Regional Grantmaking

Applications for the Liberated Paths grantmaking along the California Coast and the Carolinas are now open.

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. We are thrilled to invite applications to help us achieve this mission and vision through the Liberated Paths Grantmaking Program.

Grant Guidelines 

We aim to fund work that lies at the intersection of racial justice and the environment. This could include a number of organizations and programs, including recreation and experiential programs, conservation, climate, environmental advocacy work, cultural and ancestral practices and education, and much more. You do not need to have a nonprofit 501(c)(3)status or be fiscally sponsored to apply for a grant.

In California, your work is eligible for funding if:

  • Your work is focused on the intersection of Communities of Color and the ocean, marine conservation, and/or the coast

In the Pacific Northwest, your work is eligible for funding if: 

  • You are working in Oregon or Washington.
    • For work on the Pacific Coast of Oregon, and/or Washington: Your work is focused on the intersection of communities of color and the ocean, marine conservation, and/or the coast*
    • For work located in greater Seattle, Washington; the greater Hood River area in Oregon; and in greater Portland, Oregon your work is focused on the intersection of communities of color and the environment and outdoor recreation

In the Southwest, your work is eligible for funding if:

  • You work in Arizona or New Mexico and your work is focused on the intersection of Communities of Color and the environment and/or outdoor recreation

In the Nanticoke/Siconese/Lenni Lenape Whittuck/Delaware River Watershed region, your work is eligible for funding if: 

  • Your work is at the intersection of racial justice, Lenapehoking (Delaware Valley) environmental issues, and Nanticoke/Siconese/Lenape Wihittuk/Delaware River Watershed protection. This could include  various  activities, such as recreation, environmental justice, conservation, climate justice, environmental advocacy work, open space creation, urban tree planting, cultural and ancestral practices and education, and much more.
  • Your projects and programming engage any/all of the counties of the greater Nanticoke/Siconese/Lenni Lenape Whittuck/Delaware River Watershed:
    • New York Counties: Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Greene, Orange, Schohaire, Sullivan, Ulster
    • Pennsylvania Counties: Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Delaware, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, Pike, Schuylkill, Wayne
    • New Jersey Counties: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Salem, Sussex, Warren
    • Delaware Counties: Kent, New Castle, Sussex

In North and South Carolina, your work is eligible for funding if your work: 

  • Supports solutions and people on the frontlines
  • Deepens community engagement and collaborative leadership networks
  • Or creates systems change through field building among the many Black, Indigenous, and People of Color-led environmental nonprofits in the Carolinas

The Liberated Paths Grantmaking Program will prioritize:

  • Organizations or projects led by and serving 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 the best for 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

Application Process

Applications for the Liberated Paths grantmaking along the California Coast and the Carolinas are now open.

2024 California Coast Grantmaking Timeline

2024 Regional Grant MilestoneTimeline (subject to slight changes)
Applications openMarch 11, 2024
Application WebinarMarch 15, 2024 at 10am-11am PST
Application submission deadlineApril 5, 2024 by 11:59PM PST
Additional information requests due (if applicable)April – May 2024
Justice Outside staff review processApril 24th- May 15th, 2023
Awards announced to selected grantees + Updates to applicants not selected July 2024
Awards announced publiclyAugust 2024
Funds releasedJuly – August 2024

2024 Carolinas Grantmaking Timeline

2024 Regional Grant MilestoneTimeline (subject to slight changes)
Applications openMarch 25, 2024
Application submission deadlineApril 15, 2024 by 11:59PM EST
Justice Outside review processApril 16 – May 16, 2023
Awards announced to selected grantees + Updates to applicants not selected June 2024
Funds DisbursementJuly 2024
Awards announced publiclyAugust 2024

The photo featured at the top of this page depicts the members of our grantee partner organization Black Lives Matter-Phoenix.