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Find similar grantsRapid Response Fund (Headwaters Foundation for Justice) is sponsored by Headwaters Foundation for Justice. The Rapid Response Fund supports strategic organizing around new, rapidly emerging, or unexpected legislative or policy developments, events, and political moments, including restorative/healing justice after an incident of harm within the community.
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Rapid Response Fund | Headwaters Foundation for Justice Headwaters Foundation for Justice Headwaters Foundation for Justice Rapid Response grants support strategic organizing in response to unexpected events, urgent challenges, or rapidly emerging political moments.
At Headwaters Foundation for Justice (HFJ), we know that the nature of grassroots organizing means that our funding cycles do not always align with organizations’ real-time financial needs in moments of crisis or opportunity. As a result, HFJ budgets a yearly pool of funds for rapid response grantmaking.
The Rapid Response Fund supports strategic organizing around new, rapidly emerging, or unexpected legislative or policy developments, events, and political moments.
Examples could include, but are not limited to: short-term strategic collaboration/coalition with other organizations civic engagement project or public education legal defense and security costs cultural organizing/healing justice work in response to a community need in the face of an unexpected political event restorative justice after an incident of harm within the community unanticipated moments of internal organizational pivots, i.e., leadership transitions, unionization efforts, etc. There are 8 rounds of Rapid Response grantmaking in the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
We expect to distribute $600,000 in grants (approximately $75,000 per grant round). This application process is intended to facilitate fast decision making. If approved, organizations can expect to receive funding within 30 days of the application deadline for a given cycle.
At Headwaters Foundation for Justice (HFJ), we know that the nature of grassroots organizing means that our funding cycles do not always align with organizations’ real-time financial needs in moments of crisis or opportunity. As a result, HFJ budgets a yearly pool of funds for rapid response grantmaking.
The Rapid Response Fund supports strategic organizing around new, rapidly emerging, or unexpected legislative or policy developments, events, and political moments.
Examples could include, but are not limited to: short-term strategic collaboration/coalition with other organizations civic engagement project or public education legal defense and security costs cultural organizing/healing justice work in response to a community need in the face of an unexpected political event restorative justice after an incident of harm within the community unanticipated moments of internal organizational pivots, i.e., leadership transitions, unionization efforts, etc. There are 8 rounds of Rapid Response grantmaking in the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
We expect to distribute $600,000 in grants (approximately $75,000 per grant round). This application process is intended to facilitate fast decision making. If approved, organizations can expect to receive funding within 30 days of the application deadline for a given cycle.
Important Notes and Resources The 2025-2026 inquiry period for Rapid Response Fund grants are now closed. Please check back for new Rapid Response Fund cycles, opening August 2026. Organizations must complete an eligibility inquiry form before submitting an application.
Download the Rapid Response Grant Packet for detailed information about grant guidelines, criteria, scoring rubric and application questions. Rapid Response Grant Packet See the assessment tool that we will use to make decisions about Rapid Response grant awards. Rapid Response Scoring Rubric For more information about the application process, please review the FAQ below.
Important Notes and Resources Organizations must complete an eligibility inquiry form before submitting an application. The inquiry period for Cycle 5 is now open. The inquiry form will close at 5pm on February 25.
Download the Rapid Response Grant Packet for detailed information about grant guidelines, criteria, scoring rubric and application questions. Rapid Response Grant Packet See the assessment tool that we will use to make decisions about Rapid Response grant awards. Rapid Response Scoring Rubric For more information about the application process, please review the FAQ below.
Frequently Asked Questions Organizations may apply for up to $25,000 . Rapid Response grants are unrestricted, general operating support. If awarded, organizations cannot apply again for a Rapid Response grant until 12 months after the notification date (see Application Cycles section, below).
However, organizations may continue to apply for other funding offered by HFJ. Submit an inquiry form . This form will be reviewed by Program Team staff.
Organizations will receive a response by email within one or two business days. The email will either share next steps to apply for a Rapid Response grant via the HFJ grantmaking portal or let the organization know that we cannot move their application forward at this time. See Application Cycles (below) for inquiry form deadlines.
If invited to submit a Rapid Response proposal, organizations will complete an application in HFJ’s grantmaking portal (the link to apply will come in the invitation email) by the deadline for the upcoming grant cycle. Application questions can be found below. Organizations should be concise and straightforward in their answers.
Only applications that are complete upon submission will be considered. For each grantmaking cycle, organizations can expect to receive a decision within three weeks of the cycle’s application deadline (exceptions to this are noted in the Application Cycle calendar). Complete payment information and receive grant funds within two weeks of notification.
Application cycles (deadlines & notification dates) There are 8 rounds of Rapid Response grantmaking in the 2025-2026 fiscal year. All deadlines are by 5pm Central Time.
