Applications for Liberated Paths along the California Coast are now closed. Please subscribe to our mailing list to receive updates here.
We are pleased to announce that Justice Outside is now accepting applications for funding of California Coast work through our Liberated Paths grantmaking program with support from two California state government entities; the Ocean Protection Council (OPC) and the California State Coastal Conservancy (SCC). We invite you to learn more about this funding opportunity, and if you think your program or initiative might be a fit, to submit your application by April 5th, 2024.
An asterisk (*) indicates a word found in the Glossary of Terms at the end of these guidelines.
Overview
Justice Outside advances racial justice and equity in the outdoor and environmental movement. We shift resources to, build power with, and center the voices and leadership of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color because the health of current and future generations demands it. We envision a just world where Black, Indigenous, and Communities of Color experience safety, health, and abundant joy through meaningful relationships with one another and the outdoors.
The Liberated Paths grantmaking program aims to help build a more equitable outdoor and environmental movement by centering the strength, joy, and leadership of communities of color. We know that the communities who have persevered through systemic racism bring resilience, creativity, and lived experience that can help transform the movement. By offering flexible funds and capacity building*, the Liberated Paths Grantmaking Program seeks to embody grantmaking that is built on trust, relationships, and support.
Justice Outside was selected by OPC to steward its Environmental Justice Smalls Grants Program, which is a specific program that was approved alongside its first ever Equity Plan. Concurrently, the SCC has awarded Justice Outside funds through its Explore the Coast Grant Program whose goal is to facilitate and enhance the public’s opportunities to explore California’s spectacular coast. Correspondingly, Justice Outside’s grantmaking along the California Coast will seek to support work that creates positive impacts in advancing coastal and ocean conservation in addition to improving access to the coast for joy and healing. In total, we will be able to distribute $1.1 million dollars for up to two-year projects to approximately 25-30 grant recipients.
Grant Guidelines
Through this cycle of the Liberated Paths grantmaking program specifically, we aim to fund work at the intersection of racial justice, ocean and coastal issues including advocacy, research, conservation, education, awareness, equitable access and more. This could include various activities such as research into emerging ocean conservation solutions, collaborative/community-based coastal ecosystem management projects (i.e. tidal marshes, bays, deltas, estuaries, etc), blue technology, environmental justice advocacy/policy campaigns, climate and ocean resiliency, recreation and experiential programs, cultural and ancestral practice preservation, public health, healing and joy through equitable access initiatives and much more. Additionally, applicants do not need to have a 501c3 status or a fiscal sponsor to apply.
Your work is eligible for funding if:
- Projects and programming engage people in ocean/coastal conservation and/or in equitable access to the California Coast.
Liberated Paths Grantmaking will prioritize:
- Organizations or projects led by and engaging Black, Indigenous, and/or Communities of Color
- People and projects rooted within their communities, with the lived experiences they need to understand what approaches will work best for the young people in their communities
- Organizations or projects with an annual budget of less than $1 million
- People or projects that have limited relationships with and/or funding streams from the larger philanthropic community
Informational Webinars
Justice Outside hosted three “informational” webinars that provided insight about our grantmaking approach and general eligibility information. We also hosted an “application” webinar that focused specifically on the application process itself. Please find links to recordings of these webinars below.
We are also hosting office hours as an additional support – please use this Zoom scheduler to book a session.
Application Process
This is an open invitation and we welcome applications from all organizations, groups, and individuals whose work is eligible and in alignment with our vision for this program.
We ask that you carefully review the information in this announcement. Completed applications are due by 11:59pm PST on Friday, April 5, 2024.
Part of our commitment to this work is meeting communities and people where they are. To this end, we encourage you to contact Efraín Chávez Delgado (he/him), Director of Grantmaking at efrain@justiceoutside.org or liberatedpaths@justiceoutside.org if you have any questions or would like any support. We are here to support you with what you need to apply successfully, whether that is help with the application itself or recommending the next steps.
Deadline:
Completed applications are due by 11:59PM PST on Friday, April 5th, 2024.
