The Social Justice Fund for Ventura County has announced a Request for Proposals. A total of $50,000 will be available in the Fund’s third annual grants program.

The Social Justice Fund for Ventura County seeks to strengthen social justice in Ventura County by providing financial grants and other support to grassroots efforts that address root causes of injustice and remove structural and institutional barriers to social, economic and environmental equity.

Grant proposals in any amount up to $10,000 will be considered. The Social Justice Fund’s Giving Circle expects to make a number of small grants (under $3,000) and a few larger grants. Proposals are due by 1:00 p.m. on Friday, July 24, 2009.

Grants this year will focus exclusively on community organizing towards systemic social change in Ventura County. SJF defines “community organizing toward systemic change” as a values-based process by which people absent from decision-making tables come together to jointly bring about positive community-level social change. The Giving Circle seeks proposals that include elements of best and promising community organizing strategies: leadership development, advocacy, and transformational learning.

The RFP will be available on the Social Justice Fund’s website by May 20, 2009 at: http://www.vccf.org/dlsjf/sjfgrants.html Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend one of the information meetings set for June 3rd, 3:00-4:30 p.m. or June 9th, 5:00-6:30 p.m. in the Community Room of the Ventura County Community Foundation 1317 Del Norte Road, Camarillo. Please RSVP to LaToya Ford at 805-988-0196 Ext. 126 or e-mail: lford@vccf.org to RSVP.

The Social Justice Fund is a grant-making program created and guided by a “Giving Circle” of community donors and hosted by the Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF). Other institutional partners are Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) and the McCune Foundation. The Social Justice Fund has been financially supported by over 100 people and organizations with major grants provided by the McCune Foundation, Rosenberg Foundation, The James Irvine Foundation, Marisla Foundation, The California Endowment and the School of the Pacific Islands Foundation.