Funding Your Revolution

Fair Trade starts with the collective. If any change is going to be made, it is going to be done as a community. Which is why there are organizations out there to offer their support and are giving out grants to groups that are doing their work to promote Fair Trade in their community. Lutheran World Relief and Equal Exchange are calling out to you and want to help fund this people powered revolution.

For the Lutheran World Relief grant, there are two ways to apply.

Click here to fill in the application, or download the form LWR Fair Trade Grants Application and send completed applications to Maren Stumme-Diers at:

Email: fairtrade@lwr.org

Fax: 410.230.2882 (attn: Maren Stumme-Diers)

Mail: Lutheran World Relief
Attn: Maren Stumme-Diers:
700 Light St.
Baltimore, MD 21230

Check out the rest of the details at their site, including judging criteria and ideas to promote Fair Trade in your community.

Details about Equal Exchange's grant after the jump! Deadlines are fast approaching.

[photo: www.urbanministry.org]

EQUAL EXCHANGE 2009

FAIR TRADE PROMOTION GRANTS

Grant Purposes:

Equal Exchange was founded in 1986 to create a new approach to trade, one that includes informed consumers, honest and Fair Trade relationships and cooperative principles. As a worker-owned co-operative, we have accomplished this by offering consumers fairly traded gourmet coffee, and more, direct from small-scale farmer co-operatives around the world and from here in the United States.
Each year, our co-operative donates 7% of pre-tax profits to help catalyze new and innovative methods for growing and deepening the Fair Trade movement.  Our donations are guided by our Mission statement ---

"to build long-term trade partnerships that are economically just and environmentally sound, to foster mutually beneficial relations between farmers and consumers, and to demonstrate, through our success, the viability of worker co-operatives and Fair Trade."

Further, with these grants we are interested in opportunities that contribute to the 20 year Vision adopted by Equal Exchange's worker-owners in 2006:

A Vision for Equal Exchange

There will be...

A vibrant mutually cooperative community of two million committed participants trading fairly one billion dollars a year in a way that transforms the world. Specifically we are seeking uses for these funds that can help overcome the primary obstacles, or maximize opportunities, related to our 20 Year Vision.

Lastly, the Equal Exchange Charitable Contributions committee will be using a scoring matrix as part of the review process. We encourage applicants to look at the 2008 matrix before they begin drafting their submissions. Though small changes might be made we expect our 2009 scoring matrix to be little changed from 2008. If you do not have a copy of our matrix contact Rodney North, rodney@equalexchange.coop .

Application Process:

Applicants are encouraged to submit written requests for grants of $10,000 to $30,000.  Applications should contain the information listed below and should be roughly two pages in length.  Applications should be accompanied by proof of 501(c)3 status and a copy of the latest annual report available.

*       Name and contact information
*       Mission/ Purpose of the Organization
*       Description of Projects Undertaken by Organization
*       List of Other Funding Sources
*       Description of Proposed Use of the Money

The deadline for applications is February 22nd, 2009. Applications will be reviewed and grantees selected by March 15th. Checks will be mailed by March 15th .
Please submit applications, preferably by e-mail, to Rodney North   Rodney@equalexchange.coop
Fax: 508-587-8024
Tel: 774-776-7398
If necessary, paper copies of supporting documents (annual reports, etc.), may be mailed to:

Rodney North
Equal Exchange
50 United Drive
West Bridgewater, MA 02379

We will ask the recipients to report back on the use of the funds by Jan 15th of 2010.