Best Human Rights Grants in Iowa

Iowa human rights and social justice organizations focused on community organizing can access funding through the Needmor Fund for Social Justice’s Core Grants Program for general operating support. Eligible groups organize primarily low- and moderate-income people across multiple issues, build long-term grassroots power, and are based in the Midwest, including Iowa.

Barbara McDowell Social Justice Center Inc.

The Barbara McDowell Social Justice Center litigates, educates, advocates, and provides grants to nonprofits to eradicate social injustices. 

We pursue litigation through our own efforts as well as funding others in the following fifteen issue areas: Access to Benefits, Children’s Rights, Disability Rights, Discrimination, Domestic Violence, Due Process, Environmental Justice, Healthcare, Homelessness, Housing, Native American Rights, Prisoners’ Rights, Refugee and Immigration Rights, Voting Rights, and Veterans’ Rights.

Barbara McDowell Social Justice Center Grant

We make grants to organizations that undertake systemic social justice litigation across fifteen issue areas. The Center funds litigation matters that are consistent with our namesake Barbara McDowell’s past legal efforts and her beliefs regarding social justice.

Applications must be for a specific social justice legal case, including the filing of an appeal. Grant funds are to be used only for attorney time charges and litigation expenses related to the specific case for which an organization is applying to be funded. 

The HRE USA 2025 Edmonds Summer Fellowship honors the legacy of Kirby Edmonds by offering young leaders hands-on experience in human rights education. This fellowship provides mentorship and learning opportunities to engage youth in creating human rights-friendly schools and communities. Supported by the Dorothy Cotton Institute, it aims to nurture future leaders committed to human rights advocacy. Eligible candidates must be 18 or older, reside in the U.S., and commit to 100 hours of work between June and August 2025.

The Alexandra Hallock Capacity Building Grant for Small Nonprofits, established in 2024, honors the legacy of Alexandra Hallock by supporting small nonprofits focused on human rights, women's empowerment, and LGBTQ+ causes. This grant offers a one-time $20,000 unrestricted funding along with pro-bono capacity building support. It aims to strengthen organizational infrastructure and governance, ensuring impactful community engagement. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)3 nonprofits with revenue under $400,000, operating for at least one year, and based in the U.S.

The Park Foundation Grants for Civic Participation aim to enhance democracy through active civic engagement. Focused on mobilizing voters and protecting their rights, this program supports grassroots organizations addressing social injustices. By fostering year-round involvement rather than just election-focused efforts, the foundation seeks to empower communities and ensure robust participation in the democratic process, ultimately contributing to a more equitable society.

The Call for Kindness Grant, offered by Riley's Way Foundation, empowers young leaders aged 13-23 to launch impactful social projects focused on kindness and community connection. With grants up to $5,000, recipients receive essential mentorship, coaching, and community support. This initiative has already benefited over 3,500 youth nationwide, promoting values of empathy and social change. Applicants can pursue projects in diverse areas, including environmental justice, ensuring a broad impact in their communities.

U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofits and fiscally sponsored projects with statewide or multi-region reach working on social justice and human rights can access funding through Acton Family Giving’s Empathy Building Initiative. Eligible organizations advance empathy through stories, animal connection, or related exploration, and Iowa-based groups with broad impact may be considered through this proactive, invitation-based process.

Iowa doctoral students in U.S.-focused social science fields can receive up to US $15,000 to support dissertation data collection, preparation, analysis, and writing on topics like social justice, inequality, work, race, and immigration. Human rights–oriented projects that fit Russell Sage Foundation priority areas may be especially competitive, with preference for underrepresented scholars and those with limited research funding.

Early-career social science faculty researching U.S. economic mobility, inequality, or human rights–related social justice issues can apply for $35,000–$50,000 in project funding from the Russell Sage Foundation. Focused on structural barriers and systemic inequities, this program invites methodologically rigorous, one-year studies, which may include work relevant to human rights in Iowa and beyond.

