Rapid Response Grants

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for Rapid Response funding, groups must:

Be a current Seeding Justice grantee;
Have an annual operating budget of less than $500,000; and
Not have received another Rapid Response grant in the same fiscal year (Seeding Justice’s fiscal year is from July 1 to June 30)

Proposals for Rapid Response grants must clearly articulate the urgency for funds or immediate need of the organization. If the request is not urgent, we encourage groups to apply for our General Fund grants.

Rapid Response grants are not meant to be used for major climate or global catastrophes such as the COVID-19 pandemic, floods or wildfires. They are very small grants to address an unanticipated opportunity or challenge, such as attending a conference, purchasing new technology, or getting some professional help when there’s a leadership transition in the organization.

Grant Types and Amounts

Critical Response

Maximum of $4,000 for immediate and critical needs. For example, organizing community gatherings or meetings in response to traumatic events; unexpected challenges within the organization, such as an executive transition; or unique and timely opportunities, such as having an expert present to your organization.

Travel

No more than $1,500 for organizations that are faced with unexpected travel-related expenses. Examples of things we would consider funding include registration fees and/or travel-related expenses for attending conferences, meetings or events that are unexpected but that present a unique opportunity for the group to network, learn and grow. Priority will be given to organizations based outside of the Portland Metro area.

Technology

Up to $1,000 for grassroots organizations for unexpected technology needs. For example, replacing a malfunctioning computer, paying for technology that would allow your staff/community members to meet remotely, or renting equipment for a community gathering or training. Priority will be given to organizations based outside of the Portland Metro area.

Open Applications

If there are open opportunities, they will be listed through our Submittable page, below. Make sure to sign up for our newsletter to be notified when they open.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. I can’t find the application. Did the funds run out?

If the application for Rapid Response grants does not appear in Submittable, it means we ran out of funds. We replenish funds on July 1 and January 1 each year.

2. We want to send our staff to a local conference we just learned about. Which grant should we apply for—Travel or Critical Response?

If you’re applying for funds to attend a conference, you will apply for a Travel grant, even if the conference is local and you technically don’t need to travel to get there.

3. Why don’t you fund groups that aren’t current grantees?

The purpose of Rapid Response grants is to deploy funds quickly and efficiently, which is difficult to do with our participatory grantmaking approach. Thus, we prioritize funding the current grantees, whom we know well and have already vetted.

4. Do you ever consider applications from groups that aren’t grantees?

We would consider funding other groups we know, such as former grantees (provided they are otherwise eligible).

If your group isn’t a current grantee, please don’t submit an application via Submittable—contact us to set up a time to chat first.

If you’re seeking funds for an event, you may also explore applying for a sponsorship. If there are available funds in our Sponsorship pot, the application will be visible in Submittable.

5. What’s your process for making decisions on who gets funded?

After we receive applications, a few of our General Fund grantmakers are assigned to read and vote on whether we should fund the group.

6. Our Rapid Response application was declined—why?

The most common reasons for applications being declined are:

Your group is not a current Seeding Justice grantee;
The request is not for a critical or time-sensitive issue; and/or
Your group has received another Rapid Response grant in the same fiscal year (July 1- June 30)

If you’d like to receive specific feedback about your application, please contact us.

7. Our organization’s budget is fairly large. Can we still apply?

Unfortunately, no. Rapid Response grants are meant for smaller organizations with annual budgets under $500,000.

8. What types of documentation do I need to submit with my application?

If you’re applying for a Critical Response grant, you’ll need to submit a very simple project budget.

For Travel grants, we ask that you attach some documentation regarding the items you intend to purchase, such as: conference registration fees, airfare or car rental prices, Google map showing the mileage you intend to travel, etc.

For Tech grants, we ask that you attach documentation regarding the items you intend to purchase, such as: an estimate for the equipment rental, a link to the computer/tablet you want to buy, vendor estimate, etc.

If you can’t find an answer to your questions in the FAQ, please contact us.