The Labor Innovations for the 21st Century (LIFT) Fund is excited to share the first open call for applications for the Southern Workers Opportunity (SWO) Fund’s 2022-2025 grant cycle.
The SWO Fund, an initiative of the LIFT Fund, is the first-of-its-kind fund dedicated to supporting organizational infrastructure and campaigns that increase workers’ power and improve economic livelihoods and social conditions in sectors across the South. The SWO Fund aims to support organizations, coalitions, and collaborative campaigns to build worker power with a multi-racial approach that centers Black and Brown workers in the South. We will be making grants starting at $75,000 annually for seed grants and $175,000 annually for standard grants during the three-year cycle.
The SWO Fund invites organizations that meet the following criteria to apply:
- Are a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) or fiscally sponsored organization or coalition.
- Are active at a regional or local level in the following areas: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, and/or Tennessee.
- Are either an individual organization that is part of a larger ecosystem fighting for racial and economic justice, a coalition, or a collaborative campaign.
To apply, please open our Request for Proposals (RFP). The RFP includes details about the fund, our strategic priorities, additional criteria, frequently asked questions, and a link to the application. All applications are due on August 29, 2022, by the end of the business day (Eastern Standard Time).
If you have any questions, please contact info@theliftfund.org.