Overview
The Building Community Voice (BCV) Fund is a non-partisan fund established within the NAACP, in collaboration with GSSA, funders, and select partners, to provide grants to 501(c)(3) voter registration and voter turnout initiatives and organizations, including complimentary voter education and voter protection programs, operating in down-ballot and local elections to enhance the political voice and living conditions of Black communities in states across the country.
The fund recognizes that local government is foundational to American democracy and seeks to advance the democratic principles of representation and equality by supporting local efforts to protect civil rights and foster civic engagement and voter participation in underrepresented Black communities. Experience has demonstrated that the power of voting in local elections can lead to positive changes and sustained increases in civic engagement and voter participation in communities of color, particularly in down-ballot races where office holders have clearly neglected or had adverse impacts on local communities.
Objectives
The Building Community Voice (BCV) grants will be awarded in pursuit of our grantmaking objectives and vision to:
Leverage data analysis, research, and local insights to identify down-ballot jurisdictions and communities in need that can benefit substantially by directed, additional funding; Assess and fund 501(c)(3) voter registration and turnout initiatives and organizations, including complimentary voter education and protection programs, operating in priority jurisdictions and communities;Attract, recruit, and train able candidates committed to increased equity, opportunity, and safety in Black communities;Support grantees with data and messaging research, voter data and contact tools, central and state-based infrastructure and leadership, and training and strategic guidance;Allocate grant resources efficiently and help coordinate grantee operations and programs with allied progressive state and local partners, and other communities of color; andEmpower underrepresented Black communities to build long-term political power from the ground up, through down-ballot voter registration, turnout, education, and protection efforts.
Grantee Eligibility
Eligible 501(c)(3) voter registration and turnout initiatives and organizations, including complimentary voter education and protection programs, operating in down-ballot and local elections are encouraged to apply for NAACP Building Community Voice grants. Eligible grant applicants must be or have:
A nonprofit organization that has tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue CodeOperational capacity in priority jurisdictions with significant Black populations, where data analysis and/or local insights indicate increases in civic engagement and voter participation including voter protection are projected to impact local communities A demonstrated commitment to and capacity—and/or demonstration of the potential—for successful implementation of the following activities at the local level in Black communities: Voter registrationVoter turnoutVoter education and protection as direct complements to voter registration and turnoutThe interest and capacity to coordinate with national, state, and local NAACP units and other organizations with similar community objectivesInformation to demonstrate the capacity for success in communities of color to include, among other things:Staff availability and infrastructure for success, including communications capabilitiesStrong financial controls for the receipt and management of fundsReporting, monitoring, and transparency on activities and use of fundsRelevant experiences and past success in voter registration and turnout activitiesListing of all priority, local races where voter registration and turnout activities are plannedSpecial or unique competencies or distinctions relevant to civic engagement
Grant applicants that are compliant with BCV eligibility criteria and adhere to application and submission procedures will be awarded based on funding preferences and priorities. Grant applicants that are compliant with BCV eligibility criteria and adhere to application and submission procedures will be awarded based on funding preferences and priorities.
Application Deadlines
Applications for All Waves Accepted: May 20 2024 - June 20 2024
UPDATE: [We will be extending this application phase until August 20]
Use of Funds
Grant funds may be used to support leadership, management, coordination, and operations that increase the political voice and representation of the Black community through greater participation and success in local elections. Success is interpreted as the election of representatives in harmony with community interests in equity, opportunity, and security. Specific areas of support include voter protection, education, registration, and turnout. Areas of support, all common to local elections and community impact, are expected to fall into three categories:
Research and data analysis to determine priority down-ballot voting jurisdictions, populations, and resonant messaging for motivating and mobilizing voters Central operations, including leadership and management of the grants program and voter contact programming – direct and indirect, that are directed toward down-ballot, local electionsState-based activities and operations in the substantive areas of voter protection, education, registration, and turnout, including management and coordination, directed toward local elections significantly affecting Black communities
BCVF Grant 2024
Overview
The Building Community Voice (BCV) Fund is a non-partisan fund established within the NAACP, in collaboration with GSSA, funders, and select partners, to provide grants to 501(c)(3) voter registration and voter turnout initiatives and organizations, including complimentary voter education and voter protection programs, operating in down-ballot and local elections to enhance the political voice and living conditions of Black communities in states across the country.
