GRANTMAKING
2025 Grant Cycle
Our 2025 grant cycle is now closed.
This year, NGGC continued to focus its grantmaking on promoting financial security for those most directly impacted by racial and economic injustice. Giving Circle members recognize that not everyone has access to the same resources and tools for building wealth or financial security, such as access to loans, high-wage jobs, homeownership, entrepreneurship opportunities, or more. The COVID-19 pandemic deepened many of these existing inequities. This year, we focused on supporting organizations that work with people who have historically and unjustly been left out of traditional wealth-building opportunities. Specifically, we invited applications from organizations with annual budgets of $750,000 or less that are working with historically under-resourced communities in the Greater Washington region to build wealth or financial security.
Organizations were invited to apply between June-July 2025, and could apply in English or Spanish, or by submitting video/audio formats. All applicants will be notified of their application status by September 30, 2025. Finalists will be selected for a virtual meeting with NGGC members in October 2025, with final grant decisions made in November 2025 and funds disbursed before the end of December 2025.
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You can view our grantmaking materials below.
We practice trust-based philanthropy in our grantmaking process
The Next Gen Giving Circle is committed to rethinking traditional models of philanthropy and promoting more trust-based approaches to giving. Trust-based philanthropy is a long-term movement that seeks to shift power dynamics between funders and nonprofits, building mutually accountable relationships that reflect the needs and dreams of communities. In practice, we continually improve our grantmaking process to be as transparent and accessible as possible.
We Trust Your Wisdom to Create Change
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We fund general operating support and do not restrict grants to specific programs
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Grantees are not asked to write reports on how they spend the funding
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We provide multi-year funding to grantees in the form of a small grant the year after they first receive funding from us (with no additional application requirements for grantees)
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All applicants can opt-in to receive six months of free capacity building training, offered in partnership with Spur Local
A Simple Grantmaking Process
Every year, giving circle members target a grant priority that best reflects our group interests. Our grants committee then designs and releases an application each summer. Our request for proposal (RFP) process follows the same format and takes about 4 months from beginning to end.
Application Submissions
(6-8 Weeks)
Applications are open for 6-8 weeks. Our short application asks only five narrative questions and is accepted in English, Spanish, and as video or audio responses
Notification of Eligibility
(2 Weeks)
Within 2 weeks of application submission, you will be notified if your organization does not meet our criteria and is ineligible for a grant
Application Review
(2-3 Weeks)
Our grants committee will thoroughly review all applications for about 3 weeks and create a finalist shortlist
Finalist Virtual Visits
Finalists are notified and are invited for a virtual visit between staff members of the finalist organizations and giving circle members
Member Vote
Giving circle members review finalist application materials, including site visit notes, and cast their votes on grantees and grant amounts
Grantee Announcement
Grantees are notified and are provided details to complete disbursement of grant funds
Our Impact
Since 2020, our giving circle has granted over $190,000 to support local organizations, with a focus on resourcing small and BIPOC-led nonprofits. Through 2024, we have awarded grants to 26 nonprofits across the region, with each grant averaging $7,000 and typically ranging between $2,500 to $15,000.
Meet Our Grantees
2024 GRANTEES
We received 64 applications and gave $25,000 to five organizations working at the intersection of racial equity and economic empowerment. We also gave $5,000 in multi-year grants to 2023 grantees.
$10,000
Concentric Community Care
$5,000
Baldwin House
$5,000
Fihankra Akoma Ntoaso
$2,500
OurSpace World
$2,500
Voices Unbarred
2023 GRANTEES
We received 56 applications and gave $35,000 to five organizations working at the intersection of racial equity and economic empowerment. We also gave $4,000 in multi-year grants to 2022 grantees.
$12,500
Mother's Outreach Network
$7,500
Women Palante
$5,000
Urban Ed
$5,000
Restaurant Opportunities Center DC
$5,000
Montgomery County Black Collective
2022 GRANTEES
We received 38 applications and gave $40,000 to four organizations working at the intersection of racial equity and economic empowerment. We also gave $15,000 in multi-year grants to 2021 grantees.
$15,000
Hope Foundation Reentry Network
$10,000
Tenants and Workers United
$7,500
The Platform of Hope
$7,500
The Training Source
2021 GRANTEES
We received 55 applications and gave $40,000 to six organizations working at the intersection of racial equity and economic empowerment. We also gave $4,000 in follow up support grants to its 2020 recipients.
$10,000
Starting With Today
$10,000
Centerville Immigration Forum
$7,500
Restaurant Opportunities Center DC
$5,000
Hyacinth's Place
$3,750
AfriThrive
$3,750
American Muslim Senior Society
2020 GRANTEES
We received 55 applications and gave $25,000 to five organizations working on housing and food access in the Greater Washington region. We also gave a discretionary $5,000 relief grant (no application) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
$10,000
Dreaming Out Loud
Fall Application
$7,500
Hyacinth's Place
Fall Application
$2,500
Tenants & Workers United
Fall Application
$2,500
We are Family
Fall Application
$2,500
Eco City Farms
Fall Application
