FRIDA: The Young Feminist Fund
/OVERVIEW: FRIDA backs growing feminist and LGBTQ organizations combatting oppression, violence and inequality around the world.
IP TAKE: This funder has a unique grantmaking model. FRIDA invites staff, members, and applicants themselves to vote on the allocation of funding to each year’s proposals. This leads to a more transparent, intersectional grantmaking process that returns power to the locals it intends to serve. It also works to build a chain of action between generations in order to contribute to feminist movement building.
This supportive and open-minded funder works closely with its grantees to realize their project success at the local and international levels.
PROFILE: FRIDA: The Young Feminist Fund began as an idea in 2008 at a meeting coordinated by the Association of Women’s Rights in Development and the Global Fund for Women. In 2010, a group of young feminists and their allies met up to build the framework of what would become FRIDA. FRIDA “provides young leaders with the resources they need to amplify their voices and bring attention to their work, and the support, flexibility and network to keep their vision and influence alive.” The fund supports organizations led by women, girls and trans youth who are working as change agents against inequality and oppression within several contexts.
FRIDA conducts its grantmaking through a unique Participatory Grantmaking Process that “puts decision-making in the hands of young feminists themselves.” After a board of FRIDA staff and advisors have screened the applications, the applicants themselves are invited to vote on which proposals in their region should receive funding. The foundation prioritizes small, newly emerging grassroots organizations located in remote or rural areas of the Global South that work with and are led by women or LGBT individuals.
Grants for LGBTQ, Women and Girls, and Gender-based Violence Prevention
FRIDA’s Grantmaking Program awards funding to organizations improving the lives of young women and trans youth at local and international levels, those that employ inclusive organizing tactics, and those fostering collective action in the feminist movement. Eligible organizations must be led by women and/or trans youth under 30 and at least 70% of the organization's membership must be people under 30. The fund primarily works by Resourcing Young Feminists, partnering with “young and emerging” feminist groups that are “dismantling patriarchy, addressing human rights violations, and overturning inequalities.” It prioritizes emerging grassroots groups that have been overlooked by other sources of funding, especially groups based in the Global South, located in remote areas, those made up of marginalized women, and those that are using innovative strategies to build and grow their activism. Past grantees include Bnt Al Masarwa, which received a grant for its anti-sexual and gender based violence programs, and MAD (Making A Difference) Sisters, which received a grant from FRIDA's leadership building projects. Grantees for LGBTQ issues include Laverna, which received a grant for its trans-feminist project and the Anonymous Group, to support its online platform for LGBTQIA communities, family members, and allies.
Important Grant Details:
The fund limits its grants to $5,000 USD and to organizations with budgets of less than $25,000. Only groups based in the Global South are eligible to apply for a FRIDA grant. To learn more about FRIDA grantees, explore its grantee partner list.
The fund accepts grant applications during its general grant round, which typically lasts around eight weeks between November and December.
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