The fund recognizes that local government is foundational to American democracy and seeks to advance the democratic principles of representation and equality by supporting local efforts to protect civil rights and foster civic engagement and voter participation in underrepresented Black communities. Experience has demonstrated that the power of voting in local elections can lead to positive changes and sustained increases in civic engagement and voter participation in communities of color, particularly in down-ballot races where office holders have clearly neglected or had adverse impacts on local communities.
Objectives
The Building Community Voice (BCV) grants will be awarded in pursuit of our grantmaking objectives and vision to:
Leverage data analysis, research, and local insights to identify down-ballot jurisdictions and communities in need that can benefit substantially by directed, additional funding; Assess and fund 501(c)(3) voter registration and turnout initiatives and organizations, including complimentary voter education and protection programs, operating in priority jurisdictions and communities;Attract, recruit, and train able candidates committed to increased equity, opportunity, and safety in Black communities;Support grantees with data and messaging research, voter data and contact tools, central and state-based infrastructure and leadership, and training and strategic guidance;Allocate grant resources efficiently and help coordinate grantee operations and programs with allied progressive state and local partners, and other communities of color; andEmpower underrepresented Black communities to build long-term political power from the ground up, through down-ballot voter registration, turnout, education, and protection efforts.
Grantee Eligibility
Eligible 501(c)(3) voter registration and turnout initiatives and organizations, including complimentary voter education and protection programs, operating in down-ballot and local elections are encouraged to apply for NAACP Building Community Voice grants. Eligible grant applicants must be or have:
A nonprofit organization that has tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue CodeOperational capacity in priority jurisdictions with significant Black populations, where data analysis and/or local insights indicate increases in civic engagement and voter participation including voter protection are projected to impact local communities A demonstrated commitment to and capacity—and/or demonstration of the potential—for successful implementation of the following activities at the local level in Black communities: Voter registrationVoter turnoutVoter education and protection as direct complements to voter registration and turnoutThe interest and capacity to coordinate with national, state, and local NAACP units and other organizations with similar community objectivesInformation to demonstrate the capacity for success in communities of color to include, among other things:Staff availability and infrastructure for success, including communications capabilitiesStrong financial controls for the receipt and management of fundsReporting, monitoring, and transparency on activities and use of fundsRelevant experiences and past success in voter registration and turnout activitiesListing of all priority, local races where voter registration and turnout activities are plannedSpecial or unique competencies or distinctions relevant to civic engagement
Grant applicants that are compliant with BCV eligibility criteria and adhere to application and submission procedures will be awarded based on funding preferences and priorities. Grant applicants that are compliant with BCV eligibility criteria and adhere to application and submission procedures will be awarded based on funding preferences and priorities.
Application Deadlines
Applications for All Waves Accepted: May 20 2024 - June 20 2024
UPDATE: [We will be extending this application phase until August 20]
Use of Funds
Grant funds may be used to support leadership, management, coordination, and operations that increase the political voice and representation of the Black community through greater participation and success in local elections. Success is interpreted as the election of representatives in harmony with community interests in equity, opportunity, and security. Specific areas of support include voter protection, education, registration, and turnout. Areas of support, all common to local elections and community impact, are expected to fall into three categories:
Research and data analysis to determine priority down-ballot voting jurisdictions, populations, and resonant messaging for motivating and mobilizing voters Central operations, including leadership and management of the grants program and voter contact programming – direct and indirect, that are directed toward down-ballot, local electionsState-based activities and operations in the substantive areas of voter protection, education, registration, and turnout, including management and coordination, directed toward local elections significantly affecting Black communities