Applications Closed
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
BY INVITATION ONLY
Maximum Funding Request:
$15,000 total distributed over two years
Important Dates:
There are no upcoming deadlines at this time.
Let’s Connect:
Have questions or want to book a consultation? Connect with Aurora Heying, aheying@rosefdn.org or Lorena Rodriguez, lrodriguez@rosefdn.org
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.
- Are currently working in partnership with a direct grantee of Kresge’s CREWS Initiative.
- 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, 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 $6,000 per year, plus a $3,000 exit grant, to support their general operations, advocacy and programming. They are also eligible to receive a $1,000 capacity building mini-grant.
Steps To Apply
Applications to the fund are by invitation only. If invited, you will receive email instructions on how to apply.
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.
Grassroots Leadership Fund grantees must report annually. Please log on to our online application system and submit your report there.
Meet Past Grantees
From grassroots community organizers to groups with nation-wide reach, meet the changemakers supported by Rose grants.
Fund Partners
Take the next step
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Helpful Resources
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