Best Social Justice Grants in Montana

Montana social justice and human rights organizations working on carceral systems, criminalization, or justice reform can access funding through Social Justice Fund Northwest. 501(c)(3)/(c)(4) groups, tribal governments, and fiscally sponsored projects across the five-state region may receive US $25,000, with priority for BIPOC-led, rural, reservation-based, and smaller-budget organizations.

Grassroots, BIPOC-led community organizing groups in Montana and the broader five-state region can seek funding to challenge carceral systems, advance abolition or reform, and build alternative justice solutions. Focus areas include ending racialized criminalization, youth incarceration, immigrant detention, and related systems impacting low-income communities, with grants up to US $25,000 from Social Justice Fund Northwest.

Grassroots social justice, community, or arts organizations in Montana can seek sponsorships to support public events and ambitious projects. Social Justice Fund Northwest supports social justice and human rights work in its five-state region by funding fundraisers, cultural gatherings, and collective action events; recent or current grantees may be especially eligible for this US $1,000 opportunity.

With a mission to advance grassroots social justice organizing, Social Justice Fund Northwest provides Montana nonprofits and tribal agencies with one-year, US $10,000 general operating grants. 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations, tribal governments, and fiscally sponsored groups organizing around urgent and emerging needs in Montana and neighboring states may be eligible.

Montana 501(c)(3) nonprofits advancing social justice, civic engagement, climate solutions, conservation, local food systems, or sustainable economic development can receive general operating support through the High Stakes Foundation. Grants back charitable, educational, or scientific work, with a required letter of inquiry and ongoing financial and narrative reporting for funded organizations.

Montana social justice and human rights educators or emerging leaders can apply for the Edmonds Summer Fellowship, which offers US $1,500 for hands-on leadership experience in human rights education. Focused on civic leadership development, this Center for Transformative Action opportunity supports U.S.-based fellows 18+ committed to HRE USA’s mission and available 100 hours over the summer.

Nonprofit organizations advancing human rights, women’s and girls’ empowerment, or LGBTQ+ causes in Montana and across the U.S. can access capacity-building support through the Alexandra Hallock Capacity Building Grant for Small Nonprofits. Cause Strategy Partners provides a one-time US $20,000 unrestricted grant plus pro bono consulting, governance resources, and board development tools for small 501(c)(3)s.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations working on voter education, mobilization, and election integrity in the U.S., including Montana, can seek support for year-round civic engagement efforts. Focused on civic participation, Park Foundation backs state and national groups expanding the franchise and combating suppression, which may benefit social justice and human rights initiatives.

Youth changemakers ages 13–23 in Montana leading kindness-centered social justice or community projects can apply for Riley's Way Foundation’s Call for Kindness Fellowship, which awards up to US $5,000 for project expenses. Funding supports youth-led initiatives addressing issues like environmental justice, food insecurity, homelessness, education equity, or LGBTQIA+ rights through empathy and connection.

U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits or fiscally sponsored projects with statewide or multi-region reach can seek support for empathy-building work, including storytelling, animal connection, and social-emotional learning. Acton Family Giving provides funding nationally, so Montana social justice and human rights organizations may be eligible if they align with the Empathy Building Initiative’s priorities.

Small 501(c)(3) nonprofits working on social change, civil rights, or environmental stewardship in Montana can apply for Wolcott Family Foundation grants of US $1,000 - US $5,000. Nationally, organizations with budgets under $350,000 may seek one-year general operating or project support, with a preference for Colorado-based groups and grassroots community efforts.

Doctoral students at U.S. institutions conducting social science dissertation research on social justice, inequality, work, or immigration topics can access funding through the Russell Sage Foundation for data collection, preparation, analysis, and writing. Projects must focus on improving social and living conditions in the U.S., and Montana-focused studies may be eligible if they meet these priorities.

Early-career social science faculty researching U.S. economic mobility, inequality, and related social justice issues can apply for US $35,000 - US $50,000 in Pipeline Grants from the Russell Sage Foundation. Focused on economic mobility and systemic barriers, this program supports one-year projects and prioritizes underrepresented scholars, including those in Montana, working on social and living conditions in the U.S.

Montana local governments, public schools, 501(c)(3) nonprofits, and community partners can access funding through Safe Routes to School National Parternship to host Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day events. Grants of US $500 - US $1,000 support student-led activities promoting activism, anti-racism, anti-bullying, and walking, biking, or rolling to school, with priority for first-time, middle and high school celebrations.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations working on social justice or education in Montana can seek support for forward-thinking programs through the Baskin Family Foundation. Grants from this U.S.-wide funder may benefit Montana groups advancing human rights, equity, and educational opportunity within their communities.