Application Options:
Our application is designed to support you and work with you, especially if you have not submitted a grant application before. There will be no penalties for lack of traditional writing conventions, such as grammar, punctuation, and formatting in the application process. To make the process as flexible as possible, we are currently offering three ways to submit your application materials:
- Complete Question within BlackBaud Grantmaking (BBG) Form
- Video or phone interview with a Justice Outside staff member
- Uploaded Written Letter of Intent
No mode of submission will be given preference over another. We ask that applicants choose only one submission method. If none of these methods work for your needs but you are still interested in applying, we would like to hear from you! Reach out to liberatedpaths@justiceoutside.org or call us at (510) 545-2876.
The Grant and Cohort
The Liberated Paths grantmaking program is being supported this year with funding from the Ocean Protection Council and the California State Coastal Conservancy for up to two-year projects. We are actively working on growing this program, and we intend to offer multi-year grants in future years, pending available funding. All funds will be awarded as general operating support*. The total grant amount requested for a period of one year should be no less than $1,000 and no more than $25,000.
Grantees will be offered the option to participate in a capacity-building cohort series with other grantees. During the series, grantees will have the opportunity to engage in capacity-building trainings, networking opportunities, and technical support to ensure the longevity of their work. The cohort will meet up to four times a year after July 2024.
Application Submission & Review Process
Deadline:
Completed applications are due by 11:59PM PST on Friday, April 5th, 2024.
Application Options:
Our application is designed to support you and work with you, especially if you have not submitted a grant application before. There will be no penalties for lack of traditional writing conventions, such as grammar, punctuation, and formatting in the application process. To make the process as flexible as possible, we are currently offering three ways to submit your application materials:
- Complete Question within BlackBaud Grantmaking (BBG) Form
- Video or phone interview with a Justice Outside staff member
- Uploaded Written Letter of Intent
No mode of submission will be given preference over another. We ask that applicants choose only one submission method. If none of these methods work for your needs but you are still interested in applying, we would like to hear from you! Reach out to liberatedpaths@justiceoutside.org or call us at (510) 545-2876.
Application Instructions
STEP 1: PROVIDE BASIC APPLICANT INFORMATION – ONLINE FORM HERE
We ask all applicants to submit basic applicant information.
Basic applicant information requested is:
- Organization or project name
- Primary contact name and title; email address; phone number; mailing address; and organization EIN or fiscal sponsor (if applicable)
- Leader/s identify as Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color?
- Geographic and programmatic boundaries:
- State of California, within reasonable proximity of the coast and programming that includes consistent engagement with the coast
- Work at the intersection of racial justice, ocean and coastal conservation issues including advocacy, research, conservation, education, awareness, equitable access and more*.
- List of top five community partners (for example: community based organizations, funders, schools)
- Amount requested for year one (not to exceed $25,000) and amount requested for year two, (not to exceed $25,000) The total amount requested for the entire two year period should not exceed $50,000 in total.
- An attached one-page current year operating budget (there will be no penalty if you or your organization do not have this).
STEP 2: CHOOSE APPLICATION SUBMISSION METHOD
We ask that you indicate if you plan to submit your application materials via uploaded written letter of intent, video or phone interview with Justice Outside staff members or use the BBG form.
STEP 3: COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATION (ANY METHOD) BY APRIL 5th, 2024.
If you are not prepared at this time to complete the form, please click “Save and Finish Later”. You will be taken to your account page, where the application form will be held.
When you have created and saved your form, you may access this form by clicking the “Account URL” at this link.
FOR UPLOADED LETTER OF INTENT*
After completing the basic applicant information, if you have chosen to submit your application via an uploaded letter of intent, submit a written letter of intent no more than two pages in length Via BBG Form by April 5th, 2024. The letter should answer the following questions:
- Who is the community you are engaging, and what are their needs or desires, related to the outdoors, the environment, the ocean and/or the coast specifically?
- Please describe the relationship that your team’s leadership has to the community you are engaging with? Community in this case includes the people, the land/water/geographical area and any other local community efforts/initiatives you are engaged with in support of your mission.
- What is the positive impact your work has, or will have, on the ocean and/or coast which can include contributions to advocacy, research, conservation, education, awareness, equitable access and more?
- What is the impact you or your organization/project will have, or has had, on the community?
