The Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity is seeking grant applications from nonprofit organizations.
Donor Name: Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity
State: Texas
City: Houston
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/31/2023
Size of the Grant: $75,000 – $100,000
Grant Duration: 12 months
Details:
This opportunity supports mission-aligned diverse-owned small businesses and nonprofits within the City of Houston that positively impact vulnerable communities. Grant funds must be used to acquire or upgrade tangible assets. The Grant Program is intentionally inclusive of nonprofits, at various stages of maturity, that demonstrate a need for a grant to support their start-up, stabilization, or growth.
The purpose of the Open for Business Grant Program (Grant Program) is to advance the mission of the Houston Equity Fund to enact transformational change by investing resources into organizations and initiatives that empower and uplift communities of color. A key aspect to being transformative is to embrace a rigorous process to select and fund organizations that can demonstrate direct, tangible, and meaningful impact related to the pillars of the Houston Equity Fund listed below.
- Social and Racial Justice
- Social Services, Criminal Justice, Healthcare, Civic Engagement, Immigrant Rights, Environmental Justice, Domestic Violence/Human Trafficking
- Economic Development
- Support future talent, startups, business owners, and workforce development activities that aim to address income and wealth disparities
- Youth Empowerment & Education
- Provide education, literacy, innovation, mentorship, advancement, scholarship and career opportunities
- Community Building
- Secure access to vital resources, revitalize community spaces, celebrate Black history and culture.
Grant Priorities
- Advance the charitable mission and four pillars of the Houston Equity Fund
- Support mission-aligned, diverse-led nonprofits that are historically underserved, including grassroots and community-led organizations.
- Special consideration for organizations with limited access to philanthropic capital.
Funding Information
Grant awards will range from $5,000 – $65,000. Grant award amounts will vary by applicant. For all applicants, award size is determined based on, but not limited to, the following factors:
- External objective reviewer scores and award recommendation
- Rigorous due diligence process
- 2022 Revenue
- In Round 2, the Houston Equity Fund has allocated $500,000 to award approximately six or fewer grants ranging from $75,000 – $100,000 to high scoring applicants that qualify. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants must:
- Have plans to invest in a capital-intensive asset, such as facility construction or renovations, land, machinery, or equipment, which will facilitate the organization’s growth and greater community impact.
- Complete supplemental proposal questions that demonstrate how this investment will impact the nonprofit and the community served by the nonprofit.
- If needed, be willing to participate in an interview process prior to selection. Translation support will be made available for applicants in Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, and American Sign Language.
Grant Terms
Grant funds must be used to acquire or upgrade one of the following types of tangible assets:
- Purchase of or improvements to land
- Construction of new buildings or facilities
- Renovations of existing buildings or facilities
- New or upgraded machinery or equipment
- New or updated technology
- Purchase of inventory
- Improvements or modernization of streets, utilities, parking lots, landscaping
The grant period is 12 months. Funds must be fully utilized/committed within 6 months of award.
Eligibility Criteria
- To be eligible to apply for funding, nonprofits must meet ALL the following requirements:
- 501c3 status (or fiscal sponsorship) prior to December 31, 2021;
- 100 employees, including full-time and part-time employees and 1099 contractors engaged in an ongoing way to support your nonprofit; and
- Located within the City of Houston
- Nonprofit organizations must meet ONE of the following additional funding criteria to be considered:
- Invest the tangible asset(s) in and serve a community
- Have a mission-aligned program or focus area that supports the ecosystem for ongoing success of small businesses in Houston, to develop a pipeline of future employees and entrepreneurs through such programs as incubators, internships and apprenticeships, mentorships, educational programs, small business grants and other investments, as well as training and/or technical assistance.
Ineligible Nonprofit Types: Religious institutions and nonprofit organization(s) that primarily operate programs associated with faith-based activities, including, but not limited to, bible study, mission trips, or proselytizing are not eligible to apply. Nonprofit organizations may not require participation in religious or faith-based activities as a requirement to receive services or benefits.
For more information, visit HFSJEE.
