The Elmina B. Sewall Foundation is now accepting applications for the Rapid Response Fund.
Donor Name: Elmina B. Sewall Foundation
State: Maine
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 09/01/2024
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
The Rapid Response Fund is a grant opportunity that supports emergency and/or time-sensitive needs of organizations and communities whose work aligns with the Sewall Foundation’s mission: to support work in Maine to improve the well-being of people, animals and the environment while fostering relationships that strive for social equity and community resilience.
- Emergency refers to an unexpected and unplanned event or situation that requires an immediate and time-limited response.
- Time-sensitive refers to opportunities that are short-term in duration (usually within the next few months) and purpose.
Priorities
- In keeping with Sewall’s values and commitment to fostering equity and centering community voice, Rapid Response Fund grants are generally limited to:
- Community-based organizations with operating budgets under $250,000
- Organizations led by and serving people in under-resourced populations and geographies, including: African Americans, Indigenous, and people of color; immigrants and refugees; LGBTQ; people with low incomes; differently-abled populations; incarcerated populations; people in recovery; and populations who are homeless or at risk of homelessness
- Additional priorities include:
- Organizations, networks, or grassroots efforts working to coordinate or mobilize response/action for their field or sector, a geographic region, or a specific community or population
- Collaborative and cross-sector efforts
- Efforts that are explicit in their commitment to social and environmental justice
- Efforts that integrate the well-being of people, animals and the environment.
Funding Information
- Available Funding for 2024: $300,000.
- Grant Size: Most Rapid Response Fund grants will be no greater than $10,000.
Grant Period
All Rapid Response Fund grants are limited to a 12 month term.
Uses of funds
Some examples of Rapid Response Fund grant uses:
- Increasing capacity of a small nonprofit to respond to emergency needs (food, fuel, housing) in their community
- Supporting an animal shelter to address an unforeseen crisis
- Supporting unexpected legal costs to remove barriers to equity.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be eligible to receive tax-deductible donations as outlined in Section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code. This includes: 501(c)(3) federal tax-exempt organizations; public schools; public agencies working for the State of Maine; Indian tribal governments (and their political subdivisions) recognized by the Department of the Interior
- Applicants may also apply through a fiscal sponsor
- The work of the applicant must be aligned with the mission and values of the Sewall Foundation
- Eligible organizations may apply regardless of their funding history with the Sewall Foundation
- Sewall Foundation does not fund: direct or grassroots lobbying or political campaign activities.
For more information, visit EBSF.
