Private Social Advocacy Grants

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in the Hampton Roads region that offer non-clinical mental health services, focusing on early intervention, peer support, and community strengthening initiatives.

This award provides $20,000 to individuals who have shown outstanding leadership in promoting the rights of low-wage workers of color in the United States, enabling them to further their impactful work in worker justice.

This funding opportunity supports organizations in Maine that promote the well-being of cats and dogs by providing shelter, veterinary care, and resources to help keep pets with their owners, particularly in under-resourced communities.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations and academic institutions for research projects that address systemic inequalities and promote social change through community engagement and advocacy.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations that empower women and children by promoting self-sufficiency and dismantling barriers to opportunity in the community.

This initiative provides funding and career development support to U.S. artists creating innovative and socially engaged projects across various disciplines, including visual arts, performing arts, film, and literature.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in southeastern North Carolina that focus on improving community health and wellness through various initiatives.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Greater Cleveland that promote LGBTQ+ community empowerment, advocacy, and visibility through collaborative initiatives and storytelling efforts.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations in the Greater Memphis area that are focused on creating sustainable, positive change in health, education, social justice, arts, and community development.

This funding initiative provides financial support to organizations that assist survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse, helping frontline workers combat vicarious trauma through wellness activities and community-building efforts.

This funding opportunity supports community-based nonprofit organizations in Hartford, Connecticut, and St. Louis, Missouri, to improve healthcare access and address mental health and substance use challenges in underserved populations.

This grant provides financial support to libraries in the U.S. and its territories for innovative community programming that fosters connections and engagement among local residents.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit legal services organizations and public entities to enhance access to justice and improve civil legal aid systems.

This initiative provides funding to nonprofit organizations in the Chicago area that focus on building community wealth, mobilizing residents, and enhancing community care for the African American community.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and community groups in Glastonbury, Connecticut, for projects that enhance the quality of life and address local needs.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in the U.S. to support programs that improve the quality of life for individuals living with paralysis and their families.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations and public agencies in specific New Mexico counties to improve community health and safety through services related to housing, food security, healthcare, and senior well-being.

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.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations that deliver essential services to vulnerable individuals and families facing homelessness or living in poverty.