Most justice-focused funders write project grants. Borealis Philanthropy's Just Futures Initiative funds general operating support for organizations working on community safety, democracy, and decarceration, which gives grantees more flexibility than a typical program-restricted award.

What we know: Borealis distributed $37.3 million across 360 grants in its most recent filing year, with a foundation-wide median of $80,000. Its grantmaking skews toward human services and civil rights organizations, with the heaviest concentration in California (169 grants), New York (94), and Georgia (68). Top recipients include fiscal sponsors like Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs ($4.1 million) and Social Good Fund ($2.3 million), which signals that many grants flow through intermediaries to grassroots groups.

Realistic fit: U.S.-based grassroots organizations under $2 million in budget, rooted in communities directly affected by criminalization or state violence.

The application starts with an eligibility quiz before you can access the LOI form, so it's worth running through that first to confirm your organization qualifies before drafting anything.