Best Human Rights Grants in Washington

Nonprofit organizations, tribal governments, and fiscally sponsored groups in Washington working on carceral systems organizing and human rights can apply for US $25,000 to support community organizing efforts. Grants from Social Justice Fund Northwest help groups challenging criminalization of BIPOC and low-income communities, including abolition, alternatives to incarceration, youth incarceration, immigration detention, and related systemic reforms.

Grassroots organizations focused on human rights and carceral systems reform in Washington can access funding through Social Justice Fund Northwest, with awards up to US $25,000. Eligible groups include small-budget, BIPOC-led 501(c)(3)/(c)(4), tribal, or fiscally sponsored organizations using community organizing to challenge criminalization and build alternative justice solutions.

Grassroots nonprofits and fiscally sponsored groups hosting social justice, human rights, cultural, or collective action events in Washington can seek sponsorship for public events or projects. Social Justice Fund Northwest supports recent or current grantees, funding community-led fundraisers, art events, rallies, vigils, and marches within its five-state Northwest region.

Visual artists in Washington working primarily in the visual arts can receive up to US $25,000 for debt relief and career advancement, with a strong emphasis on community engagement and social justice. Focused on social justice and human rights, the Robert B McMillen Foundation invites artists to demonstrate artistic excellence and community impact through their practice.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Washington working on social justice, human rights, or related community and environmental initiatives can seek sponsorship funding for programs, capital campaigns, or events. Focused on transformative social and environmental change, Beneficial State Foundation prioritizes existing clients and partners in California, Oregon, and Washington, with awards up to US $1,000.

Washington community-led campaigns advancing racial justice, human rights, and public policy change can access funding through Inatai Foundation’s CLIP Fund. Eligible efforts include ballot measures, litigation, legislative advocacy, grassroots organizing, and polling that build political power for communities most impacted by structural inequities, with a focus on campaigns across Washington, including rural and overlooked regions.

Nonprofit organizations, tribal agencies, and fiscally sponsored grassroots groups doing community organizing in Washington and other Northwest states can receive US $10,000 in unrestricted, one-year support for urgent and emerging justice needs. Social Justice Fund Northwest prioritizes human rights-focused organizing led by Black, Indigenous, and people of color and smaller-budget organizations.

About Us

Mission & Values

The Community Foundation works in many roles including that of a funder, partner, and catalyst for change in Snohomish County. Our board and staff have been on a dedicated journey to dismantle racism and oppressive policies in our organization, in our teams and in ourselves. 

Mission:

Strengthen community and thoughtfully change lives.

Human Services Fund in honor of Bob Drewel

The Human Services Endowment Fund, established in 2003, honors the legacy and unwavering commitment of Bob Drewel to advancing human service causes throughout Snohomish County. Managed by the Community Foundation of Snohomish County, this fund provides long-term support for organizations working to meet the critical human service needs of our community.

This is a two-year grant with the first installment received upon approval of the grant and the second received after submission of a report following the first year of the grant.

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.

Washington youth ages 13–23 leading human rights or social justice projects can access funding and a yearlong leadership fellowship through the Call for Kindness program. Riley's Way Foundation offers up to US $5,000 plus coaching, retreats, and peer support to launch or expand youth-led initiatives grounded in kindness and community impact.

Focused on empathy-building, Acton Family Giving invites Washington 501(c)(3) nonprofits and fiscally sponsored projects with statewide or multi-region reach to share their work in storytelling, human-animal connection, and social-emotional development. Human rights and social justice organizations may be considered for future funding opportunities within the Empathy Building Initiative portfolio.

Focused on social justice and human rights, this program invites grassroots 501(c)(3) nonprofits and fiscally sponsored groups in Oregon and SW Washington to seek one-time support for work benefiting BIPOC communities. Eligible organizations with net income under $600,000 can receive US $2,500 - US $5,000 from Black United Fund of Oregon’s Community Impact Grants.

Doctoral students at U.S. institutions conducting social science dissertation research on social justice, human rights, inequality, work, or immigration may be eligible for up to US $15,000 to support data collection, analysis, and writing. Grants from Russell Sage Foundation help researchers, including those studying Washington-related issues, advance policy-relevant work on U.S. social and living conditions.

Early-career social science faculty researching human rights, social justice, or systemic inequality in the U.S. can receive US $35,000 - US $50,000 for one-year projects, including those based in Washington. Russell Sage Foundation supports work on economic mobility, structural barriers, civic engagement, criminal justice, immigration, education, and related equity issues, with priority for underrepresented scholars and under-resourced institutions.

Schools, local governments, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Washington and nationwide can seek US $500 - US $1,000 to host Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day events promoting activism, anti-racism, and anti-bullying. Focused on youth human rights and social justice, Safe Routes to School National Parternship supports activities like educational workshops, speakers, art contests, and walk-to-school campaigns.

501(c)(3) organizations in Washington working on education or social justice can apply for the Baskin Family Foundation’s national grants to support forward-thinking programs. Human rights and related social justice initiatives may be eligible, with funding available to strengthen impactful, mission-driven work in these areas.

Kauai graduate students pursuing degrees in social justice, public or human service, education, or health can apply for the Inspired to Serve Scholarship Fund, administered by Hawai'i Community Foundation. Eligible applicants must be Hawaii residents studying full-time for a master’s or doctoral degree; human rights–focused students in Washington may find this relevant if originally from Kauai.

State and local education affiliates in Washington advancing racial justice in K–12 education can apply for National Education Association funding; awards US $5,000 - US $75,000 for one-year or multi-year projects. Grants support awareness, capacity-building, and action to address racial inequities, develop leaders of color, and transform policies for human and civil rights.

Washington K–12 education organizations focused on student achievement and racial justice can access funding through the National Education Association Staff Organization to strengthen community advocacy and partnerships. This grant supports initiatives in communities of color, leadership-driven social justice or professional activism, and new union roles that deepen parent and community engagement in education and human rights.

Washington aspiring educator organizations and campus chapters can seek funding for social justice and human rights projects, educator preparation, and community engagement. Focused on strengthening educator quality and equity, National Education Association Staff Organization offers up to US $2,000 to support initiatives like culturally responsive practice, advocacy on education policy, and partnerships with P–12 schools.

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.

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.