Best Civil Rights Grants in Tennessee

Tennessee 501(c)(3) public charities running safety, workforce development, community vitality, or environmental sustainability programs can access funding through Union Pacific Foundation’s Community Ties Local Grants. Awards of US $5,000 - US $30,000 support direct services and capacity-building, with priority for projects serving Union Pacific rail-served communities and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion for underrepresented populations.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Tennessee focused on community organizing for progressive social change can seek approximately US $12,000 in mostly general support to build local leadership and power. Focused on civil and human rights, Abelard Foundation invites grassroots groups serving low-income, immigrant, worker, and other marginalized communities to apply for projects east of the Mississippi River.

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 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.

Nonprofit fair housing enforcement organizations in Tennessee can seek US $250,000 - US $500,000 to investigate and challenge discriminatory housing practices under this federal civil rights program. Grants from US HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity support testing, enforcement, and related activities under the Fair Housing Act and equivalent state or local laws nationwide.

U.S.-based 501(c)(3) public charities and fiscally sponsored projects supporting BAMEMSA communities with civil and human rights, civic engagement, and immigration or refugee rights work can seek general operating support through the RISE Together Fund Small Grants. With a mission to advance justice and inclusive democracy, Proteus Fund offers up to US $25,000, including groups serving Tennessee.

Law students focused on civil rights and civil liberties in the U.S. can receive scholarship support for their legal education, including those from Tennessee. William Wayne Justice Center for Public Interest Law awards the Judge William Wayne Justice Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Law, offering up to US $3,000 to a third-year student demonstrating scholastic merit and commitment to public interest law.

Nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations working on civil rights and related community services in Tennessee may be eligible for multi-year support to advance philanthropic programs. Adient Foundation supports civil rights initiatives in the U.S. by funding soundly managed organizations that demonstrate strong structure, community relationships, and commitment to equal opportunity objectives.

Nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations in Tennessee can receive support for charitable programs across areas like civil rights, community services, education, health, and the arts. Adient Foundation provides one-time grants and possible renewals to soundly managed organizations, with funding decisions based on organizational capacity, community relationships, and commitment to equal opportunity objectives.

Researchers with at least a bachelor’s degree studying community-led development and civil rights–related issues in Latin America, the Caribbean, or the U.S., including Tennessee, can receive US $20,000 fellowships for rigorous field-based research. The Social Science Research Council and Inter-American Foundation support projects on social inclusion, migration, violence prevention, sustainable agriculture, and other community-driven development topics.

501(c)(3) public charities in Tennessee working on civil rights, LGBTQIA2S+ support, displaced people, immigrant communities, or mental health resources can apply for the Looking Out Foundation’s grants, awarding US $5,000 - US $25,000 for program support. Organizations serving disadvantaged youth, women, the arts, food insecurity, or the unhoused may also be competitive.

Grassroots 501(c)(3) groups in Tennessee led by formerly incarcerated or directly impacted people can seek rapid-response funding for civil rights and criminal justice work, including protests, mutual aid, and restorative justice efforts. Focused on opposing criminalization and incarceration, Circle for Justice Innovations offers up to US $7,500 for urgent, movement-building actions.

Individuals, agencies, and similar entities in Tennessee exploring civility, civil discourse, and civil practices can apply for GriffinHarte Foundation grants of up to US $1,000 to support related research, scholarship, and educational work. Projects addressing civil rights, equity, identity, and social or economic justice may be especially relevant.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations working on civil rights, government accountability, or combating discrimination can seek one-year project funding, including in Tennessee. With a mission to defend basic freedoms and improve conditions for the underprivileged, Herb Block Foundation provides U.S. nonprofits with US $5,000 - US $25,000 for nationwide programs addressing these issues.

U.S. 501(c)(3) public charities working on civil rights and related civic or educational initiatives, including those based in Tennessee, can seek support for programs advancing constitutional liberties and civil society. The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation funds work on individual freedom, free markets, informed citizenship, and strong communities; it does not fund individuals or indirect costs.

Nonprofit schools, parks departments, community organizations, and amateur leagues in Tennessee that run structured sports programs for girls ages 11–18 may be eligible for the Sports 4 Life grants, which fund coaching, equipment, uniforms, transportation, and related costs. Programs serving predominantly Black, Hispanic, African-American, and/or Native American girls can use this support to expand equitable sports access and development.

Organizations and individuals improving civil or criminal justice systems in the U.S., including Tennessee, can receive recognition awards supporting work such as legal reform, crime prevention, child protection, and victims’ rights. Foundation for Improvement of Justice provides Tennessee civil rights advocates with US $15,000, a medal, certificate, and trip to an awards banquet for proven, model programs.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) or aspiring 501(c)(3) local news organizations can receive funding to build sustainable business capacity and revenue operations, including in Tennessee. American Journalism Project provides support for digital newsrooms whose core public-service journalism is free, independent, and committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and meeting local information needs at the state, metro, or community level.

Education unions and affiliates advancing racial justice in schools, including those in Tennessee, can apply for National Education Association Staff Organization’s CRSJ Racial Justice in Education Grants, which award US $5,000 - US $75,000. Funding supports K–12 racial equity initiatives focused on awareness, capacity-building, leadership development for people of color, and organizational transformation for civil rights progress.

Tennessee 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 civil rights, anti-racism, and anti-bullying activities that encourage walking, biking, or rolling to school and inspire youth activism.

The Lisa and Douglas Goldman Fund, established in 1992, supports charitable organizations that enhance society, focusing on democracy and civil liberties. The fund prioritizes projects that ensure equal citizen participation in the democratic process and protect civil liberties, especially those implemented nationally or across multiple states. It operates by invitation only and emphasizes flexible, informed grantmaking to qualified projects that align with its mission and values.

The Puffin Foundation's Environmental Artistic Activism Grant Program supports artists addressing environmental issues through diverse artistic genres such as film, music, and theater. Grants, typically around $1,750, fund projects that prioritize sustainability and innovative solutions to the climate crisis. Eligible applicants include U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and current DACA recipients. The foundation emphasizes projects that avoid contributing to environmental harm while fostering artistic expression and community engagement.

The Impact Fund provides recoverable grants to legal services nonprofits and small law firms working on social, environmental, and economic justice issues. With over $10 million awarded since 1992, the fund supports impactful litigation addressing systemic injustices. Grants range from $10,000 to $50,000 and prioritize cases directly involving affected communities. Recipients must repay the grant amount with interest if they recover fees or costs, ensuring sustainability for future funding.

The Hyde Family Foundations Grant supports nonprofits in Memphis with a focus on education, community development, arts, and civic engagement. Established in 1961, the foundation has grown to over $175 million in assets, granting about $20 million annually. Organizations can apply for funding three times a year, with specific eligibility criteria. The foundation aims to empower initiatives that foster equity, improve quality of life, and enhance the community's cultural landscape, ensuring a thriving environment for all residents.

The Wolcott Family Foundation focuses on funding grassroots organizations that drive social change and environmental stewardship. They prioritize support for projects that empower communities, strengthen civil liberties, and address ecological challenges. Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations in Colorado classified under section 501(c)(3), with grants awarded for one year. The foundation values projects emphasizing environmental preservation and community involvement aimed at tackling societal issues.

The Grassroots Organizing National Grant Program, funded by the Ben & Jerry's Foundation, supports small, community-led organizations in the U.S. working to confront social and environmental injustices. Grants of up to $30,000 per year are available for two years, prioritizing organizations with budgets under $350,000. The program emphasizes grassroots organizing and community empowerment, inspired by the legacy of John Lewis. Eligible applicants must focus on collective action and local leadership to drive social change.