The Southeast Immigrant Rights Network (SEIRN) has opened its fifth cycle of the Cultivating Resistance Fund. This cycle will specifically support grassroots groups who are (a) preparing the community for intensified ICE enforcement, and/or (b) responding to ICE raids in their communities. Community-based groups without a 501c3 status and organizations with budgets lower than $150,000 will be prioritized.
We are kicking-off this fund with a total of $20,000. Half of the funds will be destined for community defense and the other half will be reserved for groups responding to ICE raids.
We are funding the following two priorities in this fifth cycle:
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Community Defense
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Raids Response
The eligibility, grant amounts, and application processes are different for these two funding priorities. Please continue reading for details on each category.
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Community Defense Mini-Grants
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Community defense mini-grants are available for SEIRN members who are preparing the community for an intensified ICE enforcement.
Funds can be used to inform the community about their rights, notify the community of policy changes related to enforcement, support raids response infrastructures, support community hotlines, and other efforts to ensure the community is better prepared for increased ICE enforcement.
Mini-grant amounts will vary between $1,000 and $2,000. We expect to award between 4 to 6 of these mini-grants with this current batch of funding.
We will award a maximum of 2 grants for the same state each cycle (subject to change based on exceptional circumstances.)
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Important reminder: Not every group that applies will receive a mini-grant, and not every group will receive the amount they are requesting.
REQUIREMENTS:
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Be an active SEIRN member for at least 3 months by the time of applying for a mini-grant.
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Be a grassroots group or a non-profit organization with a budget not exceeding $150,000
PROCESS:
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Applications will be accepted on a bi-weekly basis starting on Wednesday, February 12 (then February 26, etc.) and until funds are available.
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Applications must be submitted by 5pm ET to be considered within each cycle.
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Award notifications will go out no later than 2 weeks after the bi-weekly deadline
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Payments will be processed within a week after receiving all the paperwork from the group. Groups will have 2 weeks to submit their payment request.
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When the proposed work is complete, the groups that receive a grant will submit a short written report sharing the results of the project. The date to submit the report will be listed on the agreement letter.
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​For security reasons, all payments will be processed through a bank transfer.
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Raids Response Mini-Grants
Raids response mini-grants will be granted to groups in the Southeast region responding to an ICE raid or ICE operation resulting in the simultaneous detention of 5 people or more within the same community. Because this is emergency funding, there are no requirements for groups to be SEIRN members.
Funds can be used to respond to an ICE raid in the community. They can also be used to support a raid response infrastructure, pay for interpretation services, support impacted families with transportation, or anything else that may be needed by the impacted community or the organization responding to the raid.
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Mini-grant amounts will vary between $1,500 and $5,000. We expect to award between 2 to 3 of these mini-grants with this current batch of funding.
We will award a maximum of 1 grant for the same state each cycle (subject to change based on exceptional circumstances.)
Important reminder: Not every group that applies will receive a mini-grant, and not every group will receive the amount they are requesting.
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REQUIREMENTS:
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Be an organization or grassroots group based in the Southeast and serve communities in the Southeast region. There’s no requirement to be a SEIRN member.
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Align with SEIRN values
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Be a grassroots group or a non-profit organization with a budget not exceeding $150,000
PROCESS:
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Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis starting on February 26, 2025 and until funds are available.
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Award notifications will go out no later than 2 days after receiving the application
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Payments will be processed as soon as groups submit all the paperwork. Groups will have 2 weeks to submit their payment request.
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When the proposed work is complete, the groups that receive a grant will submit a short written report sharing the results of the project. The date to submit the report will be listed on the agreement letter.
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For security reasons, all payments will be processed through a bank transfer.
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FOR QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT:
Nayely Perez-Huerta: nayely@seirn.org • 919-341-9796