Resources for Funding Policy Advocacy

The following is not meant to be an exhaustive list but rather a starting point in seeking funds for policy-related work.

Alliance for Justice: Funding Advocacy  The guidelines you should know for funding advocacy through various types of foundations (community, public, private, etc.).  

The California Endowment  The California Endowment supports organizations using public policy advocacy within its three program areas: access to health, culturally competent health systems and community health and the elimination of health disparities. 

California Wellness Foundation, Health Issues & Special Projects Fund (CA)  In addition to funding direct health services and community action, the California Wellness Foundation provides grants for public education and public policy, in the belief that social attitudes and public funding priorities need to acknowledge the key role of prevention in public health. 

Center for Environmental Health, Justice Fund (CA) The Justice Fund provides small grants to nonprofit organizations and fiscally sponsored projects working in pursuit of environmental justice and community empowerment in California. Priority is given to grassroots, community-based environmental justice groups that serve and are led by low-income people, people of color and residents of disproportionately impacted communities. Note: Next RFP at the end of 2008 for grants in late January/early February 2009. 

Funding Exchange, Emergency Fund for Seizing Strategic Opportunities (National)  Through the Funding Exchange, qualifying organizations may receive grants of up to $5,000 in support of a specific social justice project, event or initiative. This fund makes grants in response to political crises or opportunities, when a small amount of money can make a difference in educating or mobilizing for social change under time-sensitive circumstances. 

Liberty Hill Foundation  The Liberty Hill Foundation makes grants to support grassroots community organizations in Los Angeles County that are working toward long-term social change. Its grant programs include funds for emerging organizations and for efforts that address environmental justice, queer youth, the gay and lesbian community and economic and racial justice. 

Public Welfare Foundation (National)  The Public Welfare Foundation supports efforts to ensure fundamental rights and opportunities for people in need. They look for carefully defined points where their funds can make a difference in bringing about systemic changes that can improve lives. They focus on three program areas: criminal and juvenile justice, health reform and workers’ rights. 

Rockefeller Family Fund, Economic Justice for Women (National)  The Family Fund's program for women supports projects designed to promote economic justice. In particular, the program seeks to provide women with equitable employment opportunities and to improve their work lives. Examples of past grants which fit these criteria include a national advocacy, research, and public education effort aimed at achieving pay equity, support to state-level "economic agenda" coalitions to train women in leadership and public policy skills and advocacy efforts on behalf of contingent and part-time workers. 

The Rose Foundation (CA)  The Rose Foundation’s grantmaking programs are designed to strategically focus support towards projects and organizations that are building long-term solutions and respect the rights of citizens and communities. They focus on the environment. 

Rosenberg Foundation (CA)  The Rosenberg Foundation's activities are focused on issues that are at the intersection of Californians' struggles for economic inclusion and human rights. These efforts have included efforts to: improve the lives of underprivileged and incarcerated children, to secure equal access to quality education, to integrate people of color and immigrants into civic institutions and the state's economy and to increase the economic health of working families. 

San Francisco Foundation (San Francisco Bay Area)  The following program areas have policy work and advocacy within their goals for funding: community health, social justice, community development and environment. 

US Human Rights Fund (National)  The US Human Rights Fund invites letters of inquiry for strategic thinking and advocacy campaigns with specific policy objectives, related plans for achieving their success, and the clear use of human rights and international law to advance social justice objectives.