Groundswell Action Fund

The organizing and advocacy work of women of color (WOC), particularly Black women, has been essential to protecting and even expanding progress during the past several years, which have been defined by massive attacks on the civil and reproductive rights and bodily autonomy of women, LGBTQIA+ people (especially trans youth), people of color, and immigrants. Groundswell Action Fund plays a pivotal role in supporting the remarkable WOC-led organizations that continue to defend democracy and champion progress. Groundswell Action Fund was founded on the simple premise that those most excluded from our democracy should be at the center of transforming it. The Action Fund resources 501(c)(4) organizations across the United States that are led by women of color, transgender, and gender expansive people of color, and low-income women who are building lasting power in their communities, fighting for electoral wins on crucial progressive issues like reproductive rights and justice, and advancing solidarity-based organizing strategies that expand access to democratic participation for all people. Groundswell finds and vets groups that are already changing the game on local, state, and national levels and puts crucial support behind them. Because lasting collective political power is only realized with deep base building and grassroots organizing, Groundswell fosters long-term relationships with organizations. In 2023-2024, Groundswell Action Fund will resource the field through:

• Grantmaking: targeting $6.5 million in general support grants to 52 current grantees and eight new c4 organizations. Support will allow grantee partners to build critical infrastructure for elections-focused operations in which they will mobilize millions of voters of color. Groundswell also anticipates making additional rapid response grants related to the 2024 election cycle.
• Capacity Building: Offerings include connecting new reproductive justice and other WOC-led 501(c)(4) organizations to infrastructure building shops; coaching assistance for electoral strategy; and communications training. For reproductive justice organizations that are considering stepping into the 501(c)(4) space, Groundswell supports these organizations to set up their own c4s for success.
• Funder Organizing: Amplifying the work and impact of grantees with a broader community of donors and foundations, via digital and print communications, briefings, virtual meet ups and site visits with donors and grantees.