Diversity Equity and Inclusion Grants

The First Nations Development Institute is offering the Stewarding Native Lands program, specifically the Advancing Tribal Nature-Based Solutions project, to support climate action in Native communities. This initiative aligns with the foundation's broader mission to empower Native peoples to control their assets and future, recognizing that Indigenous communities are disproportionately affected by climate change due to their remote and coastal locations and reliance on healthy ecosystems for subsistence and cultural practices. The program seeks to build tribal capacity and programming that utilizes community-, culture-, and nature-based approaches to address climate adaptation and disaster preparation. The target beneficiaries for this grant are Tribes, Tribal 7871 entities, Native-controlled nonprofits, and Native-controlled community organizations across the United States and U.S. territories. "Native-controlled" is defined as organizations where a majority of the Board of Directors and leadership team are Native American, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian. The primary impact goal is to strengthen the ability of these Native entities to implement nature-based solutions rooted in Native knowledge, thereby increasing their resilience to climate change impacts such as wildfires, flooding, and drought. The program prioritizes projects that employ nature-based solutions, which leverage animals, plants, and the environment to protect ecosystems, support human well-being, and enhance local biodiversity. Examples of focused activities include clam bed restoration for flooding and erosion, reintroduction of ecocultural plants, beaver restoration for water retention and carbon sequestration, cultural burning for biodiversity, and grass farming for desertification. Allowable activities are diverse, encompassing emergency response planning, climate-proofing infrastructure, climate risk governance, wildlife management, workforce development, organizational capacity building, and updating climate adaptation plans. First Nations expects to award 6 grants, each up to $200,000, with a grant period from September 1, 2024, to July 1, 2026. The expected outcomes include enhanced tribal capacity in climate adaptation and disaster preparation, the successful implementation of nature-based solutions based on Native knowledge, and improved ecosystem health and community well-being in the face of climate change. The foundation's strategic priority is to advance climate action that is culturally appropriate and community-led, demonstrating a theory of change where empowering Native communities with resources and knowledge leads to more effective and sustainable climate resilience.

Rising Restaurateur: A Community Grant Program is an innovative microgrant program that offers $200,000 in microgrants to New York City Latino, Black, Indigenous, Asian American and/or Pacific Islander restaurateurs. From brick-and-mortar establishments to food trucks and carts, BIPOC/AAPI+ entrepreneurs in the food and beverage industry can apply for microgrants of up to $10,000 to uplift their businesses. Selected participants will also have access to additional business development opportunities through Oyate Group. Rising Restaurateur is a partnership between Oyate Group, Grubhub and the New York State Latino Restaurant Bar & Lounge Association. To participate, restaurateurs must be Latino, Black, Indigenous, Asian American and/or Pacific Islander, based in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Westchester County (Mt. Vernon and Yonkers), operating as a single business with 30 or fewer employees and a revenue of $2 million or less. Members of the New York State Latino Restaurant Bar & Lounge Association are encouraged to apply. Grant funding is made possible by Grubhub and Oyate Group.

The Perkins CTE Reserve Grant, under the authority of the Wisconsin Perkins State Plan 2020, allocates secondary reserve funds to support the development, implementation, promotion, and monitoring of career pathways at the regional level. These pathways are aligned with state-identified high-skill, in-demand occupations or industries. The grant's objective is to increase the number of students accessing, participating in, and completing these career pathways, with a focus on equity and access for special populations. The grant has evolved over four years, initially focusing on creating the necessary infrastructure for regional career pathway development and then emphasizing student engagement, equitable access, and completion of career pathways, including career-based and work-based learning experiences.

The Statewide Creative Catalyst Grants are designed to support new initiatives that enhance the cultural, educational, or economic vitality of Pennsylvania's communities through the arts. Eligible projects should align with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts' goals of strengthening communities through the arts, connecting Pennsylvanians to lifelong learning through the arts, and promoting public awareness and appreciation of the arts. Applications will be assessed based on their statewide impact, benefit to Pennsylvania's creative sector, and incorporation of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

This funding opportunity supports small nonprofit organizations in Colorado with budgets of $1 million or less that are addressing urgent needs for older adults, particularly in the areas of combating ageism, promoting digital equity, and facilitating aging in place, while prioritizing equity for marginalized communities.

