Social Change Grants for Nonprofits

GrantStation’s exclusive database features 625 active funding opportunities giving towards this area of interest, all accepting requests from new grantseekers!

With a membership, you’ll gain instant access to our full directory of 15,000+ funders and powerful tools to find, track, and secure the best grants for your mission. Maximize your grant success today with our expertly curated funder database, step-by-step grant writing resources, and industry-leading online education.

Independence Public Media Foundation

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Application Deadline:
  • Community Voices Fund: September 18, 2026
  • Local Filmmaker Fund: February 27, 2026

The Independence Public Media Foundation connects creators, industry experts, community organizations, and philanthropists to support community-driven media-making and storytelling.

The…

Snow Foundation

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Application Deadline:

February 27, 2026

The Snow Foundation seeks to improve the lives of those that are disadvantaged in the Canberra region.

The Canberra Foundations Collaborative is a joint initiative by the Snow Foundation,…

Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation: Social Justice Fund

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Application Deadline:

February 28, 2026
Grant Range: $0 - $0

The Social Justice Fund, launched by the Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation, addresses inequities in Brooklyn, New York, and supports efforts to advance racial justice and economic mobility across the…

Greenwood County Community Foundation

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Application Deadline:

February 28, 2026

The Greenwood County Community Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for the residents of Greenwood County, SC.

The Foundation's Community Impact Grants provide support…

The Fund for Change

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Application Deadline:

Letters of intent: none
Proposals: March 1 and September 1, annually
Average Grant: $10000 - $25000

The Fund for Change primarily supports nonprofit organizations in the Baltimore, MD, area. (Statewide organizations in Maryland and national organizations are occasionally supported.)

The…

Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation

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Application Deadline:

March 1, July 1, and November 1, annually. Applications must be submitted by 5PM ET
Grant Range: $1000 - $200000

The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation is committed to improving quality of life and advancing equity for residents of the Washington, DC, area with an emphasis on creating a more equitable…

Island Foundation

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Application Deadline:

March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1, annually

The Island Foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in the coastal regions of Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, with a focus on southeastern Massachusetts.

The Foundation…

Ms. Foundation for Women

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Application Deadline:
  • Varies by RFP
  • Asian Women Giving Circle: March 2, 2026 Proposal due

The Ms. Foundation for Women builds women's collective power across race and class to tackle the root causes of injustice and ignite progressive change for all. The Foundation invests in…

It is the privilege of living in a democracy that the people hold the power to make social change. This sort of change is often essential to being able to overcome systemic issues. This is a broad concept, of course, with nonprofits working across many different vectors of social change.

All those nonprofits, however, rely on the generous funding provided by social change grants. These grants can be put towards any kind of social change program you can imagine - advocacy campaigns, community leadership programs, public awareness campaigns or research on social inequity.

There are a vast array of organizations that provide social change grants, including many private foundations. Examples of these would include the Nathan Cummings Foundation, the NoVo Foundation, the Ford Foundation and the Open Society Foundations. 

When drafting a social change grant proposal, it's essential to use data to back up your claims. You need to demonstrate there is a clear incidence of inequity, and that your nonprofit is poised to address it. A good place to get started is with demographic data, such as from the U.S. Census Bureau, Pew Research Center or Brookings Institution. 

If you need more pointers on writing great grant proposals, make sure to check out our full overview of the subject. You can also start browsing social change grants right here, all open for applications.