FMW Social Justice Fund

Next Deadline: Monday, December 12, 2022
Apply using this form.

Background

In 2017, Thomas Crews bequeathed a portion of his estate totaling nearly $28,000 to “The Religious Society of Friends, Friends House, Washington, D.C for assistance in promoting their political endeavors.” Consultations among Friends led to the conclusions that (1) the Friends Meeting of Washington should be the beneficiary body, and (2), since FMW does not and cannot engage in endeavors that are directly “political,” the funds should be used for transformational social justice or peace work by Friends, under the supervision of FMW’s Peace and Social Concerns Committee.  Since then, Peace & Social Concerns fundraising efforts and other contributions have added additional monies to the Fund.

Guidelines

FMW’s Peace & Social Concerns Committee (P&SC), in consultation with Trustees and others, has created the following plan to make funds available for small scale, strategic support for social justice work in which FMW members and attenders are involved:  

  1. Funds will be spent on projects in which FMW members/attenders are directly engaged, so that these funds will increase the impact of our work. 

  2.  Priority will be given to projects that support structural change–to make the world a more just, equitable and sustainable place (not just for educational or charitable purposes).

  3. The focus will be on grants of up to $1,000 that help make work happen, (but this is not a hard limit.)

  4. We plan to spend the funds over approximately four years, awarding 10 to 12 grants a year. BUT we are open to altering this plan should an opportunity for extraordinary impact arise.

  5. Sharing the experience & lessons: P&SC may share some details of successful proposals with the FMW community. (Please communicate any confidentiality considerations clearly.) Grant recipients are also asked to share progress and outcomes of their project.

  6. In one year we will invite members of the FMW community to participate in discussion of the process and impact of these grants so far, and future plans.

  7. Peace & Social Concerns will request proposals twice a year, Spring and Fall  (but can consider supporting time-sensitive requests outside of this schedule.)

The P&SC Committee invites members of the FMW community to apply for Peace and Social Justice Fund Grants to assist, expand, or improve the social justice work in which they are involved. 

How to apply

Applications should be submitted electronically via email or this form.

Fall 2022 deadline:  December 12. 
The Spring 2023 deadline will be set in March.
Time-sensitive requests can be considered between cycles.

For more information about the FMW Social Justice Fund, contact Helena Cobban (HCobban@gmail.com) or Steve Chase (SteveChase338@gmail.com).