The Rapid Response Fund is a grant opportunity that supports emergency and/or time-sensitive needs of organizations and communities whose work aligns with the Sewall Foundation’s mission: to support work in Maine to improve the well-being of people, animals and the environment while fostering relationships that strive for social equity and community resilience.
Donor Name: Elmina B. Sewall Foundation
State: Maine
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 09/01/2022
Size of the Grant: $10,000
Grant Duration: 12 months
Details:
Emergency refers to an unexpected and unplanned event or situation that requires an immediate and time-limited response.
Time-sensitive refers to opportunities that are short-term in duration (usually within the next few months) and purpose.
The Rapid Response Fund has limited resources and is a competitive grant program – meaning they compare funding requests and make awards based upon closest alignment with the Fund priorities. Funding requests can be for work happening anywhere in Maine.
Priorities
In keeping with Sewall’s values and commitment to fostering equity and centering community voice, Rapid Response Fund grants are generally limited to:
- Community-based organizations with operating budgets under $250,000
- Organizations led by and serving people in under-resourced populations and geographies, including: African Americans, Indigenous, and people of color; immigrants and refugees; LGBTQ; people with low incomes; differently-abled populations; incarcerated populations; people in recovery; and populations who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Additional priorities include:
- Organizations, networks, or grassroots efforts working to coordinate or mobilize response/action for their field or sector, a geographic region, or a specific community or population
- Collaborative and cross-sector efforts
- Efforts that are explicit in their commitment to social and environmental justice
- Efforts that integrate the well-being of people, animals and the environment
Funding Information
- In 2022, the total amount of the Rapid Response Fund is $300,000. $100,000 will be available for each grant round.
- Grant Size: Most Rapid Response Fund grants will be no greater than $10,000.
- Grant Term: All Rapid Response Fund grants are limited to a 12 month term.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be eligible to receive tax-deductible donations as outlined in Section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code. This includes: 501(c)(3) federal tax-exempt organizations; public schools; public agencies working for the State of Maine; Indian tribal governments (and their political subdivisions) recognized by the Department of the Interior
- Applicants may also apply through a fiscal sponsor
- The work of the applicant must be aligned with the mission and values of the Sewall Foundation
- Eligible organizations may apply regardless of their funding history with the Sewall Foundation
- Sewall Foundation does not fund: direct or grassroots lobbying or political campaign activities
Rapid Response Fund grants do not support:
- Ongoing operations, programs, or activities
- Requests to replace existing sources of funding
- Sponsorship of events for organizational promotion.
For more information, visit Elmina B. Sewall Foundation.