Community Power Grantmaking
The Request for Proposals (RFP) for our 2025 Community Power Grantmaking Program is now closed.
What We Fund
iF’s vision of self-determination for Black people and people of the global majority calls for us to deepen our commitment to racial justice. The American status quo cannot be maintained if self-determination is the goal. Accordingly, we will fund Innovation (I), Disruption (D), and systemic change(s) of the status quo, now coined iF’s IDs.
In this era of backlash and the rollback of policies and practices designed to address historical harms, iF will double down on its commitment to dismantle and replace the systems that produce and perpetuate the harm to Black people and people of the global majority.
This is a shift. A necessary shift to actualize our vision. At this moment, when philanthropy is called to provide greater and longer-term resources, we are prioritizing funding efforts most strongly aligned with our IDs—Innovation, Disruption and systems change. You can read more about iF’s IDs here.
Our grantmaking continues to be participatory, with final grant decisions made by a committee of community members from the District of Columbia, Suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia.
The Request for Proposals (RFP) for our 2025 Community Power Grantmaking Program is now closed.
2025 - 2028 Community Power Grantees
Ten organizations driving racial justice through Innovation, Disruption, and systems change across the D.C. region. Each will receive $75,000 in annual general operating support for three years.
CRITICAL EXPOSURE
Leveraging the power of youth organizing, storytelling, and photography to transform DC communities and schools into safe, resource-connected places that are liberated from social, political, and economic barriers.
DC GIRLS’ COALITION
Elevating and amplifying the voices of young women, girls, femmes, non-conforming and young women/girls of color of trans experience in D.C. while advocating for policy recommendations that reduce their criminalization and adultification and center their needs.
DC JUSTICE LAB
Developing smarter safety solutions that are evidence-driven, community-rooted, and racially just to fully transform the District’s approach to public safety and make it a national leader in justice reform.
EMPOWER DC
Building the power of DC residents through resident-led community organizing to advance racial, economic, and environmental justice.
HARRIET’S WILDEST DREAMS
Centering all Black lives most at risk for state-sanctioned violence in the Greater Washington area through legal empowerment, political and civic education, mass protest, organizing campaigns, and community care that builds alternatives to oppressive systems.
OURSPACE WORLD
Organizing systematically disadvantaged farmers and healers to build a sustainable world where all communities have culturally-centered spaces in which to live and thrive.
PEACE FOR DC
Working to end gun violence in DC by advancing community violence intervention, trauma healing, systems change, and coordinated public safety strategies.
PG CHANGEMAKERS
Focusing on police brutality, social awareness, and community action since they began as a Prince George’s County local activist group in 2020.
TENANTS AND WORKERS UNITED
Organizing low-income communities of color to build power and advance racial, economic, and social justice across Northern Virginia.
TRABAJADORES UNIDOS (Workers United) de Washington DC:
Fighting for the rights of day laborers, immigrants, migrants, and low-income workers in Washington DC and the metropolitan area.
Grantseeker FAQ
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You can read the Request for Proposals (RFP) for our 2025 Community Power Grantmaking Program. It is available in English and in Spanish.
You can apply for the grant through our online application system here until Monday, June 9, 2025 at 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. You will be prompted to take an eligibility quiz before applying in the system. If you do not meet the eligibility criteria you will not be able to apply.
The iF team will be hosting an information session to provide more details about the RFP application process and iF’s IDs, and to answer any questions. This session will take place virtually on Tuesday, April 15th, 2025, from 10 to 11 AM EST.
Interested organizations can RSVP through the link provided here.
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iF has implemented a participatory grantmaking approach to our community power grantmaking program. Participatory grantmaking involves “ced(ing) decision-making power about funding decisions – including the strategy and criteria behind those decisions – to the very communities that a foundation aims to serve.”
The participatory grantmaking committee will decide on the grants. The committee will be composed of community members from across the region who have lived experience of racial inequities and are engaged in organizing and advocacy.
iF staff members will also join the committee as non-voting members to support facilitation, notetaking and other needs.
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We fund community and nonprofit organizations that are most strongly aligned with our IDs in the District of Columbia, Montgomery County and Prince George’s County in Maryland, and Northern Virginia.
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This narrative should include a description of how the organization advances racial justice through Innovation, Disruption and/or systems change, as defined by iF’s IDs, to achieve iF’s vision of Black people and people of the global majority’s self-determination. It is similar to a letter of inquiry.
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Submit the following which are not included in the one-page narrative:
Diversity matrix
Summary of the organization budget for the current year, with key income and expense line items.
Detailed project budget, if applicable.
Tax Determination Letter
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The foundation will award ten grants of $75,000 yearly for three years.
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The foundation provides general operating support.
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Our grantee partners have tax-exempt status under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code or have fiscal sponsors.
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The foundation will request an interim grant conversation before the end of each year of the three-year grant. More information on the reporting process will be included in the grant agreement. Grantee partners are not required to submit a written report. The final report will also be a conversation.