Iowa schools, local governments, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits can apply for $500 - $1,000 to host a Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day event promoting activism, anti-racism, and anti-bullying. Community partners planning human rights and social justice programming for students on or around November 14, 2026 may be eligible for support from Safe Routes to School National Parternship.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations working on social justice and education initiatives in Iowa and across the U.S. may be eligible for support from the Baskin Family Foundation. The foundation backs forward-thinking programs, so Iowa human rights and education groups with innovative approaches can consider applying for this national funding opportunity.

Kauai graduate students pursuing degrees in social justice, public or human service, education, or health can apply for scholarship support from Hawai'i Community Foundation. Focused on academic scholarship programs, this fund assists Hawaii residents with financial need; Iowa human rights organizations may know eligible students with ties to Hawaii and Kauai.

Education unions and affiliates working on racial justice initiatives in Iowa can apply for the National Education Association Staff Organization’s CRSJ Racial Justice in Education Grant, awarding US $5,000 - US $75,000. Funding supports awareness, capacity-building, and action projects that advance racial equity, develop leaders of color, and promote multiracial solidarity in K–12 education and human rights work.

State and local education affiliates working on K–12 student achievement and racial justice in Iowa can seek funding to build community advocacy and partnerships. With a mission to advance racial justice in education, National Education Association provides support to mobilize community organizations, engage trained member leaders, and create union roles for parent and community engagement.

State Aspiring Educators organizations and campus chapters in Iowa can apply for National Education Association Staff Organization’s CREATE grants, offering up to US $2,000 for projects. Funding supports educator quality, community engagement, political action, or social justice initiatives that strengthen AE programs and partnerships, with submission deadlines three times each year.

Recent humanities and interpretive social science PhDs authorized to work in the U.S., including Iowa-based scholars, can receive more than US $142,000 in fellowship support for social justice work with nonprofits. The American Council of Learned Societies’ Leading Edge Fellowships fund two-year, full-time roles with health insurance, professional development funds, and possible relocation assistance.

Iowa 501(c)(3) public charities, government entities, and qualifying foundations working on social justice, human rights, STEM education, or basic needs may be eligible for support. Iowa human rights and equity-focused organizations within the AEP service territory can access funding through American Electric Power Foundation to advance social justice, housing, hunger relief, and related community programs.

Iowa nonprofits working on social justice, human rights, legal services, reentry, or juvenile justice can access funding through Indigo Oak Fund’s Equal Justice Under the Law program. This Colorado-based foundation generally funds in Colorado and the Bay Area but may consider organizations elsewhere that advance fairness in the justice system and related empowerment initiatives.

Iowa 501(c)(3) nonprofits and fiscally sponsored groups with budgets under $500,000 can access capacity-building training and up to US $4,000 in funding to strengthen their organizations and leadership. Mockingbird Incubator’s eight-week cohort program supports emerging founders, including social justice and human rights organizations, with workshops, fundraising support, and a chance at additional seed funding.

Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status focused on social justice and human rights in Iowa can access funding through B.W. Bastian Foundation, typically ranging from US $100 - US $15,000. Grants may support general operations, specific projects, programs, advocacy, or capacity building for organizations that explicitly affirm equality, including for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Researchers studying community-led development and human rights issues in Latin America and the Caribbean can apply for the IAF Research Fellowship Program, which provides US $20,000 for 12 months of rigorous field-based research. Grants from Social Science Research Council support work on topics like social inclusion, violence prevention, migration, and sustainable livelihoods that may inform Iowa-focused programs.

Resist.

In 1967, Resist emerged out of the resistance to the Vietnam War and evolved to support the visionary frontline groups that are resisting, re-imagining, and transforming their communities for a more just and liberated world.

Resist is a foundation that supports people’s movements for justice and liberation. We redistribute resources back to frontline communities at the forefront of change while amplifying their stories of building a better world.

Our grant-making: Throughout this history, Resist has provided critical early funding to some of the most influential progressive organizations in the U.S. In total, Resist has granted more than $12 million to over 6,000 dedicated groups across the United States.

