Why Give

RESIST does the work you as a donor may not have the time to do: reaching out to activist organizations, evaluating their campaigns and projects and talking with our network of several thousand advisors across the country who share their first-hand knowledge of each applicant.

RESIST is different. Unlike most foundations, RESIST has no major endowment from which to make grants. Rather, each year we raise the money we give away from individuals, at all giving levels, who are committed to social change. In addition, our grant making philosophy works to level the imbalance of power between foundations and grant applicants. While many foundations focus on project-specific support, RESIST grants allow the organizations which are funded to determine how to spend their grant award. This enables grantees to set their own priorities rather than having to reshape their mission in order to receive a RESIST grant. And in addition to providing funding, we connect grant recipients with one another and to other sources of progressive funding.

Money when organizers need it most. Six grant cycles per year means activist groups can apply to RESIST on a rolling basis and receive funding quickly, and RESIST reaches out to groups and encourages them to apply. RESIST also provides technical assistance grants to enable current grantees to increase their internal organizational skills and capacity. In addition, we offer multi-year grants to exceptional grant recipients with a track record of using RESIST funding well, emergency grants to help groups respond quickly to unexpected organizing needs, and accessibility grants to help overcome disability barriers to participation in movements for social justice.

Over forty years of powerful social change. Over the years RESIST has awarded thousands of timely grants to organizations working for social justice, and the grant-making program has evolved in response to the challenges faced by grassroots activists. In many cases, RESIST was an early funder of an organization that then grew into powerful social change organizations. Take a moment to view some of RESIST’s early grant recipients.