FOR VIDEO OR PHONE INTERVIEW – SCHEDULE INTERVIEW HERE
After completing the basic application information, if you have chosen to submit your application via video or phone interview, use this Zoom link to schedule this conversation. At the selected time you will then join a Zoom video chat or phone call with a Justice Outside staff member.
Your interview will be no more than 30 minutes in length. Use the Zoom link to select an interview time, and review the following questions in advance of your call. Your interview time must be scheduled at least 2 days in advance. All time slots fall within March and April of 2024, so please work to reserve a time as soon as possible. Your conversation will be recorded, and you can assume your submission is complete at the end of the conversation.
- Who is the community you are engaging, and what are their needs or desires, related to the outdoors, the environment, the ocean and/or the coast specifically?
- Please describe the relationship that your team’s leadership has to the community you are engaging with? Community in this case includes the people, the land/water/geographical area and any other local community efforts/initiatives you are engaged with in support of your mission.
- What is the positive impact your work has, or will have, on the ocean and/or coast which can include contributions to advocacy, research, conservation, education, awareness, equitable access and more?
- What is the impact you or your organization/project will have, or has had, on the community?
Timeline
Once we have reviewed all submissions, we may reach out to you for additional information. The following timeline is intended as a guide regarding our process and may be subject to slight changes.
Funds will be disbursed once the grantee recommendation is approved by our funding partners and the Justice Outside Board.
2024 California Coast Grantmaking Timeline
| 2024 Regional Grant Milestone | Timeline (subject to slight changes) |
| Applications open | March 11, 2024 |
| Application submission deadline | April 5, 2024 by 11:59PM PST |
| Additional information requests due (if applicable) | April – May 2024 |
| Justice Outside staff review process | April – May 2024 |
| Awards announced to selected grantees + Updates to applicants not selected | July 2024 |
| Awards announced publicly | August 2024 |
| Funds released | July – August 2024 |
Ongoing Responsibilities of Accepted Grantees
If Justice Outside is fortunate enough to enter into a partnership with you and your organization, we will request the following over the course of your funding:
- An annual report and organizational operating budget (when available)
- Agreement to work with Justice Outside staff to participate in partner visits during your award period (if possible and appropriate)
- You or a member of your organization will join a cohort of grantees during your award period
- Engagement with your cohort and with Justice Outside through the capacity building program
We hope to see a variety of submissions that represent the depth of experience and wisdom in these various and intersecting fields. We look forward to working with many of you and supporting the great work that you do!
Glossary of Terms
Capacity-building: Capacity-building is training and learning that provides support for building organizational infrastructure and works to ensure the longevity of a project or program. Capacity building can include, but is not limited to, training and insights around fundraising, hiring processes, organizational growth, board recruitment and retention, and organizational budgeting.
General Operating Support: Funds that can be used in any manner by the grantee, in order to make the project or program run. This could include, but is not limited to, paying staff, paying rent, paying utilities, buying gear, providing stipends, providing bus passes, etc.
Letter of Intent (LOI): A “Letter of Intent” or LOI, for short, is a written document requesting financial support from a grant or funder. Justice Outside offers 4 questions that we would like addressed in the letter of intent for YAN (Youth Access to Nature) funding. You can find these questions under the “Application Instructions” section of this document.
Outdoor Experiences: Activities that include, but are not limited to, activities/experiences in national, state and local lands, parks, and bodies of water; spaces such as school gardens, farms, ranches, and camps which are utilized to impact people’s well-being and environmental stewardship.
Ocean and coastal conservation issues including advocacy, research, conservation, education, awareness, equitable access and more: This could include various activities such as research into emerging ocean conservation solutions, collaborative/community-based coastal ecosystem management projects (i.e. tidal marshes, bays, deltas, estuaries, etc), blue technology, environmental justice advocacy/policy campaigns, climate and ocean resiliency, recreation and experiential programs, cultural and ancestral practice preservation, public health, healing and joy through equitable access initiatives and much more.
Racial Equity: When someone’s race does not determine their access, opportunities, treatment or statistical outcomes in society. Racial equity requires a proactive and ongoing commitment to anti-racist policies, practices, attitudes, and actions. (Source: Strive Together)