Ben & Jerry’s Foundation: Grassroots Organizing for Social Change

Ben & Jerry’s Foundation believes that grassroots, constituent-led organizing is among the most effective means to create social change. It defines organizing as collective action from the bottom up that challenges the status quo, demands changes in policy and practice, educates communities about root causes, and advocates and agitates for systemic and just solutions.

Lasting change occurs when social justice movements are built from the ground up and grassroots groups come together across sectors and constituencies to work for the common principles of human rights and justice for all. The Grassroots Organizing for Social Change program supports organizations that share and embody the this theory of change.

While the Foundation’s broad goals are to further social and environmental justice and support sustainable and just food systems, it focuses on the types of activities and strategies an organization uses for creating social change rather than on the specific issues the organization is addressing. Recipients can use funding toward general or project support.

Amount: Grants of up to $25,000 will be awarded.

Eligibility: Grassroots, constituent-led organizations that are using community-organizing and base-building strategies and have 501(c)(3) status or a fiscal sponsor. Organizations should have budgets under $500,000. No support is provided to schools or programs for schools (see guidelines for more details regarding areas funded/not funded).

Link: http://benandjerrysfoundation.org/the-grassroots-organizing-for-social-change-program/

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