Chinook Fund Grant

Chinook Fund seeds community-led, systemic change by mobilizing resources for and trusting in grassroots social justice organizations across Colorado. Chinook funds organizations working to challenge the root causes of oppression, rather than treating the symptoms. Chinook believes the root causes of the most serious social problems include systemic racism, sexism, heterosexism, classism, ableism, and ageism. The Fund identifies effective social change as efforts that strive to include these key elements:

• Constituent-Led: The work is led by the people most impacted by injustice.  Unlike a traditional charity model, we believe that those most affected by the issue have the vision and solutions for their own liberation – and that the development of their leadership, skills, and power should be prioritized. 
• Community-Wide: The work reflects all members of the constituency, especially those who experience multiple forms of oppression.  This ensures that change for the community leaves no one behind, especially for those who have less privilege within the community. 
• Lasting Effect: The work makes change not just for one individual today, but for the community as a whole, and for future generations.  Generally, this means organizing collective action to change systems and institutions.

NOTE: Chinook's anti-oppression frameworks in the Giving Project model position Black Liberation & Indigenous Sovereignty as its national priority. This is not the only type of work Chinook will fund, but these are the communities and voices Chinook is centering in its work, internally and externally.

Priority is given to organizations that are:

• Engaging in Community Organizing Work;
• Collaborative or working in alliance with other progressive groups as a way to build multiple strategies for bringing social change;
• Risk-taking by doing work that may be controversial, marginalized, and/or new and emerging;
• Strategic and working with a long-term vision that clearly links to current plans;
• Achieving concrete success which has positively impacted the community;
• Raise money from multiple sources throughout the community, such as foundations, businesses, individuals, special events, and income-generating projects.

Chinook Fund defines Community Organizing as the process of bringing affected people together to use their collective power to win improvements in their community and change the power structure to advance social justice. For Components and examples of Community Organizing work, see the Community Organizing tab on the Full Grant Text RFP. 

Types of Funding

Start-Up Grants are available to groups that are less than 4 years old.  Groups must demonstrate a vision and plan for meeting Chinook Fund criteria but do not need a proven track record of success. 

Established Grants are available to any group, but the competition for grants is tougher, as it includes organizations that have been working successfully on social justice issues for a number of years.

Multi-Year Grants will be considered for organizations that apply in the Established category, have been funded at least twice during the last 3 years, and receive the highest level of funding in the current cycle.