Movement and Power Building Grant Cycle
Submitting a Successful Application: Eligibility, Process and Timeline
Who Is Eligible to Apply
Contigo Fund seeks proposals for efforts based in Central Florida supporting Queer communities historically marginalized by society from equal opportunity and power and advancing racial, economic, and gender justice:
● Organization must be based in Central Florida (Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Polk, and Volusia Counties), and proposed efforts must uniquely serve Central Florida’s Queer communities.
● Groups or proposed projects/programs must be directed/led by Queer leader(s).
● Efforts should help sustain and grow capacity and forward movement to empower Queer people living at the intersection of marginalized identities, particularly Black and Latinx individuals, immigrants, and other communities of color.
● Must be a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization or fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. To apply, groups do not need 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Those lacking 501(c)(3) status can apply under the auspices of fiscal sponsorship of an established 501(c)(3). Fiscally sponsored groups are required to submit a fiscal sponsorship agreement outlining the roles of both the fiscal sponsor and the fiscally sponsored group and signed by representatives of both parties. If your group does not yet have a fiscal sponsor, contact Contigo Staff for assistance connecting with potential sponsors.
● Fiscally sponsored groups need to have an oversight and accountability structure in place or develop a plan for such a structure before receiving a grant. The oversight and accountability structure for the group can be a Community Steering or Advisory A committee of local community members that reflects the community the group seeks to support, setting the vision of the project and guiding its work like a board of directors. Please note the group’s oversight and accountability structure is separate from the fiscal sponsor’s governance structure. The community steering / advisory committee informs the group’s work in alignment with the group’s mission and oversight of the group’s financial health and executive leadership. The oversight and accountability structure in place – or plan to develop one – must include an outline of the roles and responsibilities of the committee and any staff, including how the committee will oversee staff.
● Extreme preference will be given to organizations with less than $1 million in expenses.
● Regardless of their structure or age, the applicant’s proposal should be able to demonstrate their alignment with the values of Contigo and potential for advancing its vision and theory of change.
● Preference is given to projects and programs that respond to a distinct unmet need in the target communities and employ medium-term to long-term solutions.
● Applicants must be a part of a learning community and will be asked to participate with other community leaders, including convenings, leadership and organizational development training, and peer learning opportunities. Contigo will cover training costs, and the applicant core staff and board or advisory committee members should be prepared to devote appropriate time and thought to participate actively in these opportunities.
Grants will not be awarded to
● Efforts outside of Central Florida (Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Polk, and Volusia
Counties)
● For charity, direct cash assistance, or individual scholarships
● Efforts led by other philanthropic grantmaking institutions or for the purpose of
re-granting
● Health service organizations (including those that operate pharmacies) with revenue
generated from the 340B drug program that do not reinvest 100% of that revenue into
community programs for and led by impacted communities
● Sponsorships for conferences, fundraisers, or other annual or one-time events
…exceptions may be made for base-building and organizing events, such as
strategic conferences and convenings that are part of larger movement strategy;
however, applicants must demonstrate how it would advance a strong long-term
systemic impact on target communities in a way that lives beyond that event.
Grants and Decision Process
Contigo 2024-2025 Power and Building Movement Annual Grant Cycle:
● Grants for this annual cycle can be made up to a maximum of $75,000 and limited to
one application per organization (joint applications will be considered on a
case-by-case basis); and
● Applicants can apply for a 12-month grant up to the maximum and must demonstrate
how a proposal would be accomplished in that period for the amount requested.
Annual Grant Cycle Application, Distribution, And Reporting Timeline
● February 22, Thursday: Public release of RFP application
● March 22, Friday: Applications due by 5 pm EST
● Mid-April: Final decisions on grants & notification
● October: Mid-term progress update via site visit/interview with Contigo Staff or
written report
● February 3, 2025, Monday: Final Reports from 2024 grantees due by 5 pm EST
How Proposals Will be Evaluated
The Contigo Fund Community Board will evaluate proposals based on several critical criteria:
Demonstrate community leadership & accountability: Leaders of efforts are strongly positioned in their community as a trusted resource and efforts are led by and in partnership with the impacted communities they support and are responsive and accountable to those communities.
Fills a gap in the community: Projects respond to a unique need within the community that existing institutions historically have not or currently are not adequately addressing & solutions will be long-lasting.
Collaborate: Applicants must form strategic alliances and work in a coalition with other
key stakeholders and grantees.
Demonstrate institutional commitment: Applicants must show evidence of their commitment to supporting Queer communities of color, including nondiscrimination policies that include sexual orientation and gender identity and past institutional support for addressing issues affecting a diversity of Queer communities – especially people of color, transgender people, and immigrants. Applicants must demonstrate the values of justice, equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging and hold a strong track record of serving persecuted populations, protecting civil rights, and working against racism and discrimination.
Have clear goals: The proposal outlines a plan that is well thought out with clear goals, outcomes, & strategies.
Track record of success: Returning applicants must be able to articulate their impact both quantitatively and qualitatively, including the number of folks meaningfully impacted by their work, number of leaders built and engaged in opportunities to lead in the movement, and demonstrating an ability to build bridges and coalitions around the issues they are addressing.