FREEDOM FUND
With the support of the Oak and Douty Foundations, Gender Justice Fund (GJF) created the Freedom Fund to support the under-funded ecosystem of programs serving women, trans, and gender non-conforming (TGNC) individuals in jail/prison or in reentry in the Philadelphia area. The Freedom Fund will award three-year grants of $50,000 in general operating support. Each grantee will also have access to $20,000 in funding for capacity-building support (see below for more information about capacity-building) to promote organizational growth and sustainability.
HOW TO APPLY
Review the eligibility criteria (below) to ensure that your organization qualifies.
Schedule an applicant support session to ask GJF staff any questions you have about the application (not required but recommended).
Submit your application online here by Thursday, February 29, 2024 by 5:00 PM EDT
We recommend preparing your responses in a Word document and then copying and pasting them into the online form.
There are no word limits for any questions.
You can download a PDF of all the application questions here.
GRANTMAKING TIMELINE
Application form available: February 1, 2024 (view it here)
One-on-one applicant support sessions: February 5 - 15 (click here to schedule a session)
Application Deadline: Thursday, February 29, 2024 @ 5:00 PM EDT
Grantee Interviews: Early March (these will be scheduled with select applicants)
Grant Announcements: Late March 2024
ELIGBILITY CRITERIA
To be eligible for the Freedom Fund, organizations must:
Have a history of providing direct services specifically targeted to women and or TGNC people in prison/jail or in reentry.
Provide direct services (e.g. employment, education, mental health, referrals, case management, housing) that support housing access/stability.
Have an annual operating budget of under $500,000.
Be incorporated as a 501 (c)(3) or have a fiscal sponsor.
Operate in Philadelphia (They may also operate in other locations, but they must provide substantive services within City limits)
Provide nonsectarian services in a manner supportive of clients all religions as well as those individuals who eschew organized religion.
ABOUT CAPACITY BUILDING
Successful applicants will work with a consultant to identify capacity-building needs and goals for their organization over the grant period. Gender Justice Fund will pay capacity-building consultants directly to avoid the potential for tipping. Capacity-building activities may include, but are not limited to:
Fundraising
Board Development
Strategic Planning
Financial Management
Coaching
Technology
Program Planning & Evaluation