Grassroots Fundraising/Grants

Community Building Mini-Grants Program - United Way of Greater New Bedford, 105 William Street, 4th floor, New Bedford, MA 02740 Contact: Claudia Kirk Tel:(508) 994-9625 x 13 Fax (508) 994-9667 Email: ckirk@unitedwayofgnb.org. To be eligible for funding, organizations must meet the following criteria: They must be all-volunteer organizations with an established membership; The annual budget must not exceed $25,000; Projects seeking funding must be specific and have a realistic implementation plan; They must also promote the building of stronger relationships within the community; Group must be based in the Greater New Bedford area. Application deadline is Friday, April 28, 2006

Catholic Campaign for Human Development - The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) is the domestic anti-poverty, social justice program of the United States Bishops. Its mission is to address the root causes of poverty through promotion and support of community-controlled self-help organizations and through transformative education. These efforts know no racial or religious boundaries. They help all people find a way out of poverty for a lifetime. Community Organizing and Economic Development grants are available and the awards range from $10,000-$50,000. Pre-applications are now available online at www.usccb.org/cchd/grants. Please visit this website to view our criteria and guidelines. An "Application Help Guide" is available online to assist applicants in completing their applications. Online applications are due November 1, 2004. For more information please contact Denise Porché at Catholic Social Services (508)-674-4681

The Cape Cod Foundation -259 Willow Street, Yarmouthport, MA 02675 Tel: 1-800-947-2322 or 508-790-3040 Fax: 508-790-4069 Email: info@capecodfoundation.org - Makes grants from the Cape Cod's Future Fund (it's discretionary fund) and other unrestricted funds twice a year, in the spring and fall. Some other program initiatives involve bringing in outside funds, convening organizations and individuals, awarding grants, and designing and implementing programs.

The Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts - 227 Union Street, Suite 609, New Bedford, MA Tel: (508) 996-8253 Fax: (508) 996-8254 Email: info@cfsema.org Currently, no discretionary funds are available, but they do offer grant-writing workshops and a capacity-building program.

Access Strategies Fund - 24 Thorndike Street, Cambridge, MA 02141 Tel: 617-494-0714 or 888-920-1969 Fax: 617-494-0718
The mission of the Massachusetts-based Access Strategies Fund is "to help disenfranchised communities in Massachusetts harness their collective power to access and use the democratic process to improve their lives." The fund currently supports electoral reform/voting rights, political resources and tools, political participation of youths, connecting immigrant groups to political power, and voter mobilization. Visitors to the fund's Web site will find grant guidelines and deadlines, a list of previous grantees, news and events, resources and links, and travel directions to the fund's Cambridge office.

Haymarket Peoples Fund - 42 Seaverns Avenue, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 Tel: 617-522-7676 Fax: 617-522-9580
Haymarket People's fund gives money to grassroots groups of local people who believe that change is possible. Who know that community groups who come together with a vision of justice can get the job done, provided they have the resources. Twice a year Haymarket awards money to local organizations in hundreds of New England neighborhoods, town, and cities.

Resist, Inc. - Funds small budget groups (an annual budget of $125,000 or less) who struggle towards a broad vision of social justice, while continuing to oppose political and institutional oppression.

Needmor Fund - 42 South Street, Clair Street, Toledo, OH 43602, Tel: 419-255-5560 The Needmor Fund has identified community organizing as the most effective process by which low and moderate income people can build power, can address the systemic barriers to the practice of democracy, can hold public and corporate officials accountable for their actions, and can begin to participate in shaping public policy. They look for multi-issue, membership-based community organizations in low and moderate income communities which show promise for creating significant social change (impacting significant public or private institutions which influence low and moderate income communities.)

See also:
Grassroots Fundraising Journal - Practical tips and tools to help you raise money for your organization. They also have a free e-newsletter.