Grants for Small businesses - Social Advocacy

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations, especially faith-based groups, to improve their security measures against targeted violence and hate crimes.

This funding opportunity supports grassroots organizations in Indiana and Illinois that are focused on social change, providing up to $15,000 for operational, start-up, or project-specific expenses.

This funding opportunity supports community-based organizations and researchers focused on advancing racial and Indigenous health equity through innovative, action-oriented research initiatives.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations and individuals in Ohio to create teams that assist people with disabilities in pursuing self-employment and entrepreneurship, promoting economic independence and community inclusion.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations in Maryland focused on improving public health and reducing health disparities, particularly for underserved populations, through initiatives in chronic disease management, maternal and child health, dental care, and behavioral health.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Lincoln, Nebraska, that focus on enhancing social equity and quality of life through initiatives in arts, community development, education, and human services, with a special emphasis on supporting refugees and immigrants.

This initiative provides financial support to local newsrooms and independent journalists for investigative projects that expose racial and human rights abuses within the American criminal justice system.

This grant provides funding for nonprofit organizations to create peer mentoring programs that support adults with dual diagnoses of intellectual or developmental disabilities and mental health conditions, as well as their parents or caregivers.

This grant provides financial support to local nonprofits and community organizations in Suffield, Connecticut, for projects that address community needs and enhance civic engagement.

This program provides funding to municipalities, nonprofits, and public agencies in Bucks County to improve housing, public services, and economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to various organizations in Minnesota to implement strategies that address opioid use disorders and their impacts on communities, particularly those disproportionately affected by opioid-related harms.

This funding opportunity supports community organizations in north central Kansas that are working to improve public health outcomes in areas such as children's health, mental health, and substance abuse prevention.

This funding initiative supports local individuals and organizations in Appalachian Kentucky to develop innovative projects that enhance civic engagement and address community challenges.

This grant provides financial support to grassroots organizations in Central Florida that empower Black LGBTQ+ communities through initiatives focused on racial, economic, and gender justice.

This funding opportunity supports grassroots organizations and individuals working to dismantle systemic oppression and build cross-movement solidarity in the pursuit of racial equity and social change across the United States.

This funding opportunity provides resources to organizations and individuals in Ohio to enhance advocacy and civic engagement for people with developmental disabilities and their families, enabling them to influence public policy effectively.

This grant recognizes and honors individuals and organizations in Fort Collins and Larimer County that promote inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility within the community.

This grant provides funding to organizations that develop programs aimed at empowering youth with developmental disabilities through advocacy training and leadership development, helping them become effective self-advocates and community leaders.

This grant provides financial support to organizations in Forsyth County, North Carolina, that empower Black households through economic initiatives, such as career development, wealth-building, and support for Black-owned businesses.

The De Colores Rapid Response Fund is a program of the Peace Development Fund (PDF), created in honor of retired Development Officer Ray Santiago, who was deeply involved in the farmworker movement. Named after a beloved traditional Mexican folk song associated with solidarity and grassroots activism, the fund embodies the same spirit of resilience and unity. It is designed to respond quickly to dynamic and strategic opportunities for organizing in marginalized urban and rural communities across the United States and U.S. territories, rather than providing humanitarian aid or technical support. The fund supports short-term interventions at key moments of social change or crisis, where rapid, well-thought-out responses can make a measurable impact. These might include unanticipated events or strategic inflection points such as social justice uprisings or cultural shifts. The fund specifically targets groups organizing within communities of color and low-income or working-class populations. Preference is given to organizations with annual budgets under $250,000 and with limited access to traditional philanthropic support. Grants range from $500 to $1,000, and project budgets should not exceed $5,000. Funding is intended for groups already rooted in grassroots organizing work. The fund does not support individual applicants, groups based outside the U.S., budget shortfalls, or long-term pre-planned campaigns. It also excludes general operating support, charity events, direct services, and ongoing programming. Applications are accepted from organizations, coalitions, and non-501(c)(3) groups, provided they align with the Peace Development Fund's principles and are based in the U.S. or its territories. The application process begins with a brief interest form. If an organization qualifies, PDF staff will schedule an interview to discuss the proposal further. Decisions are typically made within one to three weeks of submission, with funds disbursed shortly after approval. Grants are issued on a rolling basis throughout the year, enabling rapid turnaround and deployment of resources when needed most. Applicants must demonstrate clear goals and desired outcomes tied to the event or opportunity they are responding to. Funded projects are expected to support systemic social change and reflect the Peace Development Fund’s core values of shifting power, building movements, dismantling oppression, and creating alternative community-based structures. Final reports are required within three months of receiving the grant and must outline how the funds were used and what progress was made toward the project’s objectives. This rapid response mechanism provides timely support to organizations poised to make a significant impact during critical moments of transformation.