Graduate students from Kauai pursuing full-time master’s or doctoral degrees in social justice, public or human service, education, or health may be eligible for the Inspired to Serve Scholarship Fund. Focused on these fields, Hawai'i Community Foundation invites applicants who are Hawaii residents with financial need and strong academics; Montana social justice organizations may know qualifying students with local ties.

Education unions and affiliates working on racial justice initiatives in Montana can apply for the National Education Association Staff Organization’s CRSJ Racial Justice in Education Grant, awarding US $5,000 - US $75,000. Grants support awareness, capacity-building, and action projects that advance racial equity, develop leaders of color, and transform organizational policies and practices.

Montana education-focused unions or affiliates working on K–12 student achievement and racial justice initiatives can seek support for community advocacy and partnership projects. With a mission to strengthen educational equity, National Education Association provides funding to mobilize community organizations and leaders, engage trained member-activists, and build union roles that deepen social justice and parent/community engagement in schools.

The Aspiring Educators CREATE Grants, funded by the National Education Association Staff Organization, offer up to $2000 to strengthen the AE Program and foster impactful partnerships. Grants focus on areas such as Educator Quality, Community Engagement, Political Action, and Social Justice. Eligible organizations include state AE chapters, and submissions are accepted three times a year. This initiative encourages aspiring educators to develop their skills and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

The National Education Association's Collective Bargaining and Member Advocacy Department offers grants to support affiliates in creating student-centered initiatives through collective bargaining and advocacy. These grants aim to unite educators with communities, enhance transparency in negotiations, and advocate for students' rights, focusing on improving education funding, working conditions, and student outcomes. Affiliates can apply for funding to develop strategies that foster collaboration and promote positive learning environments.

The ACLS Leading Edge Fellowships provide recent humanities PhDs with the opportunity to work with nonprofit organizations focused on social justice. Over 24 months, fellows receive a stipend of $70,000 in the first year and $72,000 in the second, along with relocation funds and health insurance. The program emphasizes diversity and inclusion, encouraging applications from all eligible scholars to enhance their professional skills in meaningful roles.

The American Electric Power Foundation provides grants to 501(c)(3) organizations focused on educational improvement, particularly in STEM fields, and basic human services such as hunger and housing. Organizations must operate within AEP's service territory or have a broader beneficial purpose. The Foundation also supports social justice initiatives and environmental protection efforts. Eligible applicants must affirm compliance with anti-discrimination policies and demonstrate commitment to diversity and inclusion.

The Indigo Oak Fund, based in Colorado, is dedicated to enhancing education, the arts, and social justice, particularly through its Equal Justice Under the Law Grant Program. This initiative supports organizations that promote fairness in the justice system, rehabilitation, and civic engagement. By funding programs focused on personal empowerment and equal opportunities, the fund aims to foster lifelong learning and improve lives, particularly for women and children in need.

The Mockingbird Nonprofit Incubator Grant Program supports emerging nonprofit founders in creating sustainable growth and impact. The program includes eight live workshops on nonprofit management, fundraising, and access to resources from Givebutter. Selected organizations receive scholarships and the chance to apply for $4,000 in grant funds. Eligibility is limited to 501c3 nonprofits or those under fiscal sponsorship with budgets under $500,000, fostering a community of committed leaders ready to make a difference.

The Anderson-Rogers Foundation Grant supports U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organizations focused on environmental protection, animal welfare, climate change mitigation, and social support. Established in 2001, this family foundation prioritizes innovative projects and general operating support for small organizations facing financial constraints. Note that applicants must first submit a letter of inquiry, as the foundation does not fund scholarships or grants to individuals or religious organizations, nor does it support organizations outside the U.S.

Proteus Fund

Proteus Fund partners with foundations, individual donors, activists, and other allies to work strategically towards racial, gender, queer, and disability justice and an inclusive, fully-representative democracy. We curate an ecosystem of mutually reinforcing, aligned donor collaboratives and fiscally sponsored projects that deploy a creative array of strategies and tactics to further this vision.

RISE Together Fund: Small Grants

Call For Application

RISE Together Fund (RTF), an initiative of Proteus Fund, is announcing an open call for inquiries for our 2026 Small Grants Fund for U.S. public charity organizations or fiscally sponsored projects of such organizations, that support Black, African, Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim and South Asian (BAMEMSA) communities.

As part of RTF’s commitment to prioritizing the needs and sustainability of the fields we collectively support, RTF will provide organizations with general operating grants to allow for organizational flexibility when possible. 

