Nonprofit Grants for Advocacy

Nonprofit grants for advocacy provide the funding necessary for a nonprofit to undertake advocacy initiatives within their area of interest. Do note that advocacy is not the same as lobbying, and these grants are not intended for that purpose. Indeed, only specific organizations, with the 501(c)(4) designation, can engage in lobbying.

Advocacy covers things such as public education and community engagement, while lobbying refers to attempting to influence specific political legislation. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit is barred from engaging in any type of lobbying.

If you are looking for grants to fund your advocacy, you’ll want to make sure that you find a source of funding that aligns closely with your own priorities. Make sure that their policy on who they give grants to closely matches your own mission.

When designing a grant proposal, make sure that you are clear about what you hope your advocacy is going to achieve - outline specific goals. You should also make sure that you include a legal compliance plan, to demonstrate that you will operate within legal guidelines. You’ll also need to explain which measurables you’ll use to track impact (like engagement or specific policy wins), and how you will track them.

Another useful tip is to include the partnerships you already have with other advocacy groups, coalitions and policy makers. This shows you already have the connections and influence within your nonprofit space. Reach out to the funders you want the grant from beforehand, taking the time to build a strong relationship with them, to increase the chance of success.

You can find plenty of emergency grants below to apply for. And make sure to browse the rest of GrantStation for excellent webinars and  tips on best grant writing practices.