Third Wave Fund Opens Mobilize Power Fund Grants of Up to $20,000
Third Wave Fund Opens Mobilize Power Fund Grants of Up to $20,000
Gender justice organisations responding to unexpected threats or opportunities can apply for financial support through the Third Wave Fund Mobilize Power Fund, with the September 2026 application cycle currently open.
The rapid-response funding mechanism provides grants of up to US$10,000 for individual organisations, while partnerships or coalitions involving two or more groups may request up to US$20,000.
The deadline for the current cycle is 8 September 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
However, African NGOs should note an important eligibility restriction: the programme currently funds only organisations and groups based in the United States and U.S. territories. Nigerian and other Africa-based organisations are therefore not directly eligible.
About the Mobilize Power Fund
The Mobilize Power Fund is a rapid-response programme of Third Wave Fund designed to help gender justice organisations respond when unexpected developments require them to significantly adapt or redirect their work.
Rather than financing ordinary annual programming, the programme focuses on situations where an organisation faces an unforeseen threat or opportunity affecting its organising or movement-building activities.
Third Wave Fund states that it prioritises organisations responding to incidents or changes in circumstances that have occurred within the previous six months.
Funding Available
Individual groups and organisations may request grants of up to US$10,000.
Partnerships or coalitions comprising at least two groups may request up to US$20,000.
The fund is intended to provide flexible resources for urgent responses rather than conventional long-term programme financing.
What Can Be Funded?
Examples of activities considered by the fund include rapid-response mobilisation, community organising, participatory action research, healing justice initiatives, conflict mediation and transformation, mutual aid, emergency safety and security needs, leadership and skills development, direct actions and unexpected legislative or ballot-related campaigns.
Applicants must demonstrate that an unanticipated event has created a genuine need to pivot or adapt their existing work.
Routine programming, previously planned events, long-term campaigns and attempts to fill ordinary organisational budget shortfalls are not priorities.
Eligibility Requirements
The programme prioritises organisations accountable to communities directly affected by gender oppression and organisations whose leadership and decision-making structures reflect the communities they serve.
Applicants must also demonstrate a clear gender justice analysis, community power-building strategy and genuine rapid-response need.
Organisations must generally have annual budgets below US$500,000.
Most importantly for TIJCEF Grant Hub readers, applicants must be based in the United States or U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Groups based exclusively in Nigeria or elsewhere in Africa should therefore not submit an application unless their organisational circumstances independently satisfy the funder’s official geographic eligibility requirements.
Application Process
Third Wave Fund provides different ways to apply, including written, video and phone-based applications, helping reduce accessibility barriers.
Applicants should be prepared to provide basic organisational information, a brief description of the funding request and their current organisational or group budget.
Successful applicants are generally informed approximately four to six weeks after the relevant review deadline.
Current Deadline
The September application cycle opened on 5 August 2026 and closes on 8 September 2026.
Another cycle is scheduled to open on 9 September, with an October deadline of 6 October 2026.
How to Apply
Eligible organisations should review the detailed eligibility criteria before beginning an application.
Official opportunity page:
Third Wave Fund Mobilize Power Fund
September deadline: 8 September 2026, 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
Important Notice for African Applicants
This opportunity may be useful to TIJCEF Grant Hub readers with eligible U.S.-based organisations or partnerships, but it should not be treated as an Africa-wide funding opportunity. The funder’s current guidelines expressly restrict geographic eligibility to the United States and U.S. territories.