Growing the Grassroots
The First Two Years of the Northern California Grassroots FundReleased November 2005
What We Do
The Northern California Environmental Grassroots Fund makes grants of $500- $5000 to small organizations that confront critical environmental challenges on the ground in their communities.
These “kitchen table activists” are savvy about local culture and politics, but their organizations are often too small, too new, too remote and sometimes even too risky to effectively compete for normal grant dollars in the large-scale funding arena.
Small Grants, Huge Impact
These under-the-radar groups derive their strength from dedicated volunteers, who have the perspective and knowledge to speak to all community stakeholders, including many people who don’t consider themselves “environmentalists.” With a highly personal involvement in the issues at hand, they enjoy a unique leverage on the local level that larger groups cannot.
Therefore, a small grant can go a long way.
These local groups often work in partnership with larger statewide or national environmental non-profits. Building the capacity of the grassroots base boosts the work of these larger groups.
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