Applications are NOW due by 5 pm est Fri, March 17, 2023

Who Is Eligible to Apply
Contigo Fund seeks proposals for efforts based in Orlando and across Central Florida supporting Pulse-affected and LGBTQ+ communities historically marginalized by society from equal opportunity & power:

• Proposals welcomed by existing and emerging leaders, groups, organizations, and coalitions should help grow and sustain capacity and forward movement to empower LGBTQ+ 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. Groups do not need 501(c)(3) tax exempt status to apply. Those lacking 501(c)(3) status can apply as being fiscally sponsored under the auspices 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 the Foundation Manager 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 Committee of local community members that reflects the community the group seeks to support, setting the group’s vision 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 provides 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 committee’s roles and responsibilities, including how the committee will provide oversight of the group’s executive leadership/staff.
• Very strong 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 capacity-building program / 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.

Some Considerations For Start-ups / Newly Emerging Organizations, Programs, & Consultants

To maintain a healthy social justice ecosystem where grassroots efforts and leaders can thrive, applicants need to understand the different challenges and opportunities of various organizational structures, particularly the differences between an organization, a program, or an individual consultant. All three structures have advantages and drawbacks, and your goals and scope of work should determine your chosen structure. We strongly encourage any new or emerging applicants to reach out to Contigo staff to discuss these questions so that we can help you develop the strongest application possible. Below are some general guidelines to help you consider what structure may be best suited to your work:

For a Grassroots Start-up / Newly Emerged Organization (eligible for Contigo grant funding)…

• An organization is typically a “community of leaders” with a membership base and the need for multiple staff. This structure is best suited for groups that employ multiple strategies and programs and engage a wide range of members or volunteers to advance a broad mission. 
• An organization must identify and understand the problem it seeks to address. An organization must have a theory of change and articulate clear strategies and how they are uniquely positioned to solve the problem.
• An organization must have a fundraising value proposition and potential for long-term sustainability.
• An organization must have an accountability structure in the form of a community board or board of directors for oversight of finances, the executive director, and the organization. 
• An organization may be an independent 501(c)(3) or an autonomous fiscally sponsored project with its own advisory board or steering committee. 
• Organizations typically are not led by just a singular leader or pair of leaders. See the other structures below for work driven by just one or a couple of people.

For a Program (eligible for Contigo grant funding)…

• This structure is best suited for groups driven by one or two leaders and focused on one or two strategies – without the more burdensome fundraising and financial management capacity required for an autonomous organization.
• Programs allow a singular or pair of leaders to focus on the unique expertise/skills they can offer without requiring them to take on the full responsibilities of running an organization. Programs can be incorporated into the work of an existing organization with mission alignment.
• Unlike organizations, a program leader would not be solely responsible for fundraising to sustain the program. Similarly, though an accountability structure could still exist for the program, such as an advisory committee, the leader would not be solely responsible for the formation, development, and engagement of a community board or board of directors to oversee the organization. 

For an Individual Consultant (not eligible for Contigo grant funding)…

• This structure is best suited to entrepreneurial leaders providing support, training, or capacity-building to a range of nonprofit organizations. It does not require any advisory board, membership base, or fundraising plan. 

• Unlike a program, an individual consultant is not limited to one organization. A nonprofit / grassroots individual consultant is a leader who can flexibly offer their unique expertise, skills, and services to an array of organizations as an independent contractor, sometimes paid for a project in a lump sum or at an hourly rate based on an estimate or scope of work. 
• While individual consultants are invaluable resources for our movement, Contigo does not provide direct grants to consultants.