Welcome

The health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have been devastating for the entire world, and particularly so for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC). These disproportionate impacts did not begin with the coronavirus and are another manifestation of the deadly outcomes of systemic racism deeply rooted in our nation’s history. Change in these outcomes demands that philanthropy explicitly and unapologetically center racial equity and justice in its grantmaking practices and goals. The Momentum Fund Advisory Board knows that this work requires more than grant dollars to be successful and is also working to lift up the following three core concepts:

• First, we are explicitly and unapologetically centering racial equity in this work. Not only will priority be given to organizations that are led by BIPOC and intentionally serving BIPOC communities, but our outreach efforts are also emphasizing the need to ensure that these organizations are aware and feel welcome to the Momentum Fund process. 
• Second, we want to recognize the long history of effective social change provided by many of the nonprofits with which we will have the honor to partner via this work. 
• Third, we are working to emphasize the importance of positioning grantmakers as equal partners with the nonprofits to which grants are disbursed, and other partners in the respective communities. 

Our hope is that the Momentum Fund supports much needed nonprofit infrastructure in historically marginalized, under-served and under-resourced communities that have been most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you for choosing to take this journey with us. 

The Momentum Fund will provide grants to 501(c)(3) organizations that manage COVID-19 funds. Priority will be given to organizations managing COVID-19 funds that are helping other nonprofits meet the needs of communities and populations whose health and/or financial situations have been most severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and who have been historically under-served and under-resourced in the United States, U.S. Territories or on Native American Reservations. Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to community foundations, women's foundations/funds, identity-based foundations/funds, United Ways, philanthropy-serving organizations, nonprofit service organizations, and community-led nonprofits. The grants will help these organizations build their capacity to effectively grow, promote, manage and sustain their funds. Each organization can define the capacity it needs and apply for a grant of up to $100,000. Applications must be submitted via this portal by 3:00pm ET on Thursday, June 18, 2020. Late submissions will not be accepted.  

Eligibility Criteria

• Your organization is a 501(c)(3) organization (or group of 501(c)(3) organizations that has each been registered on or before April 16, 2019.
• Your organization manages an active COVID-19 fund of at least $50,000 (pledged, committed and/or spent) that awards funds to other 501(c)(3) organizations.
• Your COVID-19 fund make grants to organizations based in the United States, US Territories, or Native American Reservations.
• Your COVID-19 fund can accept contributions from individuals.
• Awards made from your COVID-19 fund benefit communities and populations that have been hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and have been historically marginalized, under-served and under-resourced.

Selection Criteria

Priority for funding will be based on how well an applicant can demonstrate the following:

• The applicant’s COVID-19 fund prioritizes the needs of one or more communities or populations that have been historically marginalized, under-served or under-resourced.
• The applicant is well positioned to provide COVID-19 response funding that reaches organizations that serve communities most deeply impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The applicant’s capacity-building funding request will help it to more effectively and efficiently grow, promote and manage its COVID-19 fund.
• The applicant has an equity approach that is embedded in its COVID-19 fund work.
• Note: priority will be given to applicants that have not already received funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to address needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Guidelines for Completing an Application

• You will need to create a free Submittable account in order to start your application. 
• You can save a draft of your work if you would like to finish filling out the form at a later date. 
• We will follow-up with you about your submission by email. Please be sure the email address you used to sign up for your Submittable Account is one that you check regularly. 
• Please reach out to Submittable's Customer Support team with any technical questions at support@submittable.com
• Please submit your application by 3:00pm ET on Thursday, June 18, 2020 to be considered for funding. Late submissions will not be accepted.