Grants to Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia Nonprofits to Promote Social Justice During COVID-19 Recovery

Grants to Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia nonprofit organizations in eligible locations for projects that promote social justice in the wake of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Funding is intended to make recovery from the health crisis equitable and just. Eligible applicants must work with and for the people and communities of the Greater Washington region. This is defined as Washington, DC; Montgomery and/or Prince George’s counties, Maryland; Arlington, Fairfax, and/or Prince William counties, Virginia; and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and/or Manassas Park, Virginia.

COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted Black, indigenous, immigrant, Latinx and other communities of color. Recovering and rebuilding from COVID-19 does not and should not mean returning to a pre-pandemic “normal.” Instead, the Meyer Foundation seeks a “new normal” – rooted in equity, justice, and shared humanity – that helps build a more racially just society where everyone in the region can thrive. For this reason, Meyer is exclusively focusing its core grantmaking in 2022 to support work that seeks a Just & Equitable COVID-19 Recovery.

Organizations or projects seeking funding should:

• Address the root causes of inequity through systems change work.
• Build power for purposes of advancing racial and/or economic justice.
• Leverage one or more of these tactics for change:
  • Organizing and Base Building
  • Advocacy
  • Capacity Building
  • Coalition Building
  • Narrative Change
• Actively participate in broader organizing, movement, and/or field-building work to advance racial and economic justice in the Greater Washington region.

Examples of eligible work could include long-term efforts:

• To develop leaders within communities of color and/or campaigns to protect renters and prevent evictions;
• To protect the rights of workers disproportionately affected by the pandemic;
• To support immigrants who have been excluded from government-sponsored COVID-19 relief efforts, or;
• To expand access to health care and to COVID-19 vaccines.

The Foundation is interested in work that re-imagines community safety and policing and promotes community-based anti-violence initiatives. The Foundation will also consider support for ward-or neighborhood-based mutual aid efforts that combine services with political education and community organizing. This list is not exhaustive. The Foundation may support other campaigns and projects not described above as long as they contribute to an equitable and just COVID-19 recovery with a focus on systems change in Greater Washington.

Most of the organizations Meyer supports are locally based and carry out their work in the Greater Washington region. National or statewide organizations may apply for a project grant if the work is strongly aligned with Meyer’s strategy and priorities, takes place in the Greater Washington region, and is implemented in close partnership with local communities and organizations.

If your organization is not yet a 501(c)(3) or does not yet have a fiscal sponsor, you are welcome to apply while you are securing that designation or in the process of finding a fiscal sponsor. However, grants can only be made to verified public charities.

The Meyer Foundation does not fund:
– Capital for housing construction or development
– Start-up and operating support for housing developers
– Scholarships or financial assistance
– Medical or scientific research
– Programs that promote religious doctrine
– Individual public, public charter, or private schools
– Individuals (including scholarships and emergency assistance)
– Parent Teacher Associations
– Special events or conferences, except by invitation only
– Endowments
– Direct services (except in circumstances where these services are part of an advocacy or organizing agenda or strategy)

For 2022, the Meyer Foundation will review Interest Forms on a rolling basis and award grants four times a year: in March, June, September and November. There is no “best” time to apply. Generally, it is recommended that you apply when it makes the most sense for your organization, depending on when your fiscal year begins and ends, what your fundraising plan is, and when your staff is able to submit the request.

Grantmaking Timeline:
– Submit Interest Form by February 1, 2022 for Awards in March 2022
– Submit Interest Form by April 11, 2022 for Awards in June 2022
– Submit Interest Form by July 18, 2022 for Awards in September 2022
– Submit Interest Form by September 26, 2022 for Awards in November 2022

If you are invited to submit a proposal, the Foundation typically suggests a due date three weeks later, but there is flexibility on timing and the Foundation can work with you to find a deadline that works for your organization.

How to Apply:
– Submit an Interest Form. The Interest Form helps the Foundation learn about your work and takes about 30 minutes to complete.
– If invited, submit a proposal.

Meyer accepts only one Interest Form per year, per organization.

FAQs: https://meyerfoundation.org/our-grantmaking/#grantsFAQ

Strategy and Core Priorities: https://www.meyerfoundation.org/our-strategy/