Collective Action Assistance Fund

Philanthropic and bilateral funders committed to rights, democracy and justice recognize the opportunity for sweeping change when localized, organized, and well-networked movements are equipped with flexible resources, savvy partners, and sufficient enabling environments. However, funders have historically had a difficult time providing the right resourcing and support to movements at the right time. The Fund, which will run for three years, has three strategic priorities are to:

1. Resource People Power and Movement Infrastructure
Invest in and catalyze movements that drive lasting, equitable change by centering community voice, leadership, and agency.

2. Enabling Conditions for People Power
Support the infrastructure, networks, and capacities that enable movements to organize safely, effectively, and sustainably.

3. Model Collaborative and Accountable Philanthropy
Advance new models of donor collaboration that share power with movements, align with their priorities, and embed accountability and trust at the heart of funding relationships.

CAAF views movements as citizen-led, collective efforts—formal or informal—that mobilize people power to advance democratic values, equity, and human rights. Rooted in peaceful organizing, these movements cultivate public consciousness, expand participation, and build broad-based solidarity to challenge systems of oppression and shape more just governance.

CAAF recognizes that while movements are collective by nature, they are also fueled by catalytic leaders—visionaries, organizers, and bridge-builders whose creativity and commitment inspire communities and sustain long-term transformation. By supporting both collective infrastructure and individual leadership, CAAF fosters resilient, inclusive, and accountable civic action that strengthens the fabric of rights, democracy and justice.

Based on substantive engagement and grantmaking to movements across the globe, CAAF has operationalized four mutually reinforcing workstreams that enable infrastructure and environment needed for greater movement success:

• Strengthen and resource social movements advancing equity, justice, and participatory governance.
• Amplify civic voice and agency through shared learning, coordination, and narrative power.
• Fortify movement infrastructure and safety, ensuring activists and organizations can operate freely and sustainably.
• Cultivate funder alignment and accountability, transforming how philanthropy leverages relationships with likeminded private and bilateral donors, and engages with movements and communities.

We are committed to making responsive, demand-driven grants that fill gaps in critical moments and support long-term planning and action, supporting a multitude of movement structures with both insider and outsider strategies.

• Intersectional movements with opportunities for outsized influence
• Bridge learning between U.S. and global movements
• Movement ecosystems
• Thematic areas: climate youth, gender equity democracy, and peace

Specifically, CAAF provides:
• Core or flexible funding for movement ecosystems and their enabling environments, including annual or multiyear general operating (core) support and highly flexible project support.
• Advocacy and mass organizing support for movement leaders and movements to enable broad-based organizing, media and social media campaigns, nonpartisan reform, and other forms of mass mobilization and change.
• Movement training, skill building, and coordinating support within and across movements, including conflict resolution, physical and digital security, decision-making, leadership; and including funding key allies, infrastructure, and experts to provide this support and services.
• Research, mapping, and landscape assessments to enable movement decision-making, analysis, strategizing, and coordination; and to support Fund learning and advocacy.
• Movement service provider support to scale, extend, and/or expand their existing field services and support, including rapid response, emergency services and support, movement coaching, non-violent activist training and resources, etc.

For its funding recipients, as funding permits, CAAF can also provide:
• Rapid response/contingency funds for at-risk activists, movements, and communities, including legal, medical, and/or evacuation support.
• Mental health and well-being funds for movement leaders, activists, and allies.
• Convening, peer-to-peer exchange, and travel support to enable movement leaders and activists to exchange ideas, collectively strategize and build stronger alliances, and participate in global and regional dialogues and spaces, including logistics, service providers, physical and digital gathering spaces, and other travel expenses.

We will fund up to $ 40,000 per grant. Calls for applications will open 3 times per year.

CAAF funding is available for a wide range of movements and ecosystem actors who comprise and help advance social movements. These include:
• Nascent, informal, and formalized groups leading, advancing, or participating in movements.
• Civil society organizations, community groups or CBOs.
• Local media and investigative journalists.
• Student groups, trade unions, and other frontline actors.
• Organizations and institutions who provide physical and virtual spaces, tools and technologies, trainings and coaching, and other types of assistance to movement leaders and activists.
• Non-state actors who effectively target, curb, or counter authoritarians, their regimes and allies.

With a generous understanding of the format, shape, and level of formality of prospective funding recipients, we only have a few strict limitations. These are:
• Funding recipients must be nonviolent and nonpartisan.
• Funding recipients must be working on a recognized human right.
• Funding recipients cannot be government bodies, agencies, or entities.
• Funding recipients cannot be political parties.