Best Social Justice Grants in Puerto Rico

Grassroots community organizations advancing social justice and human rights, including those in Puerto Rico, can apply for approximately US $5,000 to support community organizing, movement-building, and dismantling oppression work. With a mission to foster just and peaceful communities, Peace Development Fund provides general or project support to small groups in the U.S., Mexico, Haiti, and territories.

Doctoral students at U.S. institutions researching U.S.-focused social science topics can receive up to US $15,000 for dissertation data collection, analysis, and writing, including projects impacting Puerto Rico. Grants from Russell Sage Foundation support work on inequality, work, immigration, race and ethnicity, and related social justice issues, with priority for underrepresented scholars and those with limited resources.

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 WWT Foundation Grant aims to empower organizations aligned with the foundation's values, focusing on community service, employee engagement, and business impact. Key areas of support include career readiness, STEM education, human services, and health and wellness. Eligible organizations must be located in the U.S. and registered as 501(c)(3). Applications are accepted year-round, allowing for flexible engagement and support for impactful community initiatives.

The AJ Muste Foundation's Rapid Response Grants support U.S.-based organizations engaged in grassroots activism for social justice. These grants, up to $5,000, are aimed at addressing immediate needs of groups fighting for equality and liberation. The funding is designed for unexpected opportunities and emergencies, promoting powerful organizing efforts. The foundation prioritizes groups lacking traditional funding sources and those focused on systemic change rather than individual support.

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.

Nonprofit organizations working on civic engagement, voter education, and election integrity in Puerto Rico can seek support for year-round, on-the-ground organizing. Park Foundation funds 501(c)(3) groups advancing civic participation and democracy, which may include social justice and human rights efforts focused on mobilizing voters and protecting voting rights.

Puerto Rico youth and youth-led groups working on social justice, human rights, or related community projects can access funding through Riley's Way Foundation to launch or expand their initiatives. U.S. citizens or DACA recipients ages 13–23 receive up to US $5,000 plus a 12‑month leadership fellowship, coaching, and peer support; funds flow through a 501(c)(3) partner or project nonprofit.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations or fiscally sponsored projects working on empathy-building through social justice, storytelling, arts, or human-animal connection may be eligible for national or broad-reach support, including Puerto Rico. Focused on empathy-building, Acton Family Giving invites aligned organizations to introduce their work for potential fit within its Empathy Building Initiative portfolio.

Early-career social science faculty researching social justice and inequality in the U.S. can receive US $35,000 - US $50,000 for one-year projects, including work relevant to Puerto Rico. Russell Sage Foundation provides support for studies on economic mobility, systemic inequalities, and related areas, prioritizing underrepresented scholars and those at under-resourced institutions.

Local governments, public schools, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits planning Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day events can apply for US $500 - US $1,000 to promote youth activism, anti-racism, and anti-bullying. Focused on social justice and student leadership, Safe Routes to School National Parternship supports events that encourage students to walk, bike, or roll to school, including those in Puerto Rico.

501(c)(3) organizations advancing education or social justice can apply for Baskin Family Foundation support for forward-thinking programs. This U.S.-focused fund may benefit Puerto Rico-based nonprofits or those serving Puerto Rican communities working on human rights, equity, or educational initiatives that match the foundation’s priorities.

Kauai graduate students pursuing degrees in social justice, public or human service, education, or health can apply for the Inspired to Serve Scholarship Fund from Hawai'i Community Foundation. Eligible applicants must be Hawaii and Kauai residents, full-time master’s or doctoral students, demonstrate financial need, and may plan to serve communities including those in Puerto Rico.

State and local education affiliates in Puerto Rico advancing racial justice in K–12 education can apply for National Education Association Staff Organization’s CRSJ Racial Justice in Education Grants, awarding US $5,000 - US $75,000 for one-year or multi-year projects. Funding supports awareness, capacity-building, and action to promote racial equity, leadership of people of color, and organizational transformation.

Puerto Rico education and social justice organizations working on K–12 student achievement and racial justice in education can access funding via National Education Association Staff Organization. Grants support initiatives that boost achievement for students of color, deepen social justice or professional activism among trained NEA members, and build union roles for parent and community engagement.

Puerto Rico social justice and education groups can seek funding to support aspiring educator projects that advance equity, advocacy, and community engagement. Focused on educator quality, community partnerships, political action, and social justice, the National Education Association Staff Organization offers up to US $2,000, with three application cycles each year and eligibility for State Aspiring Educators organizations and campus chapters nationwide.

Education unions and affiliates working on student-centered advocacy and collective bargaining initiatives can apply for up to US $50,000 to advance social justice and equitable learning conditions. With a mission to strengthen organizing and advocacy, National Education Association Staff Organization provides support for projects that enhance student learning, educator working conditions, and education equity, including efforts in Puerto Rico.

Recent humanities and interpretive social science PhDs authorized to work in the U.S. can apply for American Council of Learned Societies Leading Edge Fellowships, which place fellows in social justice–oriented nonprofits. Focused on social justice and human rights, this 24‑month fellowship supports roles using advanced research, communication, and project management skills, potentially benefiting organizations in Puerto Rico.

Grants from American Electric Power Foundation help Puerto Rico social justice and human rights nonprofits, public charities, and qualifying public institutions fund STEM education, basic needs, and equity-focused programs. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) or similar entities operating within AEP’s U.S. service territory or serving its customers at a national or regional level.

Nonprofit organizations working on social justice and human rights in Puerto Rico can apply for the Indigo Oak Fund’s Equal Justice Under the Law grants to support fairness in the justice system, rehabilitation, and anti-recidivism programs. These grants also back civic engagement and education for future attorneys and social justice workers.

Puerto Rico social justice and human rights nonprofits with U.S.-incorporated 501(c)(3) status or fiscal sponsorship and budgets under $500,000 can access funding and capacity-building through Mockingbird Incubator. Participants receive an eight-week management and fundraising program plus scholarships and up to US $4,000 in potential grant funds via a Givebutter-based fundraising challenge.

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.

Foundation of the Federal Bar Association

The Foundation of the Federal Bar Association provides the best way for practitioners to give back to the Federal legal community. Chartered by Congress in 1954, the Foundation serves people in communities across the United States through its generous grants, scholarships, and programming.

Our Mission: The Foundation’s mission is to:

• Promote and support legal research and education;
• Advance the science of jurisprudence;
• Facilitate the administration of justice;
• Foster improvements in the practice of Federal law

Foundation Grants

Foundation grants support community service projects and civics programs which comply with the Foundation’s mission to promote and support legal research and education; advance the science of jurisprudence; facilitate the administration of justice; and foster improvements in the practice of Federal law.

Civics Education Grant

The Civics Grant Program is designed to support projects and initiatives that promote a wider public understanding of democratic principles, the judicial system and the rule of law. Through targeted funding, the program empowers FBA chapters, sections, divisions, national standing committees (FBA entity), and other organizations to develop and support projects in their communities that foster public understanding of the rights and responsibilities of American citizenship, particularly among younger Americans.

Applicants may only receive one (1) Foundation grant per year.