The Ascend Fund seeks proposals from state and local based, nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations in Michigan, Mississippi, and Washington that are working to empower women to seek elected office or become leaders in their community or are interested in beginning this work.
Donor Name: The Ascend Fund
State: Michigan, Mississippi, and Washington
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 08/13/2023
Size of the Grant: $15,000-$30,000
Details:
Selected organizations will work together with support from The Ascend Fund to build state-based coalitions. The coalitions will train and recruit diverse women to run for office on both sides of the aisle to increase the number of women serving in the state legislature.
The Ascend Fund seeks to accelerate the pace of change toward gender parity in U.S. politics. They pool philanthropic capital and make mission-driven investments in nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations that break down the barriers preventing women from running for office and winning. The approach is simple:
- Establish a pathway for more women to see themselves as candidates and normalize women’s leadership
- Bridge the gap by providing women with the tools, training, and resources to successfully run for office
- Transform the system by dismantling roadblocks so elected officials reflect the diversity of the population.
The Ascend Fund prioritizes applicants committed to addressing the unique barriers faced by underrepresented and marginalized communities.
Focus Areas
Proposals should focus on approaches to make state legislative seats more accessible to women, including but not necessarily limited to:
- Coalition Building: Build state coalition of like-minded groups that share a commitment to gender parity, racial equity, and reproductive rights
- Barrier Reduction: Identify common and unique barriers hindering women’s success in reaching state elected office and develop strategies to remove, reduce, or circumvent those barriers
- Targeted Recruitment: Increase the number of women running for the state legislature through targeted, coordinated, community-based recruitment
- Candidate Training: Provide women with the training, tools, resources, and support necessary to successfully run for the state legislature
- Messaging Campaign: Highlight women’s underrepresentation and normalize women’s leadership through public messaging campaigns.
Funding Information
The Ascend Fund will provide project funding in the form of multi-year, general operating grants. Applicants may apply for funding up to $50,000 annually, and typical awards will range from $15,000-$30,000 annually.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be 501(c)(3) organization or be fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) organization, and in good legal standing with the IRS
- Applicants must be nonpartisan and not endorse any particular candidate(s) or political party’s agenda
- The Ascend Fund generally does not provide funding that exceeds 25% of an organization’s annual budget, except under extenuating circumstances, though organizations are encouraged to apply for up to $50,000
- State and local organizations, as well as national organizations with staffed, state-based chapters are eligible to apply.
For more information, visit The Ascend Fund.
