Since its founding in 1967, RESIST has awarded thousands of timely grants to radical and progressive organizations working for social justice. Throughout the decades, the grant-making program has evolved in order to best respond to the needs of grassroots groups and the challenges faced by the movement. Below are descriptions of the grants Resist provides.

In order to enable groups to build infrastructure and capacity while engaged in on-going social justice activism, Resist grants provides general (rather than program specific) support. Resist believes that general support grants allow groups to focus on strengthening their movement-building and cross-issue organizing capacity. Project funding sometimes causes organizations to jump through hoops to appeal to funders. General support, which is reliable and flexible, enables groups to effectively carry out their missions and respond to new challenges and opportunities. As Resist grantee Linda Meric of 9 to 5 Colorado notes:

Providing general support grants also helps to level the power imbalance between funders and grantees.

Many groups that apply to Resist for funding also need other forms of assistance. Groups often require technical assistance to help with the nuts and bolts of starting, maintaining, and developing progressive organizations.

In keeping with RESIST’s goal of building movement infrastructure and capacity, Resist awards up to $500 to enable existing grantees to participate in technical assistance opportunities.

Some of the areas for which grantees may receive assistance include: board and staff development, fundraising, fiscal management, computer and software training, Internet activism, strategic planning and basic organizing skills.

These funds are available for grantees who have been funded at least twice within the last five years. Funds are available quarterly and will be dispersed on a first-come first-serve basis.

Resist developed “A Guide to Technical Assistance” to help locate training opportunites. It is posted on our web page. This guide is a work-in-progress and is not an exhaustive list of technical assistance opportunities.

In addition to the general support and technical assistance grants described above, RESIST’s grantmaking program includes:

Multi-Year Grants: Grantees who have been funded by Resist at least two times during the preceding five years may apply for three-year general support grants.

Accessibility Grants: To support projects that enable all people to participate in the movement for social justice, Resist will fund the additional costs of projects or events which will make them accessible to people with disabilities (e.g. signers for events, or wheelchair accessible venues) for amounts up to $3,000.

Emergency Grants: Emergency grants of up to $500 are designed to help groups respond quickly to unexpected organizing needs due to a political crisis.

Loans: A revolving loan fund is available for groups that are planning campaigns or projects that are intended to raise money. Groups can also apply for advance payments on bus rentals to transport members to marches or rallies.

Further information about RESIST’s grant program can be found on our web site.