NSF Rapid Response Grants

From North Star Fund

North Star Fund supports Black-led organizations building collective power through grassroots organizing in New York City and the Hudson Valley. It aims to transform lives and undo systemic racism by addressing specific laws and institutional policies that create inequities. The fund was created to respond to a lack of investment in Black communities and seeks to mobilize resources for sustainable support.

Type of Support

Overview

The Rapid Response Grants by North Star Fund are designed to support organizations in achieving immediate, specific outcomes or impacts within a three to six-month window, generally as components of a broader strategy for systemic change. These grants are particularly relevant in situations where elected leaders and institutions fail to protect communities of color and vulnerable populations, assisting recipient organizations in pressuring for positive actions.

Eligibility

Organization's Location
USA
Program Location
NY (Albany County, Bronx County, Columbia County, Delaware County, Dutchess County, Greene County, Kings County, New York County, Orange County, Putnam County, Queens County, Rensselaer County, Richmond County, Rockland County, Schoharie County, Sullivan County, Ulster County, Westchester County)
Organization Type
Organizations focusing on progressive social change
Located in New York City or eligible counties
501(c)(3) organizations
Organizations with a fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) status
Organization Budget And Years
Organization's annual budget is less than 800k
Other
  • Work aimed at creating progressive social change
  • Located in NYC or eligible counties (Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, Ulster, Sullivan, Columbia, Greene, Delaware, Rensselaer, Albany, and Schoharie)
  • Must have a significant base or group of people actively involved
  • Democratically structured and accountable to those directly impacted by the issues they address
  • Annual budget under $800,000
  • Leadership should include directly impacted people (e.g., low-income, people of color, immigrants, multi-racial, women, trans, gender non-conforming, queer, youth, working class, disabled, long-time residents)
  • Leaders should have a strong social justice vision based on an understanding of the root causes of oppression

Ineligibility

Direct service organizations like food pantries, soup kitchens
Individual efforts
Private or public schools, colleges, and universities
Hospitals and clinics
Statewide, national, or international organizations
Travel expenses for individual speakers or conference participants
Activities to elect specific candidates for public office
Fundraising events such as galas and walk-a-thons
Feasibility studies, capital fund drives
Organizations that do not comply with federal, state, or local equal opportunity statutes
Travel to conferences
Budget shortfalls or cash flow issues
New project ideas
Organizations from the Hudson Valley.
up to 5k

Submission

Review Criteria

Priority will be extended to organizations that:

  • Possess limited access to grant-awarding bodies, as well as opportunities for capacity enhancement and training.
  • Do not benefit from administrative or fundraising assistance provided by a parent organization or fiscal sponsor.
  • Have been established for fewer than six years.

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