What We Fund

Groups that are creating a power base that can hold leaders accountable to the people who are affected by their decisions.
Groups that let their membership or constituents take the lead in collective action planning and decision-making.
Groups whose leadership comes directly from the people who are most affected by the issues you are organizing around.

Groups that organize in the local community, but make connections between local issues and a broader need for systemic change.
Groups that provide a space for members to develop their political analyses at the same time as taking action for change.
Groups that break down barriers within the progressive movement, by building strategic alliances between groups of different cultural or class backgrounds or different issue areas.
Groups that explore the root causes of injustice and have a long-term vision for the kind of social change they are working for.

Groups and projects that are proactively engaged in a process of dismantling oppression, confronting privilege, and challenging institutional structures that perpetuate oppression (both internal and external to the organization).
Groups that are proactively making connections between the different forms of oppression (racism, heterosexism, sexism, ageism, classism, ableism, etc.), and its connections with injustice.

Groups that have alternative organizational structures that allow power to flow “from the bottom up.”
Efforts to create new, community-based alternative systems and structures (economic, political, cultural, religious, etc.) that are liberating, democratic, and environmentally sustainable and which promote healthy, sustainable communities.

New or emerging organizations, efforts that have difficulty securing funds from other sources, and groups that receive little other foundation support.

What we do not fund

Programs with a primary geographic focus outside of the United States, U.S. Territories, Mexico, and Haiti, unless invited to apply for a Special Initiative, Community Advised or Donor Advised Fund.
Social services that are not linked to a clear organizing strategy. (PDF does fund organizations whose organizing work has a social service component.)
Individuals or organizations with strong leadership from only one individual.
Conferences and other one-time events (exceptions are made for Technical Assistance Grants, and occasionally for Donor Advised Grants).
Audio-visual productions and distribution—TV, radio, publications, films, etc. (PDF does fund media work or audio-visual production as part of the general expenses of groups engaged in grassroots organizing).
Research that is not directly linked to an organizing strategy (PDF does fund research as part of the general expenses of groups engaged in grassroots organizing).
Academic institutions and scholarships.
Other grant-making organizations.
Organizations with large budgets and organizations who have access to other sources of funding. (If an organization has a large budget, but a majority of the budget is restricted for direct services, please stipulate it in your budget. Please note that PDF will only fund the organizing aspect of your work.)