The Indiana Office of Energy Development seeks proposals for Empowering Energy Partnerships in Indiana Communities to address energy needs at a community or regional scale. The program supports comprehensive solutions aligned with the state’s pillars of reliability, resiliency, stability, affordability, and environmental sustainability, and encourages partnerships with measurable public benefits. Eligible project topics include energy efficiency such as building upgrades and energy management technologies, alternative fueling and charging infrastructure that is publicly accessible, energy security and reliability including backup generation, microgrids, and cybersecurity, and clean energy resources such as solar, storage, geothermal, wind, and biomass. Vehicle purchases and certain high speed charging are not allowable under program rules. Projects should also demonstrate connections to state priorities such as economic development, workforce development, education, and public safety. Eligible entities include local units of government, nonprofit organizations, for profit entities, and institutions of higher education that are Indiana based and registered federally and with the state. Approximately 2,500,000 dollars is available, with anticipated awards averaging 300,000 to 500,000 dollars for project periods of up to three years. One proposal per eligible entity is allowed; applicants may coordinate regional submissions but cannot make tiered subawards. Applications are due May 1, 2024 through the state’s process. Additional information is available from the Indiana Office of Energy Development.

The United States Department of State's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA) has announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for its Caribbean United for Women's Economic Empowerment (CUWEE) project. This grant program is fundamentally aligned with the mission of addressing systemic barriers and socio-cultural attitudes that challenge gender equity and equality within the Caribbean economy. The funding is sourced from the FY 2023 Gender Equity and Equality Action (GEEA) Economic Support Funds (ESF), signaling the Department of State's strategic priority on advancing economic security through gender equality initiatives in the region. The project is anticipated to be executed through a cooperative agreement and will be administered by the WHA's Office of Policy Planning and Coordination (PPC). The primary target beneficiaries of the CUWEE project are women and adolescent girls aged 16 and older in the Caribbean. The overarching impact goals are to build their economic resilience and skills capacity. By achieving this, the project aims to enable these beneficiaries to successfully enter the labor force and obtain economic security, thereby contributing to broader regional stability and growth. The initiative's theory of change appears to center on strengthening the ecosystem of local support to create sustainable economic opportunities for women. The strategic priorities and focuses of the project are multi-faceted, with a strong emphasis on empowering local civil society support actors. A central requirement is that proposals demonstrate how the grantee will strengthen local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) engaged in advancing women’s economic security. The project is expected to first focus on identifying problematic country-specific and/or regional systemic barriers and socio-cultural attitudes, and then partner with local CSOs to directly address these identified obstacles. The CUWEE project details two key mechanisms for implementation. First, it intends to support a competition designed to promote local CSOs to develop and implement pioneering solutions tailored to overcome specific local systemic barriers to economic security for women in their respective country or region. Second, the project mandates the provision of a training curriculum that builds the capacity of, and strengthens, the regional Caribbean network of local CSOs dedicated to women’s economic security. WHA intends to issue one award, subject to funding availability, not to exceed $1,973,359, for a project period of up to three years, with a target start date of October 2024. The expected outcomes are the provision of greater economic gender equity and equality across the Caribbean region through the development of local capacity and innovative, localized solutions.

The Art and Change Grant (ACG), provided by the Leeway Foundation, offers up to $2,500 to fund art for social change projects. This grant aligns with the foundation's mission to support artists and cultural producers who are deeply involved in creating art that positively affects and engages communities and audiences, ensuring that social change is integral to their artistic process and goals. The foundation prioritizes art with a vision and intentional analysis, recognizing it as a powerful tool for societal impact. The target beneficiaries for the ACG are women, trans, and/or gender nonconforming artists and cultural producers who reside in Greater Philadelphia, specifically in Bucks, Camden, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, or Philadelphia County, and are at least 18 years old. The grant aims to empower these artists to use their creative practices to foster social change. The impact goals include raising consciousness, altering perspectives on self, society, or culture, creating visions of a more just world, and serving as a strategy for organizing and movement building. The grant prioritizes art that addresses various forms of oppression, such as racism, classism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ageism, and ableism. It also focuses on art that questions mainstream culture and beliefs, shifts perceptions of power and privilege, and values healing justice practices. Expected outcomes include strengthening communities, preserving or reclaiming traditional cultural practices, building a sense of community, and creating spaces for expression. The grant also emphasizes a reciprocal process of teaching and learning, ensuring mutual benefit for both the artist and the community engaged. The Leeway Foundation's strategic priorities are centered on supporting project-based art for social change across any medium, including traditional, nontraditional, multimedia, and experimental forms. Their theory of change posits that by empowering individual artists to create socially engaged art, they can catalyze significant community-wide impact. The foundation aims for measurable results through projects that demonstrate a clear vision for social change and actively engage communities, fostering a more just and equitable world through artistic and cultural practice.

