Folks, we’re so excited to share this news: Groundwork Project just awarded 9 mini-grantees!

Our mini grantees shared how they’re using your grassroots donations to make progress at the local level — and we’re proud to say they’re making a real impact thanks to this team’s contributions. We also have a special spotlight from Norman Care-A-Vans that is sure to make you smile. ♥️

But before we get into specifics, can you pitch in to support our continued work? Your contribution helps fuel the community building and activism led by our partners on the ground in the Deep South, Appalachia, and the Plains.

If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately:

1. Quitman County Development Organization provides a wide range of community resources to local residents including helping kids prepare for school, providing grants for housing rehabilitation, and constructing green spaces throughout the Mississippi Delta. They used our mini-grant to attend the Congressional Black Caucus Mississippi Policy Conference on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. 📝


2. The Southern Appalachian Labor School provides education, research, and linkages for working-class and disenfranchised peoples to promote understanding, empowerment, and change. They used our mini-grant to gather a group of volunteers to provide housing assistance to low-income families. 🏘️


3. Alabama Justice Initiative harnesses the power of the people directly impacted by mass incarceration, racism, and voter suppression. They used our mini-grant to print materials and t-shirts for The People’s For Parole Justice Campaign, which mobilizes family members across Alabama affected by the parole system. 👕


4. Civics Con is a semi-annual civics conference in Oklahoma hosted by Let’s Fix This. In June, the conference’s theme was “Community. Organizing. Progress.” and they had 100+ attendees this year, ranging from college students, business leaders, and local community members. Our mini-grant helped fund the conference. 🤝


5. Norman Care-A-Vans builds a community of care with unhoused folks in Norman, Oklahoma. In June, they used a mini-grant to host a cookout with an unhoused community member who loves to grill. The event encouraged community-building through common experiences to meet, share, and care over food. 🍔

   Via @normancareavans on Instagram: “A HUGE thanks to the team at @groundworkproj for funding this event through their mini-grant program! This event wouldn’t have been possible without their generous funding.”

6. The Immigrant Alliance for Justice + Equity (IAJE) creates an affirming space for LGBTQ folks in Mississippi year-round. Each year during Pride Month, IAJE hosts the Queerceañera Latinx Pride Event — the only Latinx Pride event in the state of Mississippi. Our mini-grant was used to sponsor the event for the 2nd year in a row. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️


7. Vote for Change OK used our mini-grant to sponsor the 2nd Annual Day of Hope that services the low-income Hispanic community on the Southside of Oklahoma City. The event was co-hosted by The H.O.P.E Foundation and provided back-to-school supplies, free health checks and laundry services, breakfast and lunch, free haircuts, and more. 🎒🥞


8. In Oklahoma, Sally’s List trains, supports, and helps elect progressive women who run for public office. They used our mini-grant to host 2 candidate trainings that provided an in-depth look at various topics including campaign structure, fundraising, and communications. 🗳️


9. Alabama Values is a grassroots communications organization raising awareness and increasing engagement around community issues in Alabama. They used our mini-grant funding to cover costs associated with their Networking Reception at the National Association of Black Journalists Conference. 📋

As you can see, the support of this grassroots team goes toward so many important community organizing events and progressive efforts across the country — specifically in regions that are often underfunded and overlooked by national organizations.

So whether you want your dollars to help elect progressive women, create safe spaces for LGBTQ folks, or allow emerging activists to attend trainings and connect with other organizers, know that by pitching in to Groundwork Project, you’re doing all of that and more.

Folks, chip in today so that we can continue expanding our mini-grantee program to include even more groups working year-round to build grassroots power:

If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately:

Thanks for all that you do to support this work,

— Team Groundwork Project