BLACK EMPOWERMENT WORKS GRANTS

"We are rich in both our histories and melanin and powerful in our passion to transcend." - Champions of Change Letter

Black Empowerment Works promotes Black self-determination, social mobility and economic prosperity by resourcing and funding grassroots/community-based, Black-led work (ideas, programs and projects). Annually we open the application process to select new grantees. To date, we have invested $3 million in 100 ideas and leaders. 

As a core tenet of the program, community members make the investment decisions. By reviewing applications and holding conversations, they will work together as a team to select a diverse group of work to fund. Through these investments and ongoing capacity support and resources, we aim to fulfill the original vision of the Champions of Change.

There are two ways to participate in Black Empowerment Works:

1. Apply to be a Black Empowerment Works Grantee.
2. Apply to serve as a Black Empowerment Works Grant Reviewer, one of the people responsible for selecting the grantees.

The application is currently closed. If you’re interested in receiving an update when it open’s again, sign up for our newsletters at uwgc.org/signup.

Each year, we seek to fund a diverse portfolio of work, representing different focus areas, organizational structures, and communities. This grant opportunity is open to nonprofit organizations, for-profits/social enterprises, community coalitions and groups, and individuals who meet the eligibility requirements. Applicants may only submit only one application per year, with request amounts ranging from $2,500 to $25,000. 

Expand the sections below to see what the Black Empowerment Works Ggrants will and will not fund. 

In alignment with the Black Empowerment Works focus and P&G Feminine Care's mission to unleash girls' and women's confidence, the Always Confidence Fund will invest in work that:

Tackles societal barriers on period stigma and gender inequality.   Supports confidence-building of puberty-ages people with periods.   Provides access to period products and education to help people with periods understand their bodies.

Priority will be given to work that addresses one of the opportunity areas lifted up by our panel of girls who helped to shape the fund. Review the Grant Information Packet for more information. All other general eligibility requirements apply. No separate application is required.

Grantees will be selected by community reviewers. All applications will be reviewed by at least three reviewers. In addition to the written applications, grant applicant/reviewer conversations will occur where applicants can share more about their work and reviewers can ask additional questions.

KEY DATES FOR CLASS 3:

• May 2: Grant application window opens (Eligibility Form & Full Application). Interested applicants will complete an eligibility form first and, if approved, will move through to the full application. 
• July 1: Grant application window closes at 5:00 p.m. EDT. 
• Aug. 1 to Aug. 12: Grant Applicant & Grant Reviewer conversations.  
• Aug. 24: Grant decisions communicated.  
• Aug. 29: Public announcement of grant decisions.  

Some of the qualities that make up a strong application include:

• A clear description of the proposed idea, program or work.
• The work can produce measurable results within the grant period (September 2022 – September 2023).  
• The provided budget and timeline are clear and feasible.  
• With funding and other supports, the organization can demonstrate the capacity to carry out the work.  
• The work demonstrates strong alignment to one of the focus areas identified or makes a strong case for another focus area.

To learn more about grant application process, please read the Grant Information Packet. We encourage all applicants to read the entire information packet before submitting an application.

THIS OPPORTUNITY IS NOW CLOSED
Be the first to learn about the new grant recipients: Sign up for news alerts.

THE REVIEWER APPLICATION PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED FOR 2022.

Black Empowerment Works Grant Reviewers will work in small teams of three to five, reading a subset (approximately 10) of the applications submitted. Through written application reviews and conversations with grant applicants, they will work to identify applicants in their pool they would like to fund. Final funding decisions will be made following the assessment of information collected from all review teams.  

We believe taking part in this process has several benefits, namely:

In general, we are looking for people who are:  

• Active listeners, empathetic and relatable.  
• Active in their communities (however you define them, and preferably in support of Black people).  
• Passionate about and/or connected to the mission of advancing the well-being of Black people.  
• Able to commit to fully participating in the process, including completing trainings, application reviews and meetings. Program window: June 20-Aug. 24. 
• No prior experience is required! You do not have to identify as Black to apply to be a reviewer, though we will seek our selected reviewer panel to be majority Black.  

Reviewers can expect to dedicate approximately 28 hours between June 20 and Aug. 22, consisting of training, independent application review, decision-making meetings and grant applicant conversations. 

• WATCH NOW: 2022 Black Empowerment Works Virtual Information Session
  Recorded May 5, 2022.
• WATCH NOW: Nonprofit Grants: Where to Find Them and How to Win Them
  (Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library)
  Recorded June 1, 2022.
• WATCH NOW: Neighbors Know Best: Building Citizen Philanthropy & Fiscal Sponsorship
  Recorded May 17, 2022.
• WATCH NOW: Building Strong Legal Foundations
  (Black Lawyers Association of Cincinnati & Pro Bono Partnership of Ohio)
  Recorded May 25, 2022.

• EMAIL US at black-led@uwgc.org
• CALL US at 513-762-7233