About RTF's Small Grants Fund

BAMEMSA movements have a strong history of organizing and collaboration, and are well poised with the knowledge, learning and experience to build an inclusive, multiracial democratic future and respond to the current unconstitutional threats facing the country. Through this fund, RTF aims to resource community power building organizations that use a multiplicity of approaches to create change rooted in the strength and leadership of BAMEMSA movements.

RTF supports groups that build community power, strengthen movement bases, defend civil and human rights including freedom of protest, speech, religion, and association, end the criminalization and surveillance of our communities, and respond to the rise in xenophobia, Islamophobia, and hate. RTF values groups that are intersectional in their approach and have or are developing sustainable long-term strategies to support BAMEMSA communities and movements.

Priority Issue Areas

• Protecting and advancing the rights of immigrant and refugee BAMEMSA communities by responding to harmful policies and practices, and strengthening community-led advocacy at the local, state, or federal level.

• Mobilizing BAMEMSA communities for nonpartisan civic engagement and election protection by increasing nonpartisan voter participation, combating voter suppression, and building sustained civic infrastructure ahead of, during, and between elections.

• Advocating for U.S. policy changes that end violence in Gaza and the West Bank by elevating Palestinian voices, influencing public discourse, and engaging in advocacy that shifts U.S. political, diplomatic, or funding decisions.

• Challenging harmful national security frameworks and their impacts on BAMEMSA communities by documenting, exposing, and organizing against surveillance, Islamophobia, and policies rooted in the War on Terror, particularly in the context of 9/11’s 25-year legacy.

• Responding to emerging opportunities and threats affecting BAMESMA communities such as influencing policy developments, addressing civic issues in the U.S., or developing narratives to change public discourse. This includes work addressing weaponizing issues around bodily autonomy and LGBTQ+ identity to fracture movements and communities.

Priority Strategies

RTF values organizations that take an intersectional approach and are intentionally building long-term community power. We prioritize support for groups that strengthen movement ecosystems, deepen their base, and defend the rights of BAMEMSA communities through the following strategies:

• Convening, Collaboration, and Movement Coordination: Bringing together organizations, leaders, and coalitions to align shared goals, coordinate strategies to advance shared visions, and reduce fragmentation across the field. This includes facilitating strategic convenings, developing platforms for collaboration, building cross-issue or cross-regional partnerships, developing shared agendas or issue campaigns, and strengthening trust and alignment among movement actors.
• Community Power-Building, Base Building, Civic Engagement, and Organizing: Expanding and activating a grassroots base within BAMEMSA communities to drive collective action and policy change. This includes community leadership development, public education campaigns, community organizing, nonpartisan voter engagement and election protection, and ongoing nonpartisan civic participation efforts that build sustained community power.
• Legal and Policy Advocacy Infrastructure: Advancing legal strategies and policy advocacy that expand and protect the rights of BAMEMSA communities. This includes impact litigation, legal advocacy, know-your-rights efforts, policy development, and advocacy at a local, state, or federal level.
• Communications and Narrative Strategy: Shaping public discourse and advancing narratives that reflect the experiences, dignity, and demands of BAMEMSA communities. This includes developing messaging strategies, producing and amplifying media, countering harmful or divisive narratives (including those targeting immigrants, religious minorities, LGBTQ+ communities, and reproductive rights), and increasing the voice share of BAMEMSA community members.
• Bolstering Movement Infrastructure: Strengthening the internal capacity and long-term sustainability of organizations and the broader movement ecosystem. This includes organizations supporting leadership development and pipelines, data and technology infrastructure, security and safety, and other core functions that enable groups to operate effectively and respond to evolving challenges.

Limited funding may be available for requests above $25,000.

Seattle Foundation

Seattle Foundation is an agent of change, igniting powerful, rewarding philanthropy to make Greater Seattle a stronger, more vibrant community for all.

At Seattle Foundation, we believe that community is more than a place. It’s the shared understanding that our joy and well-being are tied to one another. Every day we work with nonprofits, philanthropists, and partners like you to strengthen community by igniting powerful philanthropy and advancing long-term solutions. Because it takes all of us to create a joyful region where every person can thrive.

Theresa Earenfight Scholarship

The purpose of the Theresa Earenfight Scholarship is to support undergrad or graduate students who are passionate about the intersection of social justice and animal welfare within a historical context. Applicants should be studying history, in particular how history intersects with animal activism, animal rights, animal liberation, and other related topics. Preference will be given to students with strong financial need, students of color and those from historically marginalized communities, and/or students who may face barriers to receiving other scholarships. This is a $10,000 annual scholarship renewable through the completion of the student’s degree, assuming the student continues to meet the eligibility criteria. The scholarship may be applied to tuition and fees, or other academic expenses payable to the college or university.