The Community Organizing Grants Program is an umbrella for PDF’s annual grantmaking docket, which consists of three grant programs: the Seeding the Movement Fund (formerly the “Board Docket”, Western Mass Transformation Fund (formerly the Pioneer Valley Community Advised Fund, and The Braiding New Worlds Fund. Any organization that fits PDF’s guidelines is eligible to apply for a grant. 

PDF currently only funds organizations in the United States, Haiti, and Mexico through the Community Organizing Grants docket.

What we fund:

Organizing to Shift Power: 

• Groups that are creating a power base that can hold leaders accountable to the people who are affected by their decisions. 

• Groups that let their membership or constituents take the lead in collective action-planning and decision-making. 

• Groups whose leadership comes directly from the people who are most affected by the issues you are organizing around. 

Working to Build a Movement: 

• Groups that organize in the local community but make connections between local issues and a broader need for systemic change. 

• Groups that provide a space for members to develop their political analyses at the same time as taking action for change. 

• Groups that break down barriers within the progressive movement, by building strategic alliances between groups of different cultural or class backgrounds or different issue areas.

• Groups that explore the root causes of injustice and have a long-term vision for the kind of social change they are working for. 

Dismantling Oppression: 

• Groups and projects that are proactively engaged in a process of dismantling oppression, confronting privilege and challenging institutional structures that perpetuate oppression (both internal and external to the organization). 

• Groups that are proactively making connections between the different forms of oppression (racism, heterosexism, sexism, ageism, classism, ableism, etc.), and its connections with injustice. 

Creating New Structures: 

• Groups that have alternative organizational structures, allowing power to flow “from the bottom up.” 

• Efforts to create new, community-based alternative systems and structures (economic, political, cultural, religious, etc.) that are liberating, democratic, and environmentally sustainable and which promote healthy, sustainable communities.

Grantmaking Funds at PDF

Seeding the Movement Fund

The Seeding the Movement Fund continues PDF’s long-standing support for grassroots organizations around the nation, organizing for social justice.  All grants are general operating support, allowing the groups flexibility and the ability to use the funds where they are needed most.

Typical Grant Range: $2,500-$7,500

Western Mass Transformation Fund

The recently renamed Western Mass Transformation Fund supports grassroots efforts of communities working towards social justice in Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire counties of Western Mass, with deliberate attention given to organizations led by people of color. Organizations must have a focus on community organizing and building power for systemic change.

Typical Grant Range: $500-$3,000

Braiding New Worlds Fund

In celebration of PDF’s 40th anniversary, PDF established the youth-focused Braiding New Worlds Fund. Grants ranging from $3,000 to $6,500 were given to youth-led and youth-oriented organizations around the country. The Braiding New World Fund’s committee members were young people aged 18 to 25 years old. Each brought an important perspective and knowledge of youth activism and organizing to the process.

Typical Grant Range: $2,500-$5,000

What we do not fund

• Programs with a primary geographic focus outside of the United States, U.S. Territories, Mexico and Haiti.  If an organization is U.S.-based but works mostly outside of these areas, it should consider filling out an LOI for a Donor Advised Fund grant, which are reviewed on a rolling basis.

• Organizations not directly engaged in community organizing.

• Social services that are not linked to a clear organizing strategy.

• Individuals, or organizations with strong leadership from only one individual.

• Conferences, trainings, and other one-time events.

• Audio-visual productions and distribution – TV, radio, publications, films, etc. (PDF does fund media work or audio-visual production as part of the general expenses of groups engaged in grassroots organizing).

• Research that is not directly linked to an organizing strategy (PDF does fund research as part of the general expenses of groups engaged in grassroots organizing).

• Academic institutions and scholarships.

• Other grantmaking organizations (unless they are your fiscal sponsor).

• Organizations with budgets larger than $250,000.

• Lobbying activities.

All Community Organizing PDF Grants are offered for general operating support, and those grants are our priority. We believe that the people on the ground know how best to spend the money.