The A.J. Muste Memorial Institute provides Organizing Grants to support newly founded and existing activist organizations based in the United States. The Foundation seeks to fund groups that are working on systemic change and prefer organizations that do not have significant foundation support or access to traditional funding streams. The current grant application process is temporarily paused, with an anticipated reopening in late May 2025.

The maximum grant award is $10,000, with most grants typically around $5,000. Occasionally, multi-year funding requests are considered. Grants may be used for project-specific needs or general operating costs, and the Foundation is particularly interested in bold and creative organizing ideas with a specific goal.

The Foundation funds 501(c)(3) organizations, groups with a fiscal sponsor, or organizations with a bank account in their name. However, they do not fund individuals, direct service projects, healing or therapy work unless part of a broader organizing campaign, lobbying or political campaigns, organizations with operating budgets exceeding $250,000, arts projects that are not directly connected to organizing, tuition or scholarships, or university-supported projects.

Interested applicants should monitor the Foundation’s website for the reopening of the application form in late May 2025.