MRG will consider applications from organizations that fulfill the following requirements:
- Location: Applicants must be based in Oregon and/or their work must benefit those who call Oregon home.
- Budget Size: We currently only fund organization’s whose budgets are under $500,000.
- Non-Profit Status: Your group must be tax exempt under § 501(c)(3) of the Tax Code or have a fiscal sponsor to receive a 12-month grant. If your group has neither tax exemption nor a fiscal sponsor, your organization is only eligible to receive a six-month grant.
MRG does not fund:
- Animal welfare organizations
- Capital campaigns
- Cooperatives, health clinics, schools
- Direct services
- Organizations whose budgets exceed $500,000
- Organizations that require clients of or participants in their programs to be faith or religiously affiliated
- Personal hobby, mutual benefit, and for-profit groups
- Previously funded groups that have overdue grant reports
- Scholarships to or projects by individuals*
- Social service agencies without a clear social change organizing project
- Unions or direct labor organizing
- Work defined by the IRS as being non tax-exempt, including:
- Illegal activities
- Lobbying
- Partisan activity that supports or opposes specific political parties and/or candidates for public office
- Work that has already happened or will be completed before funding would begin
In addition to meeting the eligibility requirements above, organizations need to be in alignment with MRG’s funding priorities, which can be found here.
* Occasionally, MRG will offer scholarships and grants to individuals via our Donor-Advised Funds. To receive information and announcements about those opportunities, please sign up to our eNewsletter.
Expand All | Collapse AllCan I apply for a grant if my organization does not have a 501(c)(3)?
Yes. Groups without a 501(c)(3) exemption or fiscal sponsor are still eligible for Critical Response Grants, Travel Grants, and/or a 6-month General Fund Grant as long as your work meets IRS requirements for 501(c)(3) organizations. We do not fund groups that are incorporated as a business, personal hobby organization, or a mutual benefit corporation.
How does MRG define "based in Oregon"?
Your organization’s office must be located in Oregon, your work must primarily be directed to people in Oregon, and the majority of your board and staff must be located in Oregon.
How does MRG Foundation define dismantling oppression in grassroots organizing?
Institutionalized oppression such as racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism and ableism are the primary tools used to perpetuate injustice. While MRG recognizes the multidimensionality of oppression MRG centers race and asks all applicants, regardless of issue area, to name ways that their organizing work challenges institutional racism.
Will you fund proposals that include lobbying?
Yes. For proposals that include lobbying to be considered:
- Your organization or your fiscal sponsor must have a 501(c)(3) tax-exemption AND have filed the 501(h) election.
- Your application should be for general support.
If a proposal is for a special project, the funds from MRG cannot be earmarked for lobbying and the dollar amount of non-lobbying activities must exceed the funding requested from MRG. Contact grants program staff if your proposal will include lobbying.
How can I get more information and assistance in applying?
MRG’s next General Fund open grant cycle will be Fall, 2019. Applications will be made available in the summer. Contact Grants Director Violeta Rubiani for further information by email or call 503-289-1517.
My group just received a General Fund grant, are we eligible for another General Fund grant?
Not immediately. Groups may apply for one General Fund grant each year. We will fund groups for multiple years in a row, as long as each proposal meets our criteria.
We've never been funded by MRG Foundation before. Are we eligible for a Leadership Grant?
As long as your proposal meets our other criteria and your group’s budget is between $100,000 and $500,000. We look at your most recently completed fiscal year’s actual expenses, the current year’s budgeted expenses, and next year’s budgeted expenses. All three years must be between $100,000 and $500,000.
My group's budget is $510,000. Are we eligible for a grant?
No. MRG Foundation does not fund groups with annual organizational budgets over $500,000.
Are there specific areas MRG Foundation does not fund?
Yes. We do not fund:
- unions or direct labor organizing.
- illegal activities such as actions that might arise from civil disobedience.
- individuals, personal hobby, mutual benefit and for-profit organizations.
- activity that supports or opposes specific political parties and/or candidates.
- lobbying, unless the group meets our specific criteria for lobbying. If your proposal will include lobbying activity, please contact us at grants@mrgf.org for more information.
- work that has already happened or that will be completed before funding would begin.
We also do not fund previously funded groups with overdue grant reports or work that has already happened or that will be completed before funding would begin.