The Chinook Fund is seeking applications to give out grants from $1,000 to $10,000 to a range of groups working on human rights, racial justice, economic justice, environmental protection, peace and other social justice issues.

Types of Funding

• Start-Up Grants are available to groups that are less than 4 years old.  Groups must demonstrate a vision and plan for meeting Chinook Fund criteria, but does not need a proven track record of success.  Groups can apply multiple times in this category, as long as they are less than 4 years old.  The maximum grant award is $4,000.
• Established Grants are available to any group, but the competition for grants is tougher, as it includes organizations that have been working successfully on social justice issues for a number of years.  The maximum grant award is $10,000.
• Multi-Year Grants will be considered for organizations who apply in the Established category, have been funded at least twice during the last 5 years, and who receive the highest level of funding in the current cycle.

Funding Criteria

Chinook funds organizations working to challenge the root causes of oppression, rather than treating the symptoms. Chinook believes the root causes of their most serious social problems include systemic racism, sexism, heterosexism, classism, ableism and ageism. They identify effective social change as efforts that strive to include these key elements:

• Constituent-Led: The work is led by the people most impacted by injustice.  Unlike a traditional charity model, they believe that those most affected by the issue have the vision and solutions for their own liberation – and that the development of their leadership, skills and power should be prioritized. (How does the organization demonstrate their work is driven by the people it affects? Does leadership make-up reflect the people most affected by an issue or oppression holding roles where they can shape the strategies and terms of their own liberation? FOR YOUTH ORGANIZING: How is youth voice being incorporated into leadership? Is there a youth advisory board or other decision-making body?)
• Community-Wide: The work reflects all members of the constituency, especially those who experience multiple forms of oppression.  This ensures that change for the community leaves no one behind, especially for those who have less privilege within the community. (Does the organization work towards change that will affect all members of a constituency that are exploited, oppressed, or marginalized – taking into account those that face multiple oppressions? Is the organization working to build a multi-racial, multi-class, multi-gendered social justice movement?)
• Lasting Effect: The work makes change not just for one individual today, but for the community as a whole, and for future generations.  Generally this means organizing collective action to change systems and institutions. (Will the proposed work help build concrete and lasting political power to address the underlying causes of the problems that it addresses? How does this organization define the root cause of the issue they are working to change?)

Eligibility Criteria

All successful applicants must:

• Be based in communities facing injustice or oppression, including but not limited to: communities of color, low-income communities, LGBTQ communities, disabilities communities, immigrant communities.
• Have democratic leadership, decision-making and organizing that is led by and accountable to people most directly impacted by the issue or injustice
• Demonstrate that the work can lead to permanent progressive change for their community
• Be engaged in efforts to dismantle privilege and oppression within their organization and community
• Be based in Colorado (with possible exceptions made for regional indigenous groups)
• Have an annual budget of $350,000 or less

Priority is given to organizations that are:

• Engaging in Community Organizing Work
• Collaborative or working in alliance with other progressive groups as a way to build multiple strategies for bringing social change;
• Risk-taking by doing work that may be controversial, marginalized, and/or new and emerging;
• Strategic and working with a long-term vision which clearly links to current plans;
• Achieving concrete success which has positively impacted the community;
• Raise money from multiple sources throughout the community, such as foundations, businesses, individuals, special events, and income generating projects.

For more information, visit Chinook Fund.