The City of Evanston's Small Business Recovery Program is designed to safeguard the local small business economy and preserve the city's economic and cultural fabric. While not explicitly a foundation, the City of Evanston's mission alignment with this program is evident in its commitment to supporting the independent businesses that define the city's identity. This initiative directly addresses the sustained negative economic impacts of the pandemic on these vital businesses. The program primarily targets existing small, independently owned brick-and-mortar businesses in Evanston, particularly focusing on minority, disadvantaged, and veteran-owned enterprises. To be eligible, businesses must have been operating on or before March 13, 2020, possess a physical Evanston location with proper registration/licensing, and have 50 or fewer employees. The overarching impact goal is to facilitate recovery from the pandemic's economic downturn, ensuring these businesses can continue to operate and contribute to the community. The program prioritizes a range of services and expenses to achieve its goals. These include facade improvements, rehabilitation/renovation of commercial properties, signage, professional services (accounting, tax, insurance, legal), marketing/communications technical assistance, capital expenditures (tools and equipment), training and certifications, relocation/expansion within Evanston (for qualified census tracts), and hiring/training of new employees. The maximum grant amount per applicant is $25,000, with other eligible expenses capped at $10,000. Priority will be given to M/W/D/EBE businesses or those located in qualified census tracts if applications exceed available funding. The expected outcomes include the revitalization of small businesses, job retention and creation, and an overall strengthening of Evanston's local economy. Measurable results will likely stem from the types of expenses funded, such as improved business appearance, enhanced operational efficiency through new equipment, increased marketing reach, and expanded workforces. The City's strategic priority is to prevent business closures and stimulate economic growth post-pandemic, operating on the theory that direct financial and technical assistance to vulnerable small businesses is the most effective way to achieve a resilient local economy and maintain its unique cultural identity.

The Outdoor Equity Fund aims to enhance safe, equitable access to outdoor spaces and nature-based learning for Wabanaki, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in Maine, unceded land of the Wabanaki. The fund addresses systemic barriers that BIPOC communities face in accessing outdoor spaces by supporting organizations working on land-based cultural preservation, land-back projects, leadership development, farming and gardening programs, outdoor accessibility, expeditions, learning, and therapeutic programs. It operates with a Community Advisory Committee guiding its efforts and employs a participatory grantmaking process. Selected organizations for the 2023 cohort will receive $30,000 over three years for general operating support, alongside opportunities for peer learning and capacity-building activities.

This program provides flexible funding to individuals and organizations in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and 23 Native nations to develop and implement innovative ideas that drive positive change in their communities.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations that create a positive impact in their communities through programs focused on areas such as education, youth development, addiction prevention, and services for the aging and disadvantaged across several Western states.

This program provides over $1.5 million in unrestricted funding to nonprofit organizations in Maine that are led by and serve Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities, focusing on dismantling racial injustice and promoting racial justice initiatives.

The Kansas Innovation Fund, facilitated by KHF, is an initiative designed to empower visionary individuals and organizations in Kansas who are dedicated to creating positive change within their communities through innovative solutions. Offering up to $5,000 for each approved idea or project, the fund aims to address complex issues by exploring new strategies that improve health and health equity across different sectors. This funding opportunity is open year-round to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations, government entities, and churches in Kansas, with applications reviewed monthly. Projects that enhance health opportunities for Kansans, reflect innovative approaches, and benefit Kansas communities are prioritized for funding.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for projects that improve infrastructure and drive significant system changes in dental health initiatives across Iowa.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for community and statewide meetings aimed at addressing health and healthcare challenges faced by Maine's most vulnerable populations.

This grant provides funding for collaborative projects in the planning phase that seek to create systemic change in community health by addressing complex issues through equity-focused solutions.

This funding opportunity supports organizations focused on planning and developing strategies to prevent firearm injuries and deaths, particularly targeting underserved communities.

This funding opportunity supports initiatives that promote citizen engagement in government, enhance accountability, and protect individual rights, particularly focusing on empowering communities of color.

The GPOA Foundation is committed to enhancing the lives of children and youth within Orleans Parish, Louisiana, through substantial financial support to nonprofit organizations. With grants ranging from $10,000 to $20,000, the foundation focuses on operational costs of programs that directly benefit this demographic, including staff salaries and materials. Notably, the foundation is open to considering multi-year requests for three years of declining support, contingent on the organizations' impact objectives and evaluation plans. Moreover, collaborative grant requests involving up to three organizations are encouraged, aiming to foster a cooperative approach towards achieving common outcomes. Eligibility is restricted to nonprofits serving children and youth in Orleans Parish, and the foundation does not fund building or renovation expenses, equipment, event sponsorships, individual scholarships, or out-of-state programs. The GPOA Foundation prioritizes early childhood education, grade-level reading proficiency by the third grade, enrichment programs, special education, and vocational training for at-risk youth, with a vision to level the playing field for the most vulnerable segments of the community. Grant renewed every year. Annual Fall opening/closing concept paper deadline: October 1st to November 1st. Full application ONLY by invitation.