The North Star Fund is inviting applications for its Rapid Response Grants to support organizing, activism, and strategic convening in response to urgent threats or breaking opportunities, especially during critical junctures of a campaign.
Donor Name: North Star Fund
States: New York
County: Selected Counties
City: New York City
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: Ongoing
Size of the Grant: up to $5,000
Grant Duration: 12 months
Details:
Purpose
The grant is intended to help organizations achieve a timely and specific outcome or impact within three to six months, usually as part of a long-term goal to achieve systems-based change.
In these challenging times, their elected leaders and institutions are not always protecting communities of color and vulnerable populations. Rapid response grants may be used to pressure them to do the right thing. Unfortunately, they do not support replacing lost revenue, providing food or other basic needs to individuals, or educating communities about available services.
North Star Fund provides grants to organizations in NYC and Hudson Valley whose missions are to advance grassroots organizing—the process of building collective power so that communities impacted by injustice can make systemic change. Grantees can articulate the root causes of the injustices, pointing to systems and policies affecting their community. These organizations see community members impacted by this injustice as essential stakeholders, from whom they recruit leaders and seek stories, ideas, campaign strategy, and organizational direction. These organizations have a vision for systemic change that is connected to campaigns to undo or replace specific laws and systems that create inequity. These organizations can identify policymakers, decision-makers, or institutional targets in their campaigns. Community members take collective action to influence these targets to advance their demands.
Funding Information
- $2,500 or $5,000 for immediate actions.
- Organizations may receive up to $5,000 within a 12-month period.
General Eligibility
Organizations funded by North Star Fund must also meet these criteria:
- Must Be in New York City and/or the Hudson Valley
- Must be a current grantee under any of the following funds: Hudson Valley, Let Us Breathe and New York City.
- Builds community power in at least one of the five boroughs of New York City, or in Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, Ulster, Sullivan, Columbia, Greene, Delaware, Rensselaer, Albany and Schoharie counties. Grantees must be located either in NYC or within at least one of these counties, but do not need to work in all the listed locations. Local chapters of statewide or national organizations may apply.
- Nonprofit Status or Fiscal Sponsorship
- The organization has 501(c)(3) charitable status or a fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) status. Organizations that do not yet have 501(c)(3) status or a fiscal sponsor may apply, but must secure a fiscal sponsor before receiving a grant.
- In Any Category, Only One Grant Per Year
- Grants Based on Geography: Each organization can receive one of these grants per year, whichever is appropriate for their primary geography (NYC or Hudson Valley).
- Grants for Black-Led Organizing: North Star Fund’s Let Us Breathe Fund supports Black-led organizations building collective power through grassroots organizing in New York City and the Hudson Valley. Organizations can receive one of these grants per year.
- Rapid Response Grants: An organization can receive one Rapid Response grant in a 12-month period.
Rapid Response Eligibility
- In addition to the criteria listed above, North Star Fund will consider requests from organizations that meet all of the following requirements:
- Organizations developing a response due to an unforeseen shift in political landscape, or organizations at a critical juncture within a campaign
- Can demonstrate some elements of community organizing
- Work is conducted in one of the five boroughs of New York City, or in Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, Ulster, Sullivan, Columbia, Greene, Delaware, Rensselaer, Albany and Schoharie counties. Grantees must be located either in NYC or within at least one of these counties, but do not need to work in all the listed locations. Local chapters of statewide or national organizations may apply.
- Due to limited resources, North Star Fund will prioritize:
- Current and former grantees
- Organizations that have an annual budget under $800,000.
For more information, visit North Star Fund.
