Chinook Fund is seeking grant applications to support community organizations working on issues of racial, social and economic justice in the state of Colorado
Donor Name: Chinook Fund
State: Colorado
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 02/17/2023
Size of the Grant: $4,000 to $10,000
Details:
Chinook Fund seeds community-led, systemic change by mobilizing resources for and trusting in grassroots social justice organizations across Colorado. With 35 years of social impact, Chinook Fund has distributed $4 million to over 390 organizations. Honoring racial justice commitment, 90 percent of grantee groups were led by Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color.
Types of Funding
- Start-Up Grants are available to groups that are less than 4 years old. Groups must demonstrate a vision and plan for meeting Chinook Fund criteria, but do not need a proven track record of success. Groups can apply multiple times in this category, as long as they are less than 4 years old. The maximum grant award is $4,000.
- Established Grants are available to any group, but the competition for grants is tougher, as it includes organizations that have been working successfully on social justice issues for a number of years. The maximum grant award is $10,000.
- Multi-Year Grants will be considered for organizations who apply in the Established category, have been funded at least twice during the last 3 years, and who receive the highest level of funding in the current cycle.
Funding Criteria
Chinook funds organizations working to challenge the root causes of oppression, rather than treating the symptoms. Chinook believes the root causes of our most serious social problems include systemic racism, sexism, heterosexism, classism, ableism and ageism. They identify effective social change as efforts that strive to include these key elements:
- Constituent-Led:
- The work is led by the people most impacted by injustice. Unlike a traditional charity model, they believe that those most affected by the issue have the vision and solutions for their own liberation – and that the development of their leadership, skills, and power should be prioritized.
- Community-Wide:
- The work reflects all members of the constituency, especially those who experience multiple forms of oppression. This ensures that change for the community leaves no one behind, especially for those who have less privilege within the community.
- Lasting Effect:
- The work makes change not just for one individual today, but for the community as a whole, and for future generations. Generally this means organizing collective action to change systems and institutions.
Eligibility Criteria
Chinook Fund supports non-profit organizations, including those that do not have 501(c) 3 status. Fiscal sponsorship for those organizations without tax-exempt status is recommended but not required. If a fiscal sponsor is not used, an organizational bank account is required.
- All successful applicants must:
- Be based in communities facing injustice or oppression, including but not limited to: communities of color, low-income communities, LGBTQ communities, disabilities communities, immigrant communities.
- Have democratic leadership, decision-making and organizing that is led by and accountable to people most directly impacted by the issue or injustice
- Demonstrate that the work can lead to permanent progressive change for their community
- Be engaged in efforts to dismantle privilege and oppression within their organization and community
- Be based in Colorado (with possible exceptions made for regional indigenous groups)
- Have an annual budget of $350,000 or less
- Priority is given to organizations that are:
- Engaging in Community Organizing Work;
- Collaborative or working in alliance with other progressive groups as a way to build multiple strategies for bringing social change;
- Risk-taking by doing work that may be controversial, marginalized, and/or new and emerging;
- Strategic and working with a long-term vision which clearly links to current plans;
- Achieving concrete success which has positively impacted the community;
- Raise money from multiple sources throughout the community, such as foundations, businesses, individuals, special events, and income generating projects.
For more information, visit Chinook Fund.
