Akonadi Foundation’s So Love Can Win Fund provides general support grants of $10,000 to Oakland’s organizers, storytellers, culture bearers, and healers who seek to ignite and implement a radical collective vision of freedom and racial justice.
A total of $500,000 will be disbursed in two rounds. Round 1 will open on March 15, 2021 and close on May 1, 2021. Round 2 will open on July 1, 2021 and close on September 1, 2021.
FUND DETAILS
- $500,000 in available funding to be dispersed in two rounds
- $10,000 general support grants
- Larger grants may be considered on a case-by-case basis. On occasion, the foundation may consider funding proposals at a higher level, such as coalitions or partnerships that are applying under one proposal.
IMPORTANT DATES
- March 15, 2021 – Round 1 application opens
- May 1, 2021 – Round 1 application deadline
- May 31, 2021 – Applicants notified of Round 1 decisions
- July 1, 2021 – Round 2 application open
- September 1, 2021 – Round 2 application deadline
- September 30, 2021 – Applicants notified of Round 2 decisions
featuring Isha Clarke from Youth vs. Apocolypse
WHO CAN APPLY
In order to apply for a 2021 So Love Can Win grant, applicants must:
- Be an organization, group, formation or collective.
- Be based in Oakland.
- Be led by Black, Indigenous, people of color and demonstrate a history of work with Black, Indigenous, people of color in Oakland.
- Have 501(c)(3) status or are fiscally sponsored.
- Akonadi is continuing its partnership with the Social Good Fund, which will waive its normal fiscal sponsorship fees to groups that have been approved for a So Love Can Win grant. If you need a fiscal sponsor, please contact SoLoveCanWin [at] akonadi.org to discuss options.
- Akonadi is continuing its partnership with the Social Good Fund, which will waive its normal fiscal sponsorship fees to groups that have been approved for a So Love Can Win grant. If you need a fiscal sponsor, please contact SoLoveCanWin [at] akonadi.org to discuss options.
Akonadi Foundation will prioritize grant support to the following:
- Organizations with budgets under $500,000.
- Organizations that advance the leadership of women, trans, queer and non-binary communities; immigrant and undocumented communities; and people who are formerly/currently incarcerated and their families
Applicants must employ at least one of the following strategies:
Organizing
Base-building organizations that mobilize, support, develop, and build power with their members.
Arts & Culture
Cultural formations that use culture as a tool for racial justice movement building.
Healing
Healing justice collectives and organizations providing accessible and relevant healing, wellness and self-care practices using an anti-racist political frame.
Voice
Oakland-focused journalism or narrative efforts that highlight racial justice movement building and/or issues impacting Black, Indigenous or people of color communities with an emphasis on promoting community leadership, mutual aid, and cultural resilience.
APPLICATION PROCESS
- Applications will be accepted from March 15, 2021 through May 1, 2021 for Round 1 and July 1, 2021 through September 1, 2021 for Round 2.
- Applicants may apply online or through a scheduled phone interview with Akonadi Foundation program staff. Phone interviews are reserved for applicants with accessibility barriers and/or limited technology, as well as applicants who have never applied for a grant.
- Applicants will receive a decision by May 31, 2021 for Round 1 applications and by September 30, 2021 for Round 2 applications.
- Organizations are eligible for one round of funding.
- Organizations may not resubmit a proposal that has been declined. If an organization is declined in Round 1, they may not reapply in Round 2.
- No email applications will be accepted.
- Checks or electronic transfers will be sent to approved grant partners within one week of receipt of a signed contract and payment information.
Applicants may apply online or through a scheduled phone interview with Akonadi Foundation program staff.
Please note applications do not need to be finished in one sitting. You may save your progress and resume at a later date.
Phone slots are reserved for applicants with accessibility barriers and/or limited technology, as well as applicants who have never applied for a grant with Akonadi Foundation.