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How women organizers used Berger-Marks grants
Groups & research funded by Berger-Marks
Women organizing women:
special report

Qualified union organizers, labor groups and researchers are invited to apply for any of the three types of regular grants we offer for:
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| Photo credit: D. Ross Cameron |
The Berger-Marks Foundation makes grants to selected individual women union organizers who are working on active organizing campaigns. Grants may cover lost-time wages and/or expenses depending on the project. The foundation trustees will authorize up to three months of lost time wages. The 3-month stipend may be extended an additional three months upon re-application and review by the trustees. The applications must be endorsed by the union involved.
A rolling application process allows you to apply at any time. The maximum that can be awarded in this category is now $80,000 per year. That maximum covers many grants of various sizes. At least one grant per year will go to a Newspaper Guild-CWA project. (Edna Berger was the first women organizer for the Newspaper Guild.)
Application for Individual Organizing Grants
Read about organizers awarded Berger-Marks grants
We fund selected research and writing projects that enhance
understanding of union organizing among women. The Berger-Marks
Foundation sends out a Request for Proposals (RFP) each January, and the deadline for applicants is at the end of February. We give preference to applicants
who already have some funding from other sources; the Foundation can
fill in the funding gap. Grant amounts vary, but the combined total of all academic grants -- covering several grants -- can be no more than $40,000 per year.
Application for Academic Research-Writing Grants
Read about researchers awarded Berger-Marks grants
The foundation also will consider grants to partially or fully fund
other organizing projects and expenses that focus on women organizers
or organizing women workers.
A notice is sent out annually in January, and the deadline for applicants is at the end of February. The maximum granted to all organizations each year is $40,000. That maximum covers many grants of various sizes.
Application for Organization Grants
Read about groups awarded Berger-Marks grants
This website will carry general notices of all approved grants. While we welcome all proposals, we regret that we cannot fund all worthwhile projects. Although we wish we could approve more applications, our grant categories have annual financial limits, and we must be able to fund ongoing organizing campaigns throughout the year.
For more information about grants, contact the foundation at .
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--Kathy Ancil, Utility Workers Union of America
--Lara Granich, Jobs with Justice, St. Louis
1. Review the information on grants to the left to see if your ideas and work would qualify for a grant, and if so, what kind.
2. Fill out the appropriate online application and print a copy for your records.
3. Submit the application online. Please note that research/writing and organization grants must be submitted before the March 31 deadline.