Let Us Breathe Fund Grants

Let Us Breathe Fund grants are currently $20,000.

 We explain these criteria in more detail here. Here’s a brief snapshot of eligibility guidelines:

We Fund Organizing

North Star Fund provides grants to organizations in NYC and Hudson Valley whose missions are to advance grassroots organizing—the process of building collective power so that communities impacted by injustice can make systemic change. Grantees can articulate the root causes of the injustices, pointing to systems and policies affecting their community. These organizations see community members impacted by this injustice as essential stakeholders, from whom they recruit leaders and seek stories, ideas, campaign strategy, and organizational direction. These organizations have a vision for systemic change that is connected to campaigns to undo or replace specific laws and systems that create inequity. These organizations can identify policymakers, decision-makers, or institutional targets in their campaigns. Community members take collective action to influence these targets to advance their demands.

We Fund Both New and Established Groups
These grants are intended for both new and emerging organizations as well as established movement builders with a track record of success.

New and emerging organizations are not expected to meet all of the community organizing criteria, but some priorities include:

• Mass mobilizations efforts and other activities that shift public opinion and change political conditions.
• Founders and key leaders come from the impacted community.
• New members can join and take part in leading the organization’s efforts.
• Founders and leaders can identify and articulate the root causes of injustice that they seek to address.

We Fund Small Organizations

North Star Fund grants support small organizations which typically lack access to support from national foundations. Organizational budgets range from $0 to a maximum of $800,000.

What We Don’t Fund

North Star Fund does not support organizations whose mission is to provide “direct services”—broadly defined as meeting individuals or communities’ immediate needs—unless individuals or program participants are moved into an organizing strategy and leadership pipeline to advance systemic change.

In addition to the general eligibility criteria above, the Let Us Breathe Fund prioritizes support for Black-led organizations in New York City and the Hudson Valley, meaning: 1) the composition of staff, board, or volunteer leaders reflect the community being organized; and 2) the organization has a collective leadership model where staff, board, volunteer or member-leaders share decision-making and stewardship.

Multi-racial organizations applying for support will be asked to explain how they support Black leadership and confront anti-Blackness within their organization. White ally organizations, while not prioritized by this Fund, may still apply and will be expected to explain how proposed solidarity work reflects meaningful partnership with Black community organizations.

The Let Us Breathe Fund also prioritizes Black organizations that bring a strong intersectional lens to their organizing approach and organize and uplift members of Black communities facing multiple oppressions, including women, immigrants, queer and transgender people, and disabled people.

Begin your online application by following these steps.

1. Gather information and documents. On our online application portal, you’ll be asked to share:

• Overview of demographic information of your members and leaders (e.g. total vs. active members, race, class, gender, class make-up)
• Financial information, including your operating budget, salaries of key staff members, and foundation/significant support for the current and most recent fiscal year
• Organizing projects of direct service or legal service providers or other larger nonprofit entities will be asked to describe the nature of the relationship, including the extent of “back office” administrative and fundraising support
• Your 501(c)(3) letter or your fiscal sponsor’s 501(c)(3) letter and fiscal sponsorship agreement

2. Create an account on Submittable and begin entering information.

3. Attach or upload documents, including your proposal and 501(c)(3) letter/fiscal sponsor agreement.

4. Submit your application on the Submittable website. Once your application is submitted, you will receive an automatic receipt. Your application is not considered complete until you receive a confirmation email from our program staff. You will receive a confirmation email within 48 hours.

How long does the application process take?

North Star Fund’s typical application process takes three months from the application deadline to the moment that you hear from staff about the final decision.

North Star Fund's rapid response application process takes about two weeks.

What if I don’t have a fiscal sponsor or 501(c)3 status?

You can still apply. We will review all applications regardless of 501(c)(3) status. By the time grant awards are made, however, your organization must have a fiscal sponsor. If you need help identifying a fiscal sponsor, check out northstarfund.org/apply/grantee-resources for a directory.

Get more of your questions answered on our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page.