The Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF) is seeking applications for its Community Catalyst Fund: Faith to support faith-based leaders and organizations working to strengthen interfaith and race relations, invest in leadership within the community, increase community participation in civic life, and provide services to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) residents.

The work that this program funds will be part of a long-term strategy to achieve systemic change in Silicon Valley. Organizations seeking to apply should have a clear focus on racial justice and a plan to center the community they are serving in leadership, design and implementation of programs. Priority will be given to BIPOC-led and allied organizations and those with annual budgets under $1 million. Organizations can apply for general operating support or program support grants.

Grants will be awarded to nonprofit organizations that demonstrate all of the following:

• Prioritize secular engagement of BIPOC communities
• Commit to partnerships with others and make use of relational organizing strategies, while centering trusted community messengers in their work.
• Address emerging community needs with projects designed with community residents working for social and racial justice.
• Include policy advocacy, holding elected officials accountable, voter engagement and other tactics that are central to power-building.

Funding Information

The maximum grant amount will be $10,000. 

Funding will not be provided for:

• Capital improvements
• Budget shortfalls or fundraising events
• Previously planned or long-term campaigns
• Funding gaps due to organizational emergencies such as office vandalism, resignation of an executive director or sudden loss of funding

Eligibility Criteria

• Faith-based networks working to build faith-based and community leadership.
• Faith-based organizations serving low-income and BIPOC communities.
• Faith-based organizations providing programs for low-income and BIPOC communities and those with undocumented status.
• Organizations must serve San Mateo and/or Santa Clara counties. Organizations headquartered outside the two-county region may apply but should demonstrate significant service to these areas or partner with a local organization that does.
• Organizations must have a 501(c)(3) designation or have a fiscal sponsor with a 501(c)(3) designation.
• Organizations must not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, citizenship status, creed, religion, religious affiliation, age, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status or any other protected status.
• Organizations with religious affiliations will be considered for funding only if the project for which they seek support addresses the needs of the wider community without regard to religious beliefs.

For more information, visit SVCF.