RESOURCES
Rapid response funding opportunities
In this critical era, money is tight and there is more work to do than ever. Because we at Trestle, don’t always have funding to work with all of the incredible folks out there, we are maintaining an imperfect list of resources that may help your orgs get support. We hope these may help you get funding for tech or digital security collaborations with Trestle — or for any other work you’re doing in this moment.
Last updated: October 6, 2025
Civic Engagement Mini-Grants
Priority deadline Oct 3, 2025 [still open]
Project Pericles invites faculty and staff from higher education institutions to apply for $1,000 mini-grants to design innovative pedagogical approaches that develop students’ civic agency and place civic learning at the heart of higher education.
Up to $1,000.
Aicher Impact Award
Due Oct 6, 2025
The annual Aicher Impact Award celebrates and supports the practice of inclusive, multiracial democracy. In 2025, one organization that embodies the values of Everyday Democracy will receive a $5,000 cash prize. Any organization with 501(c)3 status in the United States and a budget under $2M will be eligible to be nominated. Nominees’ work should embody at least three of Everyday Democracy’s organizational values.
Up to $5,000.
Mobilize Power Fund
Due Oct 7, 2025
The Mobilize Power Fund is a rapid response fund that resources gender justice organizations to adapt or pivot their work when met with unanticipated, time-sensitive opportunities or threats.
Up to $10,000.
Meyer Foundation Rapid Response
Due Oct 10 & Nov 14, 2025
With our commitment at the intersection of racial justice and systems change, these one-time, $10,000 or $20,000 grants will continue to support movement building, mobilization, and power building around causes or issues that promote racial justice through advocacy, organizing, and/or coalition building in DC, Maryland, or Virginia.
Up to $20,000.
Strategic Opportunities for Support (SOS) Fund
Due Oct 15 & Nov 15, 2025 (2 cycles)
Circle for Justice Innovations (CJI) has launched a rapid-response resource for grassroots organizations confronting the immediate harms of the current political landscape. The SOS Fund is designed to enable bold, strategic, real-time actions to counter ongoing attacks on people most targeted by mass incarceration and state violence.
Up to $7,500.
Rapid Response Fund
Due Oct 29, 2025
At Headwaters Foundation for Justice (HFJ), we know that the nature of grassroots organizing means that our funding cycles do not always align with organizations’ real-time financial needs in moments of crisis or opportunity. As a result, HFJ budgets a yearly pool of funds for rapid response grantmaking focused in Minnesota.
Up to $25,000.
Community Resilience Fund
Due Nov 11, 2025
Designed to move resources quickly and strategically to Chicago organizers and movements fighting back. It will continue to be grounded in our long-standing commitment to (1) follow the leadership of those most directly impacted: people of color, women, LGBTQ+ communities, immigrants, and working-class people and (2) meet the moment with steadfastness and a fierce determination to support frontline organizations as they respond to the increased threats to communities, movement organizing, and civil society at large.
Up to $30,000.
Community Action Fund (CAF)
Opens January 2026
Grants support direct actions and organizing efforts that are often urgent and time sensitive. CAF prioritizes frontline, grassroots and community-based efforts that defend Indigenous peoples rights, communities and nations, including responses to climate disasters.
Up to $20,000.
Non-funding capacity building resources
Below are other opportunities that have crossed our path which may help you beyond just direct funding.
Last updated: October 6, 2025
Cyber Security Foundations Training
On-going
This affordable 4-week Cyber Security Foundations offers practical, step-by-step guidance to help you secure your operations and demonstrate your impact to leadership. Most attendees are able to recoup the cost of this course through implementing our recommendations. The pay-what-you-can model makes foundational cyber security practices accessible to organizations of all sizes, reflecting our commitment as a benefit corporation to promote security as a public good.
Open Call for New Organizing Projects
Due Oct 6, 2025
If you have an idea to bring the power of organizing to more working-class people, an idea that’s been nagging at you and you just can’t let it go, this is your chance to scratch that itch. Addition is launching a search for great organizers with big ideas. You would get support, mentoring, and insight from these fellow organizers. Here's what a project lead gets: full-time salary and benefits, a modest start-up budget to cover travel, digital ads, meeting costs, etc., support from seasoned organizers, some built-in storytelling and operations capacity.
Know of other opportunities? Drop us a note.