Chinook Fund Grant

Chinook Fund is a Colorado-based philanthropic organization committed to supporting community-led, grassroots movements for social justice. Over its 38-year history, Chinook Fund has distributed more than $5.6 million to over 590 organizations dedicated to challenging the root causes of systemic oppression. The fund prioritizes organizations led by Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color, with 90 percent of grantee groups falling within this leadership demographic. Its grantmaking is guided by a racial justice framework and is managed by community members through the Giving Project, a cohort of activists with direct experience in organizing and justice work. The purpose of Chinook Fund's grantmaking is to support efforts that engage in long-term systemic change rather than short-term service provision. The fund defines community organizing as a process where impacted individuals collectively build power to address structural inequities. It funds organizations that are constituent-led, inclusive of communities facing multiple forms of oppression, and focused on achieving lasting, systemic impacts. Additionally, organizations are expected to work within an anti-oppression framework and demonstrate internal accountability to the communities they serve. Chinook Fund offers several types of grants depending on organizational maturity. Start-Up Grants provide up to $4,000 to groups under four years old that show potential to meet Chinook’s criteria. Established Grants are available to more experienced organizations and can reach up to $10,000. Multi-Year Grants may be available for returning grantees that have been funded at least twice in the past three years. Each grant application is reviewed through a consensus-based process led by the Giving Project, including proposal review and site visits. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations, fiscally sponsored projects, or worker-owned cooperatives with an annual budget not exceeding $350,000. Applicants must be based in Colorado or be a regional Indigenous group operating within Colorado boundaries. Priority is given to organizations engaged in community organizing, especially those that are Black-led or Native-led or located in rural areas. Chinook Fund does not support electoral campaigns, lobbying activities, or private-interest initiatives. Applications for the Spring 2026 funding cycle are due by February 16, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. MT via Chinook Fund’s online portal. Decisions will be communicated by July. A second round of funding will open in July 2026 for the Fall cycle. Grant workshops are held about a month before deadlines to guide applicants through the process, and participation is strongly recommended for first-time applicants. Recorded workshops and tutorials are available online. The review process aims to ensure that organizations most capable of transforming power dynamics receive support. Chinook Fund centers its work around Black Liberation and Indigenous Sovereignty, though it funds a range of movements and communities. Funded projects must demonstrate leadership by directly affected communities, efforts to dismantle privilege and oppression, and a focus on long-term progressive change. Chinook Fund serves as both a resource distributor and a strategic partner in building an equitable Colorado.

Review criteria prioritize community-led systemic change, root-cause analysis, and work by and for marginalized communities.