Apply For A
Community Change Grant
Collective 365 is a membership-based group of community conscious individuals who contribute their resources to make a big impact.
Collective 365 supports Black & Brown leaders and organizations because we believe they should be the decision makers and thought leaders in their communities. Unfortunately, only 2% of foundation giving is awarded to Black-led organizations. The Collective honors the important contributions of Black and Brown communities and provides a platform for growth and sustainability that will have a lasting impact in society.
Collective 365 provides unrestricted grant funding and capacity building to individuals, businesses, groups, and/or non profits who are doing the work with and for Black & Brown communities in DC, MD, and/or VA.
Collective 365 has decided to pause our 2024 grant awards. The Board has elected to take the upcoming year to:
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Enhance our grant making strategy
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Engage with the community
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Empower ourselves to rest
In reviewing over 500 applications over the last three years what we know is that there are people doing the work that are under-resourced. We recognize that rest is a part of the work and want to live out that value by extending rest to those who voluntarily run our organization and do the grant review work. We are also taking this time to strategize on how to support Black and Brown communities resting.
Application will be available in 2025.
Click below to be sign-up to receive notification when the grant application becomes available.
2023 Grant Cycle Applicants
We received 197 grant applications during the 2023 grant cycle. There are dope individuals, groups, businesses, and nonprofits in DC, MD, & VA doing great work for and with Black & Brown communities.
We invite you to learn about them, volunteer, and invest in them.
2023 Grant CycleWinners
2023 DC Applicants
2023 VA Applicants
2023 MD Applicants
The Breakdown
Eligibility
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Individuals, non-profits, for-profits, groups may apply
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Applicants must provide services that primarily benefit Black & Brown individuals
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Grant recipients must skip one year before re-applying
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Grant funds must be used for Black & Brown communities in DC, MD, and/or VA.
Sample Grant Timeline
February 1-March 1.......................Grant application is available
April 7.......................Grant status update #1 emailed to all grant applicants
April 17-May 5......................Semi-Finalist phone/Zoom interviews with grants committee
May 15-22.......................Members of Collective 365 vote on awarding the grants
May 26.......................Notify semi-finalist
June 1.......................Virtual Grants Award Ceremony (click here to watch)
How does it all work?
FAQ
If I join or donate can I still apply for a grant?
Yes. If you join the Collective and/or make a general donation, you may still apply for a grant. Members of the Collective are not eligible to vote in the same giving season they apply, but we believe in giving and getting.
Can I apply for a grant if I live outside the DMV area?
Grants are only awarded to applicants who primarily serve Black & Brown communities in the DMV (DC, MD, VA).
How are grants awarded?
Every member of the Collective is asked to contribute $100 or $50.
The member contributions are used to create grants. The number of members who make a contribution determines the grant amount awarded each year. Every member, regardless of contribution level, gets a vote at the Community Brunch. Throughout the "giving season", grant applicants will have an opportunity to share the issues and needs impacting their community. The Grants Committee will review grants applications and make selections.
Are grants only for non-profits / 501(c)(3) organizations
No. We encourage individuals, community initiatives, businesses to apply for grants. Organizations that have 501(c)(3) status are also eligible to apply.
Is there a minimum operating budget requirement for grant applicants?
No. We know that many funding sources require that you have money in order to get money. This often excludes many from receiving funds and the Collective seeks to remove that barrier.
I have more questions, but I do not see the answer. What should I do?
We want to answer your questions, please feel free to reach out to Fatima, the founder, via email at collective365info@gmail.com.
What is the "capacity building" component of the grant application? Can I qualify for that and the grant funding?
Collective 365 will be offering "capacity building" in addition to grant funding for applicants. Capacity building is the Collective's way of connecting members to the work in the community. For example, the Collective may have a few social media marketing guru that are willing to provide "x" amount of hours to develop social media evergreen graphics to a grant applicant. Capacity building can be granted to applicants even if the Collective is unable to award them grant funding. Grant applicants are automatically considered for grant funding and capacity building. It is one of the unique aspects of Collective 365.
What if my idea is new, can I still apply?
Yes. If you are an individual/ group/ business/ non profit who is seeking funding to start a new initiative in your community, we encourage you to apply. We do not require applicants to be operating for a minimum amount of time in order to apply.
FAQ
If I join or donate can I still apply for a grant?
Yes. If you join the Collective and/or make a general donation, you may still apply for a grant. Members of the Collective are not eligible to vote in the same giving season they apply, but we believe in giving and getting.
Can I apply for a grant if I live outside the DMV area?
Grants are only awarded to applicants who primarily serve Black & Brown communities in the DMV (DC, MD, VA).
How are grants awarded?
The contributions of members of Collective 365 and donors are used to create grants. The number of members who make a contribution determines the grant amount awarded each year. Every member, regardless of contribution level, gets a vote at the Community Brunch. Throughout the "giving season", grant applicants will have an opportunity to share the issues and needs impacting their community. The Grants Committee will review grants applications and make selections.
Are grants only for non-profits / 501(c)(3) organizations
No. We encourage individuals, community initiatives, businesses to apply for grants. Organizations that have 501(c)(3) status are also eligible to apply.
Is there a minimum operating budget requirement for grant applicants?
No. We know that many funding sources require that you have money in order to get money. This often excludes many from receiving funds and the Collective seeks to remove that barrier.
I have more questions, but I do not see the answer. What should I do?
We want to answer your questions, please feel free to reach out to Fatima, the founder, via email at collective365info@gmail.com.
What is the "capacity building" component of the grant application? Can I qualify for that and the grant funding?
Collective 365 will be offering "capacity building" in addition to grant funding for applicants. Capacity building is the Collective's way of connecting members to the work in the community. For example, the Collective may have a few social media marketing guru that are willing to provide "x" amount of hours to develop social media evergreen graphics to a grant applicant. Capacity building can be granted to applicants even if the Collective is unable to award them grant funding. Grant applicants are automatically considered for grant funding and capacity building. It is one of the unique aspects of Collective 365.
What if my idea is new, can I still apply?
Yes. If you are an individual/ group/ business/ non profit who is seeking funding to start a new initiative in your community, we encourage you to apply. We do not require applicants to be operating for a minimum amount of time in order to apply.
If I received a grant last year, can I apply again this year?
No. We ask last year's grant recipients to wait one year (or one grant cycle) before applying again. For example, If you received a Collective 365 grant in 2021, you would be eligible to apply in 2023.
If I applied using the online application, can I do a phone interview to provide additional information?
No. We ask grant applicants to select one method of applying. Phone interviews are only used to complete the grant application.