Tuesday is equity & justice day on The Grant Brief.

What connects these three: each funds a different layer of justice work. One backs direct-service nonprofits across a dozen equity issues. One funds women's movement infrastructure globally. One places lawyers inside legal aid organizations for two-year fellowships. Different scales, different mechanisms, same sector.

What we know: Boskey made 37 grants in its latest year totaling $1.26 million, with a median award of $30,000. Grantmaking skews heavily toward Massachusetts (41% of all grants) and New York, with the remainder spread across Illinois, New Jersey, and California. Top recipients include Social Innovation Forum, Waypoint Adventures, and Mediation Center of Dutchess County. The focus areas are broad: human services, recreation, higher education, community improvement, and mental health all appear in the grant mix.

Realistic fit: small to mid-size direct-service nonprofits working in equity-adjacent areas (mediation, disability, reproductive justice, food/housing justice) with budgets under $5 million.

What we know: Oak Foundation does not file a US 990, so we don't have granular giving data. The programme accepts unsolicited letters of enquiry, but full proposals are by invitation only. Treat the LOI as a relationship-builder, not an application. Web research suggests average awards run around $600,000 as multi-year core support, with priority regions including parts of Europe, the Americas, and India.

Realistic fit: established women-led organizations with operating budgets in the mid-six to low-seven figures, already doing movement-building or anti-violence work at scale.

What we know: Equal Justice Works placed 198 fellows in its latest year, totaling $13.4 million. Over 57% of grants go to crime/legal-related organizations, with top host states being New York, California, DC, Illinois, and Texas. Named hosts include New Mexico Immigrant Law Center, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, and Legal Aid Chicago. Applicants must co-design the project with a host org and must attend or have attended an Equal Justice Works member law school.

Realistic fit: nonprofit legal services organizations that can provide supervision, benefits, and workspace for a two-year fellow addressing unmet legal needs.

If your organization doesn't do legal services, women's movement work, or direct equity programming, this batch isn't the right fit. Boskey is the broadest door here, but even that one rewards mission-aligned proposals with clear community outcomes.

Closing soon (separate from this week's theme):

AAUP Foundation Quarterly Grants closes in 7 days (June 30, 2026). Funds projects advancing academic freedom and higher education quality.

aaupfoundation.org/grants