Building Community Voice Fund

Eligible 501(c)(3) voter registration and turnout initiatives and organizations, including complimentary voter education and protection programs, operating in down-ballot and local elections are encouraged to apply for NAACP Building Community Voice grants. Eligible grant applicants must be or have:

• A nonprofit organization that has tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code
• Operational capacity in priority jurisdictions with significant Black populations, where data analysis and/or local insights indicate increases in civic engagement and voter participation including voter protection are projected to impact local communities
• A demonstrated commitment to and capacity — and/or demonstration of the potential — for successful implementation of the following activities at the local level in Black communities:
  • Voter registration
  • Voter turnout
  • Voter education and protection as direct complements to voter registration and turnout

• The interest and capacity to coordinate with national, state, and local NAACP units and other organizations with similar community objectives

• Information to demonstrate the capacity for success in communities of color includes, among other things:

  • Staff availability and infrastructure for success, including communications capabilities

  • Strong financial controls for the receipt and management of funds

  • Reporting, monitoring, and transparency on activities and use of funds

  • Relevant experiences and past success in voter registration and turnout activities

  • Listing of all priority, local races where voter registration and turnout activities are planned

  • Special or unique competencies or distinctions relevant to civic engagement

Grant applicants that are compliant with BCV eligibility criteria and adhere to application and submission procedures will be awarded based on funding preferences and priorities.

Funds may be used to support leadership, management, coordination, and operations that increase the political voice and representation of the Black community through greater participation and success in local elections. Specific areas of support include voter registration and turnout and may include complementary activities in voter education and protection. Areas of support, all common to local elections and community impact are expected to fall into three categories:

• Research and data analysis to determine priority down-ballot voting jurisdictions, populations, and resonant messaging for motivating and mobilizing voters 
• Central operations, including leadership and management of the grants program and voter contact programming – direct and indirect, that are directed toward down-ballot, local elections
• State-based activities and operations in the substantive areas of voter registration and turnout, possibly complemented by voter education and protection activities, and also including management and coordination, all of which are directed toward local elections significantly affecting Black communities