Back to the Streets: Small Grants Program
Now is the Time!
It’s been a while. After a tragic year of the covid pandemic, social upheaval and political upheaval, climate activism has grown quiet. When was the last time you saw a climate protest in the news?
The Climate Emergency movement needs a comeback. The current administration presents an opportunity to make changes for the climate that will impact generations to come.
This is not the moment to sit it out — it’s time to get Back to the Streets.
Boosting the Grassroots:
Action Support for Small Organizations
We want to help small organizations*, chapters of national organizations, and, in special cases, individuals, get back to the streets this summer.
We are offering grants of $1,000 to $5,000 for action support— banners, bullhorns, art, press support, photography, etc.
*With an annual budget of less than $500,000.
What we fund:
Actions in the summer and fall of 2021 that treat climate like the emergency it is, in messaging, advocacy, and tactics.
Attention-getting actions that can help wake the public up to the climate emergency.
Actions can have a wide range of targets, including: congressional offices, other elected officials, legislative meetings, TV stations or other media, fossil fuel infrastructure, financial companies that fund fossil fuels, universities.
Action supplies: Banners, bullhorns, projectors, costumes, etc.
Press support for climate emergency actions, training support (in non-violent direct action, etc), a photographer.
Strategic planning for escalating campaigns of confrontative protest and non violent direct action, including travel for retreats.
501c3 organizations.
What we don’t fund:
Actions supporting gradualist policy approaches. (Ie zero emissions by 2050, carbon markets, individuals reducing their carbon footprints.)
Projects that ask the public to participate as donors or viewers, rather than activists and volunteers.
Land conservation projects.
Litigation.
Art installations or song development.
Political campaigns or other non-501c(3) eligible work.
Illegal activities.
Applicants will be notified within 2 weeks of submission.
Tax and Documentation Information
It is possible to apply for a Back to the Streets grant either as an individual or as an organization.
If applying as an organization, CEF requires documentation showing the incorporated entity and a bank account to receive funds for the organization.
If you are applying as an organization your are required to upload the following documents to the grantee portal: articles of incorporation, IRS designation letter if you are a 501(c)3
If you are working with a fiscal sponsor, your fiscal sponsor should provide: 1) articles of incorporation and 2) IRS designation letter 3) a fiscal sponsorship agreement
If applying as an individual, any grant from CEF will be treated as taxable income. CEF will report the income to the IRS and the onus is on the individual to do the same.
If you are applying as a US citizen individual, you will be required to upload a completed W9 form, so that we can issue you a 1099 at the end of the year.
For non-US citizens, you are required to upload a completed W-8BEN. You will be responsible for reportin