Equity & Justice Grant

The Equity and Justice Grant Program is administered by the Ben and Jerrys Foundation, a private philanthropic organization committed to advancing social justice and equity. The foundation focuses its grantmaking on grassroots, community-driven efforts that address systemic inequities across Vermont. This program reflects the foundation’s broader mission of supporting organizations that challenge structural injustices and amplify the voices of those most directly affected by social, economic, racial, and environmental disparities. The primary purpose of this grant program is to fund innovative initiatives that promote long-term, systemic change rather than short-term relief. The program explicitly prioritizes organizations working on issues such as equitable access to education and early childcare, safe and affordable housing, criminal justice reform, immigrant rights, workers rights, and access to healthy and affordable food. A key emphasis is placed on programs that actively engage impacted communities in leadership and decision-making roles, ensuring that solutions are community-informed and equity-centered. Funding is available in amounts up to 15000 dollars, with an average award size of approximately 10000 dollars. The foundation has allocated a total of 300000 dollars for this program in the 2026 cycle. Funds are intended to support programmatic activities that align with the foundation’s priorities, but they may not be used for direct service provision alone, capital campaigns, research, litigation, or one-time events. The program does not require a cost share or matching contribution from applicants. Eligibility is restricted to Vermont-based organizations that are either recognized as nonprofit 501c3 entities or are fiscally sponsored by such organizations. Applicants must have annual operating budgets under 500000 dollars and must be located within the state of Vermont. The program excludes schools, government agencies, businesses, individuals, and organizations operating outside Vermont. Religious activities, scholarship programs, and regranting organizations are also ineligible. The application process requires organizations to first review eligibility requirements and complete an online eligibility questionnaire. Applicants must then create or log into an account within the foundation’s grant management system and submit their application electronically. The foundation does not accept mailed submissions or supplementary materials outside the online system. Due to limited staff capacity, prospective applicants are encouraged to rely on published materials rather than direct consultations with foundation staff prior to applying. The application window for the 2026 cycle opens on May 15 and closes at 4:00 PM Eastern Time on August 19. This program operates on an annual cycle, with one opportunity to apply each year. Applications are reviewed by teams of Ben and Jerrys employees, who make funding recommendations. Decisions are typically communicated through the grant portal after the review process, which includes a period for committee evaluation and potential follow-up requests. Organizations that have previously received funding must submit a follow-up report before reapplying in subsequent cycles.

Focus on systemic change and demonstrate meaningful community engagement; align clearly with equity and justice priorities