At the heart of our application process lies a commitment to racial justice and equity. We’ve tailored our eligibility criteria to elevate grassroots organizations in San Diego County that are aligned with our areas of focus: Substance Use, Mental Health, Housing Justice & Homeless Services, Community Engagement & Wellness.

The six requirements are as follows: Region, Services, Non-Profit Status, Budget, Leadership Demographics, and Commitment to Racial Justice.

Below you will see the exact phrasing of the questions that you will encounter.

Region

Do you explicitly serve residents of San Diego County, CA?

⚪ Yes
⚪ No

The San Diego GO Grant program is geographically restricted. Learn more.

Services

In which of the following areas does your organization offer direct services or advocacy? Please check all that apply:

⬜ Substance Use Treatment
⬜ Mental Health
⬜ Housing Justice and Homeless Services
⬜ Community Engagement and Wellness
⬜ None of the Above

Qualifying organizations must be aligned with our core values and demonstrate their work aligns with our strategic and philosophical focus. Those who select “None of the Above” will be considered ineligible.

Non-Profit Status

Does your organization have an EIN number?

⚪ Yes
⚪ Yes, I am applying with the EIN number of a fiscal sponsor.
⚪ No, I am applying on behalf of a federally recognized Tribal Nation.
⚪ None of the above

In order to be considered for a GO Grant, you must have or operate under a 501c3 designation and corresponding EIN or be authorized to apply on behalf of a federally recognized Tribal Nation.

Learn more about our EIN requirement.

To verify, you will be asked to provide:

  • The name of your organization or that of your fiscal sponsor (if applicable)
  • The EIN of your organization or that of your fiscal sponsor (if applicable)

Note: In the case of Tribal Nations, applicants will provide the name of the Tribal Nation. Band name is optional.

Budget

Is your total annual operating budget under $5 million?

⚪ Yes
⚪ No

In order to be considered for this grant, your organization must have an operating budget under $5 million annually. Note: If you are applying under a fiscal sponsor, do not include the budget of your fiscal sponsor. We are asking about the budget of the specific organization which will use the funds.

Leadership

Does your executive team, or at least 51% of your organization’s Board, include representation from one or more of the communities listed?

  • BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color)
  • LGBTQIA+
  • Persons with experience with homelessness, incarceration, or living with mental health and/or substance use challenges either directly or through loved ones

⚪ Yes
⚪ No

AMRF is committed to advancing equity and inclusion. We strictly fund organizations whose executive team, or at least 51% of your organization’s Board, includes representation of BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, or persons with lived experience.

Racial Justice

Does your organization have a statement or written policy that illustrates its commitment to racial justice?

⚪ Yes
⚪ Not yet. We are open to creating one.
⚪ No

Qualifying organizations must be aligned with our core values and demonstrate an ongoing commitment to racial justice.


Not sure if you’re eligible?

The eligibility checklist is based on our trust in our community members. We have tried as best we can to keep these questions simple, but we understand that you may have questions about your specific organization. Please reach out to Lucky Michael at [email protected] to continue the conversation.

Below is the heart of this grant’s intention:

We’re working to empower grassroots organizations and community leaders in San Diego County by providing resources and returning power to those most impacted by systemic inequality.

Lucky Michael

In San Diego County, this means centering BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and people with lived experience.

Contact Us

We’ve designed the GO Grant application process with low-friction and trust-based principles in mind. Please remember that this is the GO Grant program’s debut. We are trying something new and learning along the way. As always, we welcome your questions and feedback. Email Lucky at [email protected].