Critical Response Grants provide community-based groups (who match our General Fund criteria) with the additional capacity needed to organize a progressive response to an unexpected crisis or opportunity for organizing.

The maximum single grant award is $2,000. The fund is open until monies are exhausted each fiscal year (July 1 – June 30).

Summary of Funding Criteria

For full funding criteria contact MRG’s Grants Program Assistant Cris Lira at 503-234-2338 or 1-800-489-6743 (outside Portland) or email Cris Lira.

1. Located in Oregon. Your group must be located in the state and your work must be directed toward Oregonians.
2. Budget Size.  Your organizational budget must be under $500,000.
3. Community organizing in response to an unexpected crisis or opportunity for organizing. MRG funds community organizing that addresses a critical unexpected social justice issue by bringing people together and building their power to change political, social and economic systems that are perpetuating the injustice.
4. Dismantling oppression. Institutionalized oppression such as racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism and ableism are the primary tools used to perpetuate injustice. Regardless of the issue area inequality, oppression, and discrimination create significant barriers to the pursuit of social justice. MRG Funds those groups who are proactively confronting privilege and challenging the institutional structures – both within their own organization as well as in the broader society – that perpetuate inequality, oppression and discrimination. 
5. Strategic. MRG funds groups that will have a deep impact in their community and where our funding will play a critical role in moving a group’s social change work forward.
6. Organizational Effectiveness. MRG funds groups that will be able to accomplish what they set out to do.  Your application should explain the significance of the work plan and its appropriateness to the communities involved and clearly outlines the specific activities that will accomplish the goals of the project.

Examples of projects we have awarded a Critical Response grant to: 

• Organizing a community response to a racially motivated hate crime in southern Oregon
• Organizing a community forum in response to a newly proposed liquefied natural gas pipeline
• Coordinating a Procession for Dignity and Respect in response to unexpected anti-immigrant organizing

You can see a list of groups that have previously received Critical Response grants here.

Timeline Information

Critical Response Grants may be applied for at any time, as long as money is available in the fund.

For fund status and an application, please contact the Grants Program Assistant, Cris Lira at 503-234-2338 or 1-800-489-6743 (outside Portland) or email Cris.