Donate to Groundswell and help fund positive social change.

Groundswell’s mission is to create sustainable financial support for community-based, left political organizations that challenge and work to change dominant, oppressive structures in the current political, social, and economic system. Our focus is on initiatives that increase the long-term capacity of organizations, such as projects to develop useful infrastructure.

For over a decade, Groundswell has been providing annual funding through small grants while building a capital base to benefit long-term social justice organizing. Over the last 11 years, we have raised almost $1 million to fund social movements doing the urgent, inspiring work of grassroots organizing and resistance.

Last year, thanks to our generous donors, we provided $365,000 through our Growing Change grants to support the capacity-building of Indigenous and Black communities, funding 9 different grassroots projects across Turtle Island. These recipients are doing vital work in their communities where they otherwise would have limited or no financial support. In 2023, we will again be awarding our larger Growing Change grants, which fund movements and communities in the range of $10,000 to $100,000.

What happens to the money?

Groundswell is a trust, governed and run by a volunteer board of trustees with a background in social justice organizing. Each year we use a transparent funding process to allocate the money we have received in donations. We accept applications for funding from organizations every February. We grant half of the money we receive each year, and save the remaining half in a trust account. This increasing capital goes out through larger project funding offered through Growing Change grants. No more than 10% of the donations received can be used to cover the costs of running the fund.

Please consider making a donation or telling a friend about Groundswell.

Donations of any size are greatly appreciated, and can be made by mailing us a cheque or by using your credit card. We also accept e-transfers to info@groundswellfund.ca. Please make cheques out to Groundswell Community Justice Trust Fund. You can also make regular donations to Groundswell directly from your bank account.  Please note that we are not a registered charity and therefore do not issue tax receipts. Have questions? Feel free to contact us! We’re always happy to talk more about funding positive social change.

NEW: Mary-Jo Nadeau award!

You may also direct your donation to the new Mary-Jo Nadeau award, established to honour Mary-Jo’s courageous and inspiring life committed to justice and community care. She was a key supporter of the Groundswell Community Justice Trust Fund and a dear friend to many in our communities. Given the nature of Mary-Jo’s work and the dearth of resources available to organizers, the focus of the award will be college and university campus-based organizing for justice for Palestine, highlighting the political importance of supporting Palestine and Groundswell’s commitment to global Indigeneity. To direct your donation, just click on the “I would like to designate” button and select “Mary-Jo.”

Give a Groundswell donation as a gift!

We have beautiful cards that you can give to your friends and family if you make a donation to Groundswell on their behalf. Check them out here, and contact us if you would like us to mail you some!