Project Overview: 

The Southern Solidarity Advocacy Grant (SSAG) is designed to support community-driven advocacy projects or initiatives that address critical issues and drive positive change in the Southern United States. This funding opportunity is designed to provide financial resources for local and regional community and faith-based organizations and advocacy networks to drive meaningful change in their communities by focusing on an intentional policy or advocacy project or initiative. The SSAG grant period is January 1, 2024, to March 31, 2024. 

Project Purpose: 

The primary purpose of the SSAG is to facilitate and fund advocacy projects aimed at advancing health equity and access and creating a more inclusive and just society free of HIV-related stigma and criminalization. This grant cycle seeks to fund local organizations and community leaders to address pressing issues within their communities and to advocate for meaningful change in areas such as healthcare, education, voting rights, and social justice. 

Project Goals: 

• To provide capacity building funding to community and faith-based organizations, advocacy networks, and community leaders to acquire the knowledge, tools and resources required to become effective advocates for change. 
• To support community-led advocacy efforts that address local and regional issues, leading to tangible improvements in the lives of individuals living with and impacted by HIV/AIDS. 

Intended Outcomes: 

• The SSAG seeks to achieve the following outcomes: 
  • An increase in advocacy and policy efforts addressing critical HIV-related issues in the Southern United States. 
  • The increase in local and regional HIV advocates across the South who are knowledgeable and capable of creating change within their communities. 
  • The expansion of advocacy initiatives that continue to make a positive impact addressing the Southern HIV/AIDS epidemic. 

Eligibility 

• Applicants must be located in one of the twelve states served by the COMPASS Coordinating Centers - AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX. 
• Applicants must be a non-profit, tax-exempt organizations as set forth in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or have a fiscal sponsor. 
• Applicants must have had organizational representation at the 2023 Southern Solidarity Advocacy Summit. 

Funding 

• Funding of up to $10,000 per organization. The amount requested should reflect the scope of the project and should be completed by March 31, 2024. 
• Applicants will be notified of our funding decision by Thursday, December 14, 2023. 

Allowable Expenses 

SSAG funds may be used to cover advocacy convenings (including meeting space, food, travel for meeting attendees, etc.), transportation for hill visits, consultants, communications materials, and other items to support project implementation. SSAG funds cannot be used to pay for or offset the cost of any of the following: 

• Medications or purchasing of medications 
• Direct medical expenses, co-pays, co-insurance, insurance deductibles, or imaging and lab expenses 
• Individuals, individual health care providers, or physician group practices 
• Biomedical research or clinical trials 
• Existing deficits of organization 
• Projects that directly influence or advance Gilead Science’s business, including 
• purchase, utilization, prescribing, formulary position, pricing, reimbursement, referral, recommendation or payment for products 
• Government lobbying activities 
• Activities that have occurred prior to award funding  

 Please Note: Reimbursement for items/services purchased or initiated prior to the submission of this funding request will not be supported.  

 Project Examples: 

• Policy and Advocacy Training: Develop a training program for your community, coalition, or staff to expand advocacy-related activities, such as a voter registration drive or a letter-writing campaign.  
• Voter Media Campaign: Create a media campaign to raise awareness about voting and civic engagement within your community.  
• Advocacy Community Group: Establish a community advocacy group that hosts town hall round tables with elected officials and offers community advocacy training.  
• State or National Hill Visit: Provide training and travel support for a state or national hill visit to advocate for specific policy changes or issues.  
• Community Advocacy Summit: Organize a community advocacy summit that brings together local advocates, policymakers, and community members to discuss critical issues.  

This list only serves as an example of the types of projects that can be funded by the SSAG. We encourage applicants to develop ideas and proposals that best align with their organization's mission and local or regional community needs. 

Project Timeline: 
Application Period: November 6 - December 4, 2023, 11:59 p.m. ET 
Notification of Award: December 14, 2023 
Award Acceptance Due: December 17, 2023 
Award Period: January 1, 2024 - March 31, 2024 
Project Orientation Webinar: January 11, 2024 (tentative date, but attendance is mandatory) 
Project Touchpoint Call with Project Officer: February 2024 (required) 
Evaluation & Budget Report Due: April 2024 (required)

Person/s Responsible: 
The implementation of project activities will be the responsibility of the respective grantee organization. Each grantee should designate individuals within their organization to manage and execute the proposed activities.

Partnerships and Collaborations: 
Applicants are encouraged to identify collaborative opportunities with local or regional organizations, advocacy networks, and other relevant partners to enhance the impact and reach of their advocacy projects. 

Communication Strategy: 
Applicants are encouraged to outline a diverse communication strategy, which may include social media, websites, mass media, and community engagement events to ensure their advocacy messages reach their intended audience. 

FULL PDF OF RFP AVAILABLE HERE

 Applications received after 11:59 p.m. ET on December 4, 2023, WILL NOT BE REVIEWED OR CONSIDERED FOR FUNDING