Deadline to submit an inquiry for this cycle: Wednesday, August 27, 2025 Application deadline: Wednesday, September 3, 2025 Notification Date: Monday, September 22, 2025 Deadline to submit an inquiry for this cycle: Wednesday, September 24, 2025 Application Deadline: Wednesday, October 1, 2025 Notification Date: Monday, October 27, 2025 Deadline to submit an inquiry for this cycle: Wednesday, October 29, 2025 Application Deadline: Wednesday, November 5, 2025 Notification Date: Monday, November 24, 2025 Deadline to submit an inquiry for this cycle: Wednesday, January 28, 2026 Application Deadline: Wednesday, February 4, 2026 Notification Date: Monday, February 23, 2026 Deadline to submit an inquiry for this cycle: Wednesday, February 25, 2026 Application Deadline: Wednesday, March 4, 2026 Notification Date: Monday, March 23, 2026 Deadline to submit an inquiry for this cycle: Wednesday, March 25, 2026 Application Deadline: Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Notification Date: Monday, April 20, 2026 Deadline to submit an inquiry for this cycle: Wednesday, April 29, 2026 Application Deadline: Wednesday, May 6, 2026 Notification Date: Tuesday, May 26, 2026 Deadline to submit an inquiry for this cycle: Wednesday, May 27, 2026 Application Deadline: Wednesday, June 3, 2026 Notification Date: Monday, June 22, 2026 Eligibility, scoring rubric, and application questions Refer to the Rapid Response Fund grant packet for detailed information about grant guidelines, criteria, scoring rubric and application questions.
Please note: Rapid Response Fund grants are intended for organizations with budgets under $2M. Currently, organizations must complete a very brief inquiry form before they can submit a complete application. HFJ Program Staff will review inquiry forms and invite eligible organizations to submit a full application.
The inquiry form opens approximately three weeks before a cycle's application deadline. Please see application cycles for detailed deadlines. You may review the inquiry form questions in between cycles here .
We are experimenting with this approach to ensure that the number of applications for each grantmaking round is manageable for the decision-making committee’s fast review timeline. We also don’t want organizations to waste valuable time applying for rapid response funding if they are not aligned with the purpose of our Rapid Response Fund.
At this time, members of the Headwaters’ Program Team will read and evaluate grant applications and make a collective decision about which organizations will be selected for funding. Decisions will be based on alignment with the Rapid Response Fund criteria (see next section). Organizations selected to receive a Rapid Response Grant can expect to receive funding within 30 days of the application deadline.
Priority will be given to grassroots organizations throughout Minnesota that address systemic and root causes of oppression. Efforts may be led by a single organization or organizations working in coalition. Priority will be given to organizations with budgets under $2M.
Grant requests will be evaluated on the following criteria: Timely and urgent : The rapid response work must be responding to an unanticipated event or urgent internal or external challenge. Opportunity for immediate community impact : The rapid response work is strategic with a clear timeline and goals, with the desired outcomes having the potential to positively affect the community right away.
Clear focus on equity and justice : The organization’s work specifically focuses on equity and justice in alignment with HFJ mission and values . It should demonstrate a clear equity framework, explicitly responding to the unique needs, challenges, and strengths of marginalized communities.
Movement- and power-building : The organization must aim to build the voice and power of Black people, Indigenous people, and/or People of Color (BIPOC) and/or other marginalized communities (e.g., immigrants, refugees, formerly incarcerated residents, youth, low-wage workers, people with disabilities, low-income residents, LGBTQ+ community members, etc.).
Representative leadership and staff : The organization’s efforts must be led by those who are most impacted by the issues that the effort aims to address. We hosted an information session on Tuesday, January 20, 2026 for organizations to learn more about the Rapid Response Fund and the application process. The recording of the session can be viewed here .
Questions? Want more information? For general questions about the grant and eligibility, contact: Kate Vickery, Program Officer, at: kate@headwatersfoundation.
org , or 612-400-6279 For questions about accessing and navigating the Grant Portal, contact: Robyn Browning, Grants Manager, at: robyn@headwatersfoundation. org , or 612-400- 6266 Six Months of Rapid Response: What We’re Seeing Across Minnesota ICE out of MN: $120,000 in emergency funding Headwaters Launches Rapid Response Fund
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Grassroots organizations, primarily in Minnesota, focused on racial justice and systems change. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows $15,000 per grant (approximately $100,000 per grant round total). Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
Rapid Response Fund (Headwaters Foundation for Justice) is funded by Headwaters Foundation for Justice. Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
This opportunity targets applicants in Minnesota. If your organization operates elsewhere, check the official notice for location requirements.
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