by Fund for Southern Communities. The Fund for Southern Communities provides grants and technical assistance to small-budget 501(c)(3) groups and fiscally sponsored projects in Georgia working on long-term social change, including social justice, workers' rights, environmental justice, arts, media, and peacebuil…

Fund for Southern Communities | Inside Philanthropy OVERVIEW: The Fund for Southern Communities supports social change in Georgia and the Carolinas. Funding priorities include environmental justice, anti-racism, women’s rights, youth development, LGBTQ rights, worker’s rights, civil rights, and disability rights. IP TAKE: FSC is a unique funder that supports progressive social change in the South.

It only funds small grassroots and new groups, but FSC really looks to support work that is overlooked by other foundations. It does not provide multi-year funding and limits support to once per year for no more than three times total, so don’t expect to establish a long-term partnership here. The Fund is accessible, however, and accepts unsolicited proposals annually.

Before you apply, be sure to familiarize yourself with how FSC defines “social change,” and what it considers advocacy. Also, contact the Fund with further questions prior to developing your application. Grants for Progressive Causes and Philanthropy This funder prioritizes Progressive Social Change initiatives from community groups.

The Fund’s Grants Program provides between $1,000 to $5,000 in support to groups focused on environmental justice, anti-racism, women’s rights, youth development, LGBTQ rights, worker’s rights, civil rights, and disability rights. The program awards seed grants to new projects, as well as general support and project support to small organizations with budgets of $150,000 or less.

FSC provides these types of nonprofits with both grant money and technical assistance. Special attention is given to projects that address the systems and structures that cause community problems. FSC does not avoid controversial issues or brand-new programs, but it does not support direct social services.

Past grantees include Charleston Legal, Citizen’s Advocacy of Atlanta, Community Movement Builders, and Dekalb, the NC Against Gun Violence Education Fund. New Grant seekers can view a full list of recipients here .

In addition to its grant program, FSC provides support from its various specialized funds, which include: Triangle Grassroots Fund grants support “seed innovative organizing work” in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill Triangle region in North Carolina. Organizational Development Fund makes grants to nonprofits for organizational training, leadership development, long-range planning, or networking opportunities.

Emergency Fund provides small grants for unexpected situations that fall outside of the regular grant cycle. The Lakewood Community Fund supports local nonprofits with $2,500 grants through FSC, and there are Donor Advised Funds as well. Grants for Racial Equity and Justice FSC has at least two separate funds devoted to racial justice.

Neither of these is focused on young women of color, however, these types of organizations see the most support. Racial Justice Fund grants support organizations working to redress racial discrimination in communities within FSC’s priority regions. Modjeska Simkins Memorial Fund supports South Carolina nonprofits working on youth, racial justice, and civil rights causes.

Previous racial justice grantees include Everyblackgirl, Black Girls Smile, Speaking Down Barriers, Chocolate Soul Revival, The Generation Gap, and HHSisters. View a full list of recipients here . Grants for Women, Reproductive Justice, and STEM Education The Fund focuses on supporting grassroots organizing and social change in the South, including work related to youth development, women’s rights and reproductive justice.

The Reproductive Justice Funding Initiative awards capacity building grants of between $10,000 to $30,000 to nonprofits led by women of color. This focus area also prioritizes gender equity in STEM education. Grantees include Sisterlove, Morehouse School of Medicine, 3D Girls Incorporated, RestoreHER US America, The Power of Girls, Girls Going Global, Atlanta Growing Leadership of Women, Stem Atlanta Women, and STEM Gems.

See a full list of recipients here . Grants for Democracy and Civic Engagement In its funding guidelines, the Fund states that it prioritizes grants for groups that work to distribute economic and/or political power equitably, use education and organizing to “challenge anti or undemocratic systems,” and are inclusive in how they advocate for social, economic or political change.

Media Justice Fund awards grants up to $10,000 for “projects that address media policy, infrastructure, or accountability within the context of a social justice issue or campaign” and offers at least $5,000 per year in funding to create education materials focused on media literacy, awareness, and activism and distribute these to communities impacted by media policy.

The Reclaim the Vote Initiative supports projects in Georgia that register and increase voter turnout, as well as educate voters about policies that impact their communities. Grants are at least $10,000.

Grantees include Alternate Roots, American Friends Service Committee, Black Voters Matter Capacity Building Institute, and One Voice, which works to “give voice to marginalized and vulnerable communities across the South by democratizing public policy through research, training, education, and organizing communities. ” See other grant recipients here .

While it is not a large funding area, FSC supports the LGBTQ+ community in some of its grantmaking. Southern Outlook Fund grants support nonprofits and programs that promote lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender rights and fight against homophobia and discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Grantees include Trans Forming, an Atlanta-based advocacy organization for trans masculine, transmen, intersex, gender non-conforming and non-binary persons over 44 years old. See more grant recipients here . The Fund makes grants to progressive grassroots organizations with missions that include protecting the environment.

Grantees include Social & Environmental Entrepreneurs, Environmental Community Action, and Gulf Coast Fund for Community Renewal and Ecological Health. New grantseekers can see a full list of recipients here . Grants for Arts and Culture FSC’s arts grantmaking revolves around nonprofits that “promote and create non-traditional arts and media.

” As with all other funding areas, smaller grassroots organizations see the most support. Grantees include Next Foundation, Mississippi Center for Cultural Production, Xhibition Studios Performing & Visual Arts, and Music Education Group. View a full list of recipients here .

Grant amounts for FSC’s various funds typically range between $1,000 and $5,000; however, funding from DAFs can exceed this. The Fund awarded over $1 million in grants in a recent year and held more than $4 million in assets. This funder accepts unsolicited grant proposals annually and supports community-based groups in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

Grant seekers can download the grant application from the homepage. It announces deadlines annually, and all applications should be mailed to 4153 – C Flat Shoals Parkway, Suite 314, Decatur, GA 30034. The Fund does not fund direct social services.

Recent financial and tax forms can be found on FSC’s website. Direct questions to the foundation staff at grants@fundforsouth. org or fsc@fundforsouth.

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