Het Actiefonds is a small-grants funder that backs grassroots social movements and direct action campaigns worldwide, especially when groups need fast, flexible support that is hard to access from mainstream funders. Its priorities lean toward climate justice, anti-racism, labor and civil-rights actions, and campaigns challenging corporate power or state violence. The funder is distinctive for its focus on urgent, action-oriented activism rather than long-term organizational funding, with money intended to go directly to protest and campaign groups.
Focus Areas
Climate Justice Direct ActionGrassroots Protest and MobilizationAnti-Racism and Racial Justice CampaignsLabor Rights and Worker ActionsCivil Rights and Democratic ResistanceUrgent Crisis-Response Activism
Giving Approach
Small, rapid-response grants of roughly €500–€1,250 in the regular track, with emergency requests capped at €250 and often decided within 72 hours. Applications are generally monthly or rolling rather than tied to fixed deadlines, and the funder appears to prefer direct-action proposals from grassroots groups over institutional or multi-year support.
How to approach this funder
Apply through the appropriate program form rather than a general proposal: climate justice actions have a separate route, urgent actions use the fast-track process, and regular applications should be submitted about a month before the action. Keep the request tightly tied to a specific protest, blockade, occupation, strike, or campaign, and emphasize why the activity is urgent, grassroots-led, and directly action-focused. For Africa-based groups, check the country-specific eligibility rules carefully, since many countries are invitation-only with a few listed exceptions.
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Trusted by mission-driven teams at organizations nationwide
Notable grantees:
• Bookbloc
• Push Back Frontex
• Pussy Riot
• Shell Seismic Survey & #MoveShell
• Kereken Boue Community Protest for Environmental Justice
Open Grant Opportunities
Current and upcoming funding from Het Actiefonds that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Open nowRolling / open intakeAward: $500 – $3K
Regular application
direct actiondemonstrationsblockades+6 more
Who can apply: Grassroots activist groups organizing direct actions or specific protests/campaigns; no structural ongoing support. Preference for organizations with annual income under €100,000. Projects should have a total budget under €20,000. No AI-written applications. Africa-region applications are currently invitation-only except Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Libya.
Deadline: No fixed deadline; submit at least one month before the action.
urgent protest responsedirect actiondemonstrations+3 more
Who can apply: For unforeseen situations only; the action could not reasonably have been planned or funded earlier. The protest must respond to a sudden political or societal event. Africa-region applications are currently invitation-only except Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Libya.
Deadline: No fixed deadline; intended for sudden events and time-bound actions.
climate justicemovement buildingdirect action+7 more
Who can apply: Projects must focus on climate justice movement building and not solely on awareness or education. Priority for small grassroots groups, politically controversial or radical projects, and organizations with annual income under €100,000. No AI-written applications. Total project budget should be under €20,000. Same invitation-only caveat applies to the Africa-region except Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Libya.
Deadline: No fixed deadline; apply at least one month in advance. No committee meeting in August.
Tijdgebonden directe actiesCrisisrespons in activisme context
Who can apply: Acties die inspelen op plotselinge politieke/samenlevingsevenementen en tijdgebonden zijn. Niet bedoeld voor last-minute financiering van reeds voorbereide acties. Zie algemene criteria voor uitsluitingen (geen humanitaire/gezondheidsprojecten, etc.).
Deadline: Maximaal €250 per spoedaanvraag; geen vaste sluitingstijd — behandelingen binnen enkele dagen; streeftijd 72 uur voor antwoord.
Who can apply: Acties gericht op klimaatrechtvaardigheid; moeten aansluiten bij algemene criteria van Het Actiefonds (directe acties, niet-structurele steun, geen humanitaire/gezondheidsprojecten).
Deadline: Geen vaste deadline vermeld; aanvragen verlopen via formulier en worden bevestigd per e-mail.
Who can apply: Grassroots actiegroepen die directe, confrontatieve acties organiseren. Niet-structurele projectfinanciering. Geen humanitaire/gezondheidsprojecten, geen puur educatieve/awareness-projecten, geen politieke partijen of religieuze organisaties. Sterke voorkeur voor organisaties met jaarinkomen < €100.000. Aanvragen geschreven door AI worden niet geaccepteerd.
Deadline: Geen vaste deadline; commissie komt maandelijks bijeen. Dien uiterlijk 1 maand voor actie in; geen algemene sluitingsdatum.
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.