Urgent Action Fund

The 2026 Urgent Action Fund resources organizations with urgent projects or requests that include, but are not limited to, events, direct actions, accessibility, and mutual aid. Applications will open on the last Monday and close the following Friday of each month until cap has been reached. Projects that reflect escalated resistance, campaigns, events, projects or programmatic work will be prioritized.

About NIF

Advancing Equality for All Israelis

The New Israel Fund (NIF) helps Israel live up to its founders’ vision of a society that ensures complete equality to all its inhabitants. Our aim is to advance liberal democracy, including freedom of speech and minority rights, and to fight the inequality, injustice and extremism that diminish Israel.

From Israel’s first rape crisis centers, to fighting discrimination, NIF-funded organizations have driven positive social change and furthered justice and equality. NIF has provided over $350 million to more than 950 organizations since our inception in 1979.

Naomi Chazan Global Activism Fellowship

Want to travel to Israel/Palestine while advancing equality, democracy, and peace for all?

The New Israel Fund’s Naomi Chazan Global Activism Fellowship offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to visit Israel/Palestine, meet frontline Israeli and Palestinian activists, and learn about issues of war, peace, and inequality by seeing the reality on the ground. 

Fellows will visit Israel/Palestine on November 3-10, 2026.

This trip is a great opportunity to learn alongside peers and friends (ages 21 – 35). NIF is based on the simple idea that those of us who share a commitment to Israel/Palestine and to progressive values can join together to work for equality, freedom, and human rights. You will join a cohort of participants from the U.S. and Canada building relationships across borders to be sustained for years to come.

Following the trip, participants are expected to organize at least two NIF events in their home communities, with support from NIF staff. These events could look like a report-back highlighting the participants’ learnings from the trip, educational programs featuring NIF grantees/partners, or something else entirely that is tailored to the intellectual, emotional, and spiritual needs of the fellow’s communities.

The program is subsidized by generous donors in the NIF community. All “on-the-ground” costs—your hotel accommodation and almost all meals—will be covered by NIF. Participants are responsible for purchasing their own airfare and travel/health insurance. If the cost of airfare is a barrier for you, please apply anyway. Limited airfare subsidies may be available.

The Baugh Foundation supports progressive, inclusive, nonprofit organizations that reflect the love of Christ by providing assistance to those in need, enriching the lives of children and youth, keeping faith communities informed and engaged, and guarding the wall of separation between church and state.We welcome applications from progressive, faith-based organizations. At this time, the vast majority of our funding goes to progressive Baptist organizations or initiatives, and organizations that work to guard the separation of church and state. We believe that a free church in a free state is dependent upon a functioning democracy.Funding Priorities: 

• Social justice and advocacy
• Progressive faith-based journalism
• Meeting basic human needs
• Progressive faith-based post-secondary education
• Inclusivity initiatives
• Arts and enrichment

The Amy Adina Schulman Memorial Fund

The Amy Adina Schulman Memorial Fund is a Princeton, New Jersey-based endowment fund providing grants to individuals, young adults who volunteer or intern for progressive social action projects or programs in an area of their interest and commitment. The Amy Adina Fund also sponsors a lecture each year on a relevant and timely topic related to its educational mission.

The Amy Adina Schulman Memorial Fund was started in 1987 one year after Amy Adina, 20, died suddenly while a student and activist at Rutgers University. It is a realization of her family and her communities’ desire to celebrate her life, to fulfill her dreams and her potential. Since its inception, almost 1,500 grants have been awarded for work in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and the United States—nearly $1,000,000 in total. The Amy Adina Schulman Memorial Fund is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

About Our Grants

Small grants (depending on length of service), are awarded to as many applicants as possible rather than giving larger amounts to fewer individuals. The number of awards has grown each year thanks to annual contributions as well as to gifts sent to the Fund to honor special occasions and life cycle events.

The Richard L and Freda K Flerlage Foundation

Our Mission

Working to empower underserved populations through small grants in support of literacy, healthcare, reduction of poverty, and the promotion of social and environmental justice.

We are a small family foundation, when possible we aim to support organizations with relatively small operating funds where our small grants will have their greatest possible impact.

Our average grant is $3,800.