About SPARK! Grants: Despite numerous studies, we still have much to learn about HIV-related stigma. Nonetheless, we know that the stigma we experience often results from ignorance, fear-based myths, and a general lack of awareness in our communities. Public marketing campaigns were once an important strategy for changing knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors around HIV and AIDS. Unfortunately, these campaigns and other community-level education initiatives are scarce in the Deep South and their messages often do not reflect the landmark scientific advances that have transformed what it means to live with HIV. These campaigns and initiatives are key in removing the veil of shame and fear that has far too long existed around HIV prevention and care.

In response to the absence of such campaigns and education initiatives in the Deep South, the Southern AIDS Coalition introduced SPARK! (Southerners Promoting Awareness, Resources, & Knowledge), a grant program to fund community-led campaigns and education initiatives across the Deep South. With this program, we are turning to you–community-based organizations with the ability to implement grassroots approaches to reach the communities you serve. Funding for SPARK! campaigns range from $2,500 to $25,000, with the amount of funding reflective of the scope of the campaign and cost of planned media platforms.

ELIGIBILITY

We offer two smaller grants to support organizations: 1) Core and 2) ACTION in the South Grants. Scroll down to see the details for each grant and learn how to apply.

Core Grants

About Core Grants: These grants provide funding support, up to $4,500 per organization, for a variety of organizational and staff resources, including technology and software, meeting space costs, conference attendance fees, professional development, and continuing education. Funding requests cannot already be covered by your organization’s existing funding sources, and must be related to building organizational capacity in the following areas: governance and leadership; mission, values, and strategy; finance and administration; resource development; strategic relationships and coalition building; communications; internal management and operations; and service delivery and impact.

Three Funding Opportunities: Technology (up to $4,500), Staff Continuing Education Support (up to $3,000), and Community Convening Support (up to $2,000). View the detailed list of descriptions and eligibility here.

ELIGIBILITY

Criteria	Description
Non-Profit Status	Applications must be non-profit, tax-exempt organizations as set forth in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Applicants that do not hold 501(c)(3) status must have a fiscal sponsor to apply.
Geographic Location	Applicants must be located in and doing work in one of nine (9) Deep South states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, or Texas.
CBO Criteria	Applicants must be Community-Based Organizations that meet at least one (1) of the following: 1) Is an AIDS Service Organization (ASO) OR 2) Is a community-based organization that prioritizes HIV/AIDS prevention or care services, OR 3) Is a community-based organization with a substantial budgetary investment in HIV-related programming.
Other Funding	Funding requests should NOT include items currently covered by other funding resources.
Leadership Support	Requests must have the support of the applicant organization’s leadership.

Interested organizations should submit an online application by clicking on the apply button below. Submissions will be reviewed on the 15th and 30th of the month.

Apply

ACTION in the South - Latinx Grant

About ACTION in the South Grants: The ACTION in the South - Latinx grant opportunity (Act with Communities To Increase Opportunities and address Needs in the South) is a 1-year grant for Latinx-led and/or predominantly Latinx-serving organizations focused on HIV prevention and care in the Deep U.S. South ranging from $5,000 to $20,000. ACTION grant funds should be used to develop and implement an action-oriented project that builds, enhances and/or reframes mental health, promote wellness, and strengthen harm reduction approaches to service provision. The proposed project should be culturally appropriate, multi-lingual (if applicable) and accessible to the Latinx community impacted by HIV.

View the detailed list of descriptions and eligibility here.

Sobre el financiamiento de ACTION in the South - Latinx Grant: La oportunidad de financiamiento ACTION in the South - Latinx grant es un financiamiento de 1 año para organizaciones dirigidas por Latinx y/o que predominantemente dan servicio a la comunidad Latinx enfocada en la prevención y atención del VIH en el Sur de los Estados Unidos es entre $5,000 a $20,000. Los fondos de financiamiento de ACTION deben de utilizarse para desarrollar e implementar un proyecto acción orientado, que construya, mejore y/o cambien el estigma de la salud mental, promueva el bienestar y fortalezca los enfoques de reducción de daños para la provisión de servicios. El proyecto propuesto debe ser culturalmente apropiado, multilingüe (si es aplicable) y accesible a la comunidad de Latinx afectada por el VIH.

Vea la lista detallada de descripciones y elegibilidad aquí.

Eligibility/Elegibilidad

Criteria/Criterio	Description/Descripción
Non-Profit Status/Estatus sin Fines de Lucro	Applications must be non-profit, tax-exempt organizations as set forth in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Applicants that do not hold 501(c)(3) status must have a fiscal sponsor to apply. Los solicitantes deben ser organizaciones sin fines de lucro y exentas de impuestos, según lo establecido en la sección 501(c)(3) del Código de Impuestos Internos. Los solicitantes que no tienen el estatus 501(c)(3) deben tener un patrocinador fiscal para solicitar.
Geographic Location/Ubicación Geográfica	Applicants must be located in and doing work in one of nine (9) Deep South states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, or Texas. Los solicitantes deben estar ubicados y haciendo trabajo en uno de los estados de Sur de el país (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Luisiana, Mississippi, Carolina del Norte, Carolina del Sur, Tennessee, Texas).
Latinx Criteria/Criterio de Latinx	Organizations should be led by Latinx individuals or the organization should primarily serve Latinx communities. Organizaciones deben de ser dirigidas por Latinx y/o que predominantemente dan servicio a la comunidad Latinx.
Content Areas/Áreas de Contenido	Projects must address HIV in the context of one of the following content areas: mental health, wellness, or substance use (particularly harm reduction approaches to services). Los proyectos deben abordar sobre el VIH en el contexto de una de las siguientes áreas de contenido: salud mental, bienestar o consumo de sustancias (particularmente enfoques de reducción de daños en sus servicios)
Implementation Period/Período de Aplicación	Up to one year. Hasta un año.
Evaluation/Evaluación	Applicant must agree to work with our evaluator. El solicitante debe estar de acuerdo en trabajar con nuestro evaluador.

Applications are currently closed.

Apply/Aplicar