The purpose of the Latitude Fund is to provide quick-turnaround grants of $2,500 to $7,500 to support unbudgeted opportunities that enhance internal capacity, functioning and impact of grassroots groups working on environmental issues and reproductive justice in Texas.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants include 501(c)3 or fiscally sponsored grassroots, community-based groups based in Texas with budgets of approximately $500,000 or less and whose work aligns with one of the Foundation’s focus areas: environment and conservation, reproductive rights and justice, parks and open space, environmental education, and animal welfare. Groups need not be current or past JTHF grantees to apply. To ensure that funds are available to support the largest number of groups possible, organizations are eligible for no more than one Latitude Fund grant per calendar year.
Purpose
Latitude Fund grants are intended to support the following types of time-sensitive internal organizational needs:
- Leadership trainings and executive coaching
- Specialized consultants or facilitators
- Opportunities to “seize the moment”
- Self-care and healing practices
Examples of needs that would not qualify include:
- Ongoing operational expenses such as payroll or rent
- Core programming/day-to-day programming
- Longer-term activities that could be addressed through JTHF’s regular grantmaking cycles
- Disaster relief activities*
- Activities that are typically outside the Foundation’s scope, such as fundraising events
Process
The Latitude Fund Committee, composed of individuals who have served as grassroots leaders, is charged with making grant award decisions.
Committee members include:
- Dave Cortez, Director of the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club
- Tricia Cortez, Executive Director of the Rio Grande International Study Center
- Leticia Gutierrez, Government Relations and Community Outreach Director of Air Alliance Houston
- Chrishelle Palay, Principal and Co-founder of Sandbox Collective
- Frances Valdez, Executive Director of Houston in Action
If you would like to apply for a Latitude Fund grant, please contact Elizabeth Love or Carolina Salmeron to see if you are eligible. Eligible groups will be asked to complete a short application form. If a grant is awarded, we estimate that the time from application submission to payment will be between two to six weeks. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until fund depletion.
*The Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation provided rapid-response funding to several frontline partners following recent storms in Houston and would consider similar funding in the wake of future natural disasters. This type of funding is distinct from what is offered through the Latitude Fund.