Black Girls Defense Fund Resistance and Resilience Grant 2026: Up to $20,000

The Black Girls Defense Fund Resistance and Resilience Grant 2026 offers up to $20,000 to support groups helping Black girls, women, and femme-identifying youth in the Southern U.S. This funding comes at a key time when many community organizations face challenges in fighting gender-based violence, health inequities, and unfair justice systems. If your nonprofit works in these areas, this grant could provide the flexible support needed to keep programs running and grow impact.

About the Black Girls Defense Fund

The Black Girls Defense Fund is part of the Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium. It aims to protect and strengthen movements for the rights, safety, and dignity of Black girls and women in the South. The fund backs work in community safety, reproductive health justice, ending gender-based violence, restorative justice, and fighting adultification and dehumanization. Groups that lead with community input and stay accountable to those they serve get priority.

Grant Overview

The Resistance and Resilience Grant supports both new and ongoing projects. It gives general operating funds, so organizations can use the money where it helps most. This includes advocacy campaigns, community programs, justice reform, health and safety efforts, and youth empowerment. The goal is to build lasting strength for frontline work with Black girls, women, and femme youth.

Funding Details

Grants range from $5,000 to $20,000. This unrestricted money lets groups cover daily costs, respond to urgent needs, and expand services. It helps sustain advocacy, meet community demands, and develop leaders in underserved areas.

Who Can Apply: Eligibility Criteria

To qualify, your organization must fit these rules:

• Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or have a fiscal sponsor that is one.
• Have an annual budget under $1 million.
• Work in at least one Southern state: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, or Texas.

Focus your work on at least one key area, like preventing gender-based violence, reproductive and maternal health justice, reforming justice and carceral systems, restorative justice, safety for Black girls and women, or advocacy against adultification and dehumanization.

What Funded Groups Must Do

Award winners need to show real change through their programs. This means designing or running initiatives for Black girls, women, and femme youth. They should run advocacy or direct services, build community safety, engage locals for input, use feedback to improve programs, set clear goals, track results, and report progress.

Application Requirements

Use the JustFund Common Application. Submit these documents:

• W9 form.
• Proof of 501(c)(3) status or fiscal sponsorship.
• Most recent Form 990.
• Organizational budget.

Answer questions on:

• Program design, activities, outcomes, and your group’s history.
• Community engagement, sustainability, and media plans.
• How you’ll use the funds, partnerships, funding gaps, and other needs.

Key Dates

• Application opens: May 5, 2026, at 9:00 AM EST.
• Information session: May 7, 2026, at 7:00 PM EST.
• Deadline: May 14, 2026, at 8:00 PM EST.
• Decisions announced: June 24, 2026.

Join the info session for tips and Q&A. It runs live on May 7 at 7:00 PM Eastern Time.

How to Apply

Visit the Black Girls Defense Fund site at southernblackgirls.org/bgdefensefund to register and submit. Account setup can take up to two days, so start early. Apply at least three days before the deadline. Late entries might not count. This grant stands out for its focus on grassroots groups and flexible support in critical areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Black Girls Defense Fund Resistance and Resilience Grant?

This grant offers up to $20,000 in flexible funding to support nonprofits helping Black girls, women, and femme-identifying youth in the Southern U.S. against gender-based violence, health inequities, and unfair justice systems.

Who is eligible to apply for the grant?

Eligible groups are 501(c)(3) nonprofits or those with a fiscal sponsor, with budgets under $1 million, working in Southern states like Alabama, Florida, Georgia, or Texas on areas such as reproductive health justice or restorative justice.

What are the key dates for the 2026 grant?

Applications open May 5, 2026, at 9:00 AM EST; info session is May 7 at 7:00 PM EST; deadline is May 14 at 8:00 PM EST; decisions come June 24, 2026.

How do I apply for the Resistance and Resilience Grant?

Visit southernblackgirls.org/bgdefensefund to register and submit the JustFund Common Application with your W9, 501(c)(3) proof, Form 990, budget, and answers to program questions; start early as account setup takes up to two days.