Borealis Philanthropy: Spark Justice Fund

The Spark Justice Fund, a donor collaborative at Borealis Philanthropy, supports grassroots organizing and advocacy groups to end the use of money bail in the criminal justice system, transform pretrial justice, and build power in communities most impacted by incarceration in the United States.

The Fund’s long-term vision is to:

• end money bail and advance transformative pretrial justice reforms that significantly reduce jail populations, decriminalize poverty, and eliminate disparities for low-income communities of color, including for women of color and other marginalized populations;
• strengthen the capacity of state-based and local grassroots groups and those who are impacted by the criminal legal system to lead the movement for its transformation; and,
• elevate the leadership of those most directly affected by the criminal legal system.

Grants are provided to effective, innovative grassroots organizing and advocacy groups that:

• work authentically with constituencies most impacted by mass incarceration (particularly those groups led by individuals directly impacted by the system);
• demonstrate a clear power-building and leadership-development strategy that meaningfully engages directly impacted communities in defining problems, solutions, and actions;
• engage in bail reform efforts that advance decarcertion and are connected to a broader and holistic vision of reform;
• are based in jurisdictions with momentum and strong partnerships among groups; and,
• have an explicit, demonstrated commitment to racial, economic, and gender justice.

The Fund will consider requests for support both to advance policy reforms and to ensure effective implementation of reforms already adopted.

The Fund provides two-year core grants, generally in the range of $75,000 to $100,000 per year. Supplemental organizational development grants of at least $15,000 are also provided.

Types of support include:

• multi-year general operating support grants for grassroots organizing groups;
• grants and coaching support for organizational development and capacity-building;
• technical assistance and peer learning activities to foster deeper field coordination; and,
• discretionary resources to respond to timely opportunities.

Grants are not provided to/for:

• direct services work that is not connected to an advocacy/organizing agenda;
• individuals;
• government entities; or,
• international projects.

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