The Black Futures Lab (c3) and the Black to the Future Action Fund (c4) are offering grants up to $250,000 for Black voter organizing innovations.
Donor Name: Black Futures Lab
State: North Carolina, California, Louisiana, Wisconsin and Georgia
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 11/01/2023
Size of the Grant: Up to $250,000
Details:
These grants are intended to supercharge innovative or experimental ideas for how best to engage Black voters to participate civically, and to stay engaged in the political process. Grants are intended for innovative or experimental strategies that engage and activate of Black men in advance of the 2024 elections.
Proposals must engage a minimum of 2500 Black voters, with priority given to proposals that focus on target states: North Carolina, California, Louisiana, Wisconsin, and Georgia. Programs outside those states will be considered, programs inside those states will be prioritized. Programs must be run, managed, and evaluated by Black led, Black focused organizations that have a track record of engagement and activation of Black community members.
Black Futures Lab knows that Black men are engaged, Black men are participating, and there is more that they can learn about what keeps Black men involved, and what prevents Black men from being involved.
The questions driving this innovations program are:
- What are the most effective strategies for engaging Black men in civic life, including elections?
- Where else can Black men be engaged, beyond the barbershop conversations? Where else are Black men being engaged effectively?
- What are the messages that resonate with Black men and encourage them to participate, that don’t rely on the defects or deficiencies of communities?
- What are the issues most important to Black men and what do Black men need and want to see in order to participate and participate often?
Eligibility Criteria
These grants are available to:
- Black led, Black focused community organizations. At this time, they are unable to fund volunteer networks or collectives that are not 501(c)3 designated or fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)3. They are also unable to fund individuals.
- It encourages partnerships and collaborations – they are stronger together than they are alone! If you partner with one or more organizations, those partners must also meet the same criteria. They cannot fund individuals or entities that are not 501(c)3 designated at this time. Whichever entity submits the grant is responsible for distribution of resources and collecting accurate documentation from all partners. BFL will not be responsible for any sub-grants or re-grants through partnerships and collaborations established by the grantee.
- Its love proposals that have a strong evaluation component – how will you know if the experiment is working or not working?
For more information, visit Black Futures Lab.
