Third Wave Fund – Mobilize Power Fund 2026 (Up to $20,000 in Rapid Response Funding) – Apply Now

Application Deadline: June 2, 2026

About the Fund

The Mobilize Power Fund, offered by the Third Wave Fund, supports youth-led gender justice activism. This rapid response fund targets organizations led by young women of color and LGBTQ+ youth, providing up to 10,000(or10,000(or20,000 for coalitions) for urgent needs. It prioritizes groups addressing recent incidents that threaten their work, fostering community power and leadership. Third Wave Fund is the only national fund that supports youth-led Gender Justice activism to advance the political power, well-being, and self-determination of communities of color and low-income communities in the United States. The fund launched its Mobilize Power Fund in response to the transphobic “Bathroom Bill” (HB2) proposed in North Carolina in 2016.

Funding Details

• Grant Amount: Up to 10,000USD for individual organizations; up to 10,000USD for individual organizations; upto20,000 USD for partnerships or coalitions of two or more groups 
• Application Deadline: June 2, 2026 
• Review Cycles: Proposals are accepted multiple times a year through monthly review cycles. Proposals can be submitted as early as one month before a review deadline 
• Application Format: Apply by written application, video, or phone. Applications in English and Spanish are accepted 

Eligibility Criteria

Who Can Apply:

• Coalitions, informal groups, and nonprofit organizations
• Organizations do not need a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status or a fiscal sponsor to receive funding 
• Groups must be based in the United States or US territories 

Five Main Criteria:

1. BIPOC Youth Leadership

• Young women of color (transgender and cisgender), and trans, queer, gender non-conforming, and intersex young people of color under 35 are in leadership and decision-making roles 
• There is “by and for” leadership of communities directly impacted by the issues being addressed
• This applies to both the group/organization and the specific work being applied for

2. Gender Justice

• Political analysis must show how the issue(s) being addressed connect to patriarchy, transphobia, homophobia, gender inequity, or gender-based violence 
• This applies to both the group/organization and the specific work being applied for

3. Rapid Response

• The proposal must be a time-sensitive response to an immediate and unanticipated movement-building threat or opportunity that occurred within the last six months 
• The response must require the group to significantly pivot from ongoing and regularly planned work
• Organizations applying for budget shortfalls, preplanned events, or ongoing programming will not be prioritized 

4. Community Power Building

• Strategies and activities must strengthen the organizing and movement-building power of communities 
• Activities must directly lead to the overall goals of the proposal

5. Organizational Need

• Organizations must have a budget under $500,000 to be eligible 
• Priority is given to groups based in areas with limited access to philanthropic resources and those without access to 501(c)(3) status or fiscal sponsorship

Key Beliefs of Third Wave Fund:

• People directly impacted by an issue are best positioned to design and lead solutions
• The leadership of young women of color, trans, intersex, queer, and gender non-conforming youth brings critical analysis and power to all social justice movements
• Deep and lasting change requires addressing the root cause of an issue 

Why This Fund Matters

The Mobilize Power Fund addresses a critical gap in philanthropic funding: the need for flexible, rapid-response resources that allow grassroots organizations to pivot quickly when unexpected opportunities or threats arise. Traditional grantmaking cycles are often too slow to respond to urgent needs such as sudden legislative attacks, emergency mobilizations, or unanticipated organizing opportunities. By prioritizing organizations led by young BIPOC women and LGBTQ+ youth groups historically underfunded by mainstream philanthropy the fund centers the leadership of those most directly impacted by injustice. The elimination of 501(c)(3) and fiscal sponsorship requirements also removes barriers that often exclude grassroots groups from accessing funding.

What the Fund Supports

The fund covers unanticipated and time-sensitive activities including:

• Community organizing or direct action
• Participatory Action Research
• Healing justice work
• Conflict mediation/resolution
• Legal or bail fees
• Marches or rallies
• Leadership training and skills building
• Mutual aid
• Unanticipated legislative or ballot initiative campaigns
• Emergency safety, security, and defense needs

What the Fund Does NOT Support

This fund does not resource:

• General operating support
• Ongoing or regularly planned programming or recurring events
• Budget shortfalls
• Start-up or general operating costs
• Fundraising activities
• Previously planned or long-term campaigns (programming extending beyond 6 months)
• Projects led by individuals (as opposed to groups or organizations)
• Projects based outside of the United States and US territories

How to Apply

Application Link: Click here to apply

Application Process:

1. Review the five criteria to ensure your organization and proposed work qualify
2. Prepare your proposal describing the rapid response need and how funds will be used
3. Submit via the Third Wave Fund online portal

Note: Third Wave Fund also has other grantmaking programs that provide long-term general operating and capacity-building support for organizations that do not qualify for the rapid-response Mobilize Power Fund.

For More Information: Visit the Official Third Wave Fund Mobilize Power Fund Page