Image overlooking the New England's tallest clock tower and Library Park in Downtown Waterbury, Connecticut.
Photographed by Derek Ward Photography
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Image of the Greatbrook Reservoir by Lakewood Park in Waterbury, Connecticut.
Photographed by Clay Johnson
Transforming Systemic
Inequality Grant
The Transforming Systemic Inequality Fall Grant opportunity aims to tackle significant structural and systemic barriers to opportunities and success for Waterbury residents, especially young people, who live at the intersections of multiple oppressions such as race, economic status, sexual orientation, immigration status, disability, etc.
The Leever Foundation is pleased to announce a request for proposals designed to assist Waterbury, CT by supporting local and/or regional collaborative strategies working to achieve greater equity of opportunity and outcomes in Waterbury communities that have been under-resourced and disproportionately harmed by systemic inequities. All proposals will be asked to describe to what extent activities are community-led and/or informed, and if the organization or initiative is led by Black, Indigenous or other people of color.
This opportunity will specifically support work towards:
Systems change like collaborative visioning, community organizing, advocacy or social justice work
Structural transformation such as influencing power shifts, narrative shifting or social innovation
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Find out how the Foundation defines systems change and structural transformation:
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The Foundation welcomes proposal requests of up to $50,000 for activities to be implemented over one year. Depending on the application, annual continuation could be considered for up to three years.
Grant Focus Areas
The funding opportunity prioritizes applications that:
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Center the power, leadership and voices of people from marginalized communities - efforts where people most affected by inequities are not simply recipients of services, but are actively shaping priorities, making decisions and building collective power.
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Utilize a social justice lens - demonstrate a recognizable commitment to creating a more just society by addressing historical and contemporary inequities and challenging structures that produce or perpetuate those inequities.
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Focus on systems-level and collective change - this funding opportunity prioritizes efforts that seek to change the conditions, policies, practices, institutions, narratives or structures that contribute to inequity and shape the lives of many rather than addressing the immediate needs or circumstances of individuals.
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Are rooted in community and connected to broader movements - strong proposals will demonstrate meaningful relationships with the communities (however defined) they seek to impact; and where possible, support strategies that contribute to broader movements.
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Have an operating budget under $2 million and meet the Foundation's funding criteria. Organizations with budgets over $2 million may also be considered when partnering with smaller grassroots Waterbury organizations.
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply, an organization must:
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Be incorporated as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization or be working under the auspices of an authorized fiscal sponsor.
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Have a minimum annual budget of $150,000 or submit an application to work in partnership with an organization that does. Grant awards will not exceed 15% of the applying organization's annual budget, and the maximum grant amount is $50,000.
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Hold a Waterbury footprint, meaning an office or a regular presence in Waterbury OR one of the key collaborating organizations has a Waterbury footprint. The work must impact the region that includes Waterbury, CT.
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Please note that this grant opportunity DOES NOT fund the following:
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Individuals
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Capital Campaigns
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501(c)4 Institutions
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Schools (public, private, or charter)
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Organizations with operating budgets under $150,000 and over $2M
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Entities that received Leever Foundation funding in other 2026 grant rounds
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Examples of Proposal Ideas
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A community-based organization that wants to offer transformational programming that gives youth the tools and access to challenge institutional barriers that limit opportunities and potential.
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Collaborative/community visioning project that centers a ‘power with vs power over’ framework, which could include developing inclusive strategies for: political education and coalition building, legal and language services and/or cooperative strategies towards institutional and legislative change.
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A cross-sector collaboration that addresses the far-reaching effects of Waterbury young people’s encounters with the criminal legal system by focusing on intentional prevention, addressing school discipline reforms, innovative alternatives to arrest, and/or educational and pioneering programs for court-involved youth.
How To Apply, Process and Timeline
How To Apply
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Step 1: Eligibility Survey - All applicants must complete a brief eligibility survey before submitting a full proposal. The survey takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.
**Survey closes on October 19th**
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Step 2: Full Application - Prospective partners that complete the survey and meet the eligibility criteria will receive a link to the full application on the Foundation's grant portal. Proposals are due October 23rd.
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Process and Timeline
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September 16th at 1:00 PM - LIVE Q&A Session about the RFP
Sign up for the online meeting: https://bit.ly/4gmrI69
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October 19th - Eligibility Survey Closes
October 23rd - Full Proposal Deadline
November 2nd - 6th - Proposal Clarification Calls
Late November - Award Decisions Announced
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