Arcus Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Arcus Foundation has two distinct, longtime programming areas: social justice and LGBTQ rights, and the protection and conservation of Great Apes and gibbons. Arcus is a globally-focused funder with grantees in more than 30 countries, including the U.S.
IP TAKE: Arcus is unique in its steadfast support of two causes that are chronically underfunded: LGBTQI rights and Great Apes conservation. As per a recent IP analysis, the dual areas may seem “curious at first glance, but it all comes down to the funder’s belief that ‘respect for diversity among peoples and in nature is essential to a positive future for our planet.’” Arcus is exceedingly transparent, with public-facing, detailed financial information, and a stated commitment to “apply a high level of transparency in all our operations.” This makes Arcus an easy operation for grantseekers to assess, with clear-cut information about its two grant programs at the Arcus website. Social justice grants are currently invitation-only, while Great Apes grantseekers can begin the process by submitting an Initial Funding Concept, as detailed below. The foundation often provides long-term funding, and is laser-focused on organizations that closely align with its mission and approach.
PROFILE: The Arcus Foundation was established in 2000 by architect Jon Stryker, an heir of the Stryker medical supply company. His foundation, a GUTC signatory, is dedicated to "the idea that people can live in harmony with one another and the natural world." Based in both New York City and Cambridge, United Kingdom, the foundation works globally to support its partners in "their pursuit of lasting change." The foundation oversees a Social Justice program, which concentrates on LGBTQ rights, and a Great Apes and Gibbons program.
Grants for LGBTQ and Human Rights
The Arcus Foundation’s Social Justice program works toward “a world in which all LGBTQ people live with dignity, safety and opportunity in inclusive communities and societies.” The three main goals of this program are: increased safety, identity-affirming protections, and increased inclusion and acceptance of LGBTQ people.
In seeking grantees, Arcus prioritizes those that value collaboration, strong networks, the “inclusion of those most marginalized in decision-making,” and leadership by “faith, trans and other groups with less access to resources and who are marginalized within LGBTQ communities.”
This program operates in several key regions:
Southern United States: Arizona, California (Central Valley), Florida, Georgia, New Mexico, North Carolina.
East and Southern Africa: Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Uganda.
The Caribbean, South and Central America: El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Trinidad and Tobago.
Mexico.
The Arcus Foundation closely tracks program and project success through guidelines it has set forth.
Past grantees include Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice, California Rural Legal Assistance, Campaign for Southern Equality, COMCAVIS TRANS, Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya, and Funders for LGBTQ Issues.
Grants for Animals and Wildlife
The Arcus Foundation conducts environmental grantmaking through its Great Apes and Gibbons program, which promotes the conservation of great and small apes by working to ensure that “viable populations of great apes and gibbons are protected from extinction and living in habitats that are managed sustainably and integrated with economic development objectives.”
The program’s 10-year strategy focuses on 24 priority ape range landscapes across 18 countries in Africa and Asia, as well as two countries, the United States and Kenya, where apes are held in captivity outside of their range. Commencing in 2016 and headed by Dutch primatologist Annette Lanjouw, this program has a threefold strategy:
To “reconcile socio-economic development and conservation activities in priority ape landscapes.”
To “build an effective movement of institutions and leadership addressing current and emerging threats to apes.”
To “increase respect for the intrinsic value of apes.”
Grantees include ape-focused conservation giants, such as Jane Goodall Institute, Save the Chimps and the Center for Great Apes, as well as conservation organizations that are not primarily focused on apes but whose conservation work aids ape populations around the world. These include the Zoological Society of London, Canopy Planet Society, Fauna & Flora International, and Global Wildlife Conservation.
Important Grant Details:
Grants typically range from $100,000 to $750,000. The foundation awards grants domestically in both of its program areas.
Grantseekers may review the foundation’s grants database for more information on the types of organizations it supports.
Grant seekers working in the field of ape conservation may start the application process with an initial funding concept; based on the foundation’s interest, it may then invite the applicant to submit a letter of inquiry, followed by a full proposal.
The foundation’s social justice grantmaking is currently accepting applications by invitation only.
The Arcus Foundation is headquartered in both New York City and Cambridge in the U.K.
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