Racial Equity and
Social Justice Grant Opportunity

Power-Building & Advocacy in Western Massachusetts 

The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts is committed to addressing inequality through a comprehensive, community-driven approach. As stewards of our region’s shared resources, we are focused on advancing equity, fostering lasting change, and supporting the leadership of those most impacted by injustice. 

This funding opportunity is part of our broader mission to invest in both innovative solutions and ongoing initiatives that are making a difference. In addition to financial support, we are committed to facilitating dialogue, listening deeply, and collaborating with partners to more effectively address systemic inequities across Western Massachusetts. 

Why This Matters 

Communities across Western Massachusetts continue to face entrenched racial, economic, and social inequities. These disparities are rooted in a long history of disinvestment, discrimination, and exclusion. Black, Brown, Indigenous, immigrant, and low-income communities have been denied the resources and power to influence the systems that affect their lives. This grant seeks to help change that. 

Funding is urgently needed to support community-based organizations that are actively leading, and ready to lead, efforts to organize, educate, advocate, and build transformative models for change. Many of these groups operate with limited and unstable resources while doing deeply impactful work. We recognize the need not just to sustain these efforts—but to strengthen and scale them. 

This initiative is about shifting power, resourcing leadership from within affected communities, and creating systemic change. 

What We’re Looking to Support

We are seeking proposals for projects that endeavor to build long-term community power. This includes but is not limited to: 

• Grassroots organizing 
• Leadership development for directly impacted individuals 
• Policy and systems advocacy within the allowable scope for nonprofits 
• Civic engagement and base-building 
• Coalition-building and community-led initiatives 

All funded work must be: 

• Rooted in Hampden, Hampshire, and/or Franklin County 
• Led by or meaningfully guided by communities most impacted by racial, economic, or social inequality. 
• Grounded in racial justice and committed to systemic change 

Eligible Organizations Should Have:

• An IRS designated 501(c)(3) status or an existing fiscal sponsorship.     
• An operating budget less than $5 million. Organizations with operating budgets larger than $5 million are not eligible. There is a strong preference for organizations with an operating budget of less than $1 million. 

Funding cannot support:

• Endowments or capital campaigns
• Sectarian or religious organizations unless as a fiscal sponsor for a broad community benefit
• Institutions of higher education—including for scholarships
• Academic research
• K-12 schools—public, private, or charter schools
• Organizations whose mission is to support municipalities/government agencies such as friends of libraries or school districts

We welcome applications from organizations at various stages, whether learning, emerging or established—that demonstrate a strong commitment to equity, community leadership, and sustainable power-building. 

As part of our commitment to advancing racial equity and supporting community-driven systems change, the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts offers two grant tracks through this initiative. These grants are designed to support organizations at different stages of their power-building and advocacy journey, with a shared goal of fostering long-term equity and community leadership. 

1. Learning Grants – Up to $15,000

(12-month grant period) 

Learning Grants are designed for organizations that are early in their exploration of system change and power-building. These funds support organizational learning, leadership development, and capacity-building efforts tied to racial equity work. These grants are not intended to support internal organizational DEI.

Funding also covers participation in no more than two required grantee learning sessions in collaboration with CFWM, which offer opportunities to build relationships, skills, and shared strategy among grantees. After one year, Learning Grant recipients may be eligible to apply for the Emerging Grant track. 

Eligibility Criteria: 

• Organizations may have limited or no prior experience in systems change or power-building work 
• Demonstrated interest and commitment to building internal capacity around racial equity 
• A desire to engage in collective learning and contribute to future coalition-based power-building efforts through the Racial Equity and Social Justice Initiative (RESJI).  

2. Emerging Grants – Up to $30,000

(12-month grant period) 

Emerging Grants support organizations that have already begun systems change or power-building work and are ready to grow that work. These grants are intended to help deepen strategies, expand reach, and support ongoing advocacy rooted in racial and economic justice. These grants are not intended to support internal organizational DEI.

Emerging grantees are required to participate in no more than two required grantee learning sessions in collaboration with CFWM and engage with peers through RESJI convenings to support shared strategy and coordinated action. 

Eligibility Criteria: 

• Organization has been actively engaged in systems change or power-building work for at least 1–3 years.  
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing this long-term work 
• Active participation in a coalition or network 
• A desire to engage in collective learning and contribute to future coalition-based power-building efforts through the Racial Equity and Social Justice Initiative (RESJI).