The FISA Foundation is issuing an open call for letters of inquiry for projects and services to advance the rights and address the needs of people with disabilities in a ten-county area of southwestern Pennsylvania.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had disproportionate negative consequences for people with disabilities. From concerns about overall health and the allocation of medical resources, to the availability of home and community-based services, to increased vulnerability to violence and abuse, the impact of the pandemic on people with disabilities, their families, and the organizations that support them is significant and far-reaching. These examples are just a few of the myriad ways that the pandemic has exacerbated pre-existing inequalities.

The Foundation has an imperative to build a more inclusive and equitable society where the rights and needs of people with disabilities are prioritized and people with disabilities are advocates and leaders.

Focus Areas

• Improving access to healthcare and dental care for people with disabilities
• Addressing or preventing abuse and violence against people with disabilities
• Advancing rights in education, employment, housing, and community life, social inclusion, as well as addressing barriers to accessibility
• Services and supports that address basic needs and/or allow people with disabilities to remain connected to the richness of the community, even while social distancing
• Initiatives led by people with disabilities and/or designed to empower people with disabilities to participate in effective advocacy and change-making
• Efforts by disability organization to address racism to better reach and serve people of color with disabilities
• Intersectional advocacy and movement-building to cultivate cross-disability collaboration and to integrate disability issues into broader justice-seeking work

Types of Funding

Organizations may request funding for:

• General operating support for programs or services that advance the above-mentioned priorities
• Ongoing programs or projects
• Capacity building initiatives, including technology
• Advocacy
• Organizational efforts to become more welcoming, inclusive and equitable in serving people of color with disabilities.
• New and innovative projects or programs
• Unfortunately, due to pressing needs related to COVID-19, FISA would be unlikely to consider projects to help arts and culture organizations be more welcoming and inclusive of people with disabilities in this funding opportunity.

Funding Information

• Total funding available for this funding cycle is $250,000.
• The Foundation expects the average grant size to be under $25,000.
• Organizations that received funding in the fall 2020 funding cycle are ineligible for this funding cycle; however, organizations that applied through the Fall LOI process but did not receive funding may apply again.
• Unfortunately, The Foundation is not able to award multi-year funding.

Eligibility Criteria

• Grants will be made to 501(c)(3) organizations, or projects with a nonprofit fiscal sponsor, for services provided in the ten-county region of Southwestern PA.

For more information, visit FISA Foundation.