2020 GRANT CYCLE IS OPEN
The María Fund’s grant making process is based on long term strategies and new ideas emerging to tear down colonialism and to bring about an interdependent and interconnected Puerto Rico. We believe in social justice groups that are building power at the grassroots and are being led by directly impacted communities and/or populations most affected by structural and systemic inequities.
We are supporting the movement leadership, investing in social justice organizations and their relationship to each other, and connecting them with resources that can increase their capacity to have the greatest impact . We recognize that there are different theories and strategies of how to build popular power in Puerto Rico among the directly impacted communities.
Important Dates
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April 30th 2020
Application Opens
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May 7th 2020
Virtual Orientation #1
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May 12th 2020
Virtual Orientation #2
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May 22nd 2020
Application Closes
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May 22nd - June 11th
Evaluation Period
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June 12 - June 15th 2020
Grants Awarded
The María Fund supports organizations aligned with the strategies we have outlined to strengthen the social justice community in Puerto Rico. This year, we have budgeted $750,000 for this grant cycle. We will award general operating grants of up to $50,000. Below are areas of work we will be supporting:
Building Power
Organizations or groups that work to organize and seek to change the oppressive policies and structures that impact them on a daily basis.
Organizations or groups made up and / or led by people directly affected by social issues - those who seek to change and foster leadership capacity in others. (This category also, includes supporting organizing of and with youth, among other populations.)
Organizations or groups that focus their work on building power among their bases and are committed to achieving systemic changes.
Support and Collaboration
This grant is targeted at groups that support groups that do organizing work. These groups develop trainings, workshops, and tools to build and share knowledge and skills that promote community growth. Some examples of strategies or practices can be:
JustHealing Justice
Legal and advocacy support
Analysis and / or development of public policy
Training or capacity building for leaders and organizations
Communications or alternative means
Language justice
Collective Impact
This category is a deeper investment in supporting organizations that have shown some success in building a community member base, and collaborations to activate themselves under a shared analysis and vision with other organizations to align around advocacy work on the national level.
This category also supports social justice work that design and/or implement campaigns or other collective strategies to advance structural change.
We have developed criteria aligned with our values to guide our decision-making process for awarding grants this cycle. Organizations or groups that understand that they meet 2 or more of the criteria for eligibility are encouraged to apply.
Steps to apply
Check your eligibility before you start to fill out the application form.
If you understand that you meet 2 or more of the criteria, complete the form.
Have questions or doubts? Join a video webinar orientation (not mandatory).
Submit your application on or before May 22! The María Fund team will evaluate and accept the proposals this cycle.
Orientations
Selection process
The eligibility criteria will guide for our decision-making process for awarding grants this cycle.
Organizations or groups interested in participating in receiving funds must complete the participation application form. This form will allow us at the María Fund to evaluate if your organizations meets the criteria and assess whether you’re eligible to receive a grant.
The process to apply for funds closes on Friday, May 22, 2020.
The María Fund team will be evaluating and selecting grantees for this grant cycle. At the end of the evaluation process, we will inform the organizations or groups that applied of the of their standing. This will happen between between Friday, June 12, 2020 and Monday, June 15, 2020
Note: We recognize the conditions and the limited time everyone has in these moments. To support your process, we recommend you (1) download the questions in a PDF format to read and answer with your team, or (2) choose the option to "save"your application” option on the platform to access and finish it at a later time. After saving it, you will receive an email with the draft of your application.