Apply by December 20, 2024
Grassroots Leadership Fund
The Grassroots Leadership Fund, in partnership with the Kresge Foundation’s Climate Resilient and Equitable Water Systems (CREWS) Initiative, supports local activists across the country, and the small groups they lead, with immediate resources to address climate-driven urban flooding in low-income, historically marginalized communities.
Grassroots leaders participate in a multi-year learning cohort of groups working at the intersection of climate resilience, urban flooding and equity. The cohort provides opportunities for peer learning, networking, and training, as well as individual support and coaching to help groups build organizational capacity.
Fund Details
We highly recommend scheduling a call to discuss your eligibility before beginning an application.
Maximum Funding Request:
$15,000 total distributed over two years
Important Dates:
Applications for Cohort 3 are due by December 13, 2024
Let’s Connect:
Have questions or want to book a consultation? Connect with Aurora Heying, aheying@rosefdn.org or schedule a call: https://calendly.com/aheying/30min
Eligibility and Priorities
- Groups must be actively working on equity-based climate resiliency approaches to urban stormwater and wastewater systems.
- Must represent a low-income, historically marginalized community that has been impacted by climate-driven urban flooding.
- Have an active interest in growing their internal organizational capacity.
- Have 501c3 nonprofit status, a fiscal sponsor, or be working towards c3 status.
- Have limited staff capacity, with only 0-3 paid staff members.
- Have an annual budget under $200,000.
- Have demonstrated an ability to engage local residents or public officials on urban waters issues by convening public events, officials, etc.
Project impacts must be in urban areas in the United States.
- Advocacy and programming to address climate-driven urban flooding, green stormwater infrastructure installation, wetlands protection, or disaster response and preparedness
- Activities such as running educational programs; coordinating neighborhood discussions; planting trees, installing rain barrels, bioswales and other green infrastructure; policy advocacy and community organizing; environmental analysis, disaster planning and relief efforts.
- This is a 2-year program
- Participants receive $7,500 per year in general support funding. They are also eligible to receive a $1,000 capacity building mini-grant.
Steps To Apply
If you are having any trouble with the application please reach out to Aurora Heying at aheying@rosefdn.org and we will be happy to assist you.
Review Eligibility Criteria and Application Materials
Please read the eligibility criteria and priorities above before starting an application.
We highly recommend that you schedule a call to discuss your project before beginning an application: https://calendly.com/aheying/30min
Review the required application materials (see FAQ “What does the application look like”), and download the application questions here.
FAQ
- Networking & Peer Learning:
- Grassroots Leaders will meet with each other through group networking sessions and peer learning discussions on common capacity challenges, where they can learn from each other’s experiences, share resources, and tackle common problems together.
- Organizational Capacity Assessment:
- Participants have the option to complete an organizational capacity assessment survey to help identify priority areas for organizational growth.
- Personal Coaching and Mentorship
- Rose staff will provide individualized support, coaching, and advice on their specific capacity building priorities
- Trainings
- Participants will have access to training webinars on relevant topics, from fundraising for small groups, to board recruitment and communications strategy.
- View the application questions here.
- Be ready to include the following attachments when you fill out the application online:
- Organizational income statement from the most recently completed fiscal year. You may use our Financial Template, or attach your own.
- If you need help putting together a budget or income statement please take a look at our How-To sheet, here.
- Optional Additions:
- Press clippings and/or pictures.
- Newsletters or other publications.
Grassroots Leadership Fund grantees must report annually. Please log on to our online application system and submit your report there.
Meet Past Participants
From grassroots community organizers to groups with nation-wide reach, meet the changemakers supported by Rose grants.
Fund Partners
Take the next step
Do you still have questions about this application process or need additional support from Rose Foundation staff? Here are some helpful resources.
Helpful Resources
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