The Cultivating Resistance Fund supports grassroots groups preparing their communities for intensified ICE enforcement, supporting impacted communities, and/or responding to an ICE raid or operative.
We prioritize community-based groups without 501(c)(3) status and organizations with annual budgets under $150,000 .
In this funding cycle, we are funding two priorities:
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Community Defense
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Raids Response
The eligibility, grant amounts, and application processes differ for each priority. Please review the details below.
COMMUNITY DEFENSE MINI-GRANTS
Community Defense mini-grants are available to active SEIRN members who are preparing their communities for intensified ICE enforcement and supporting individuals and families impacted by detention and/or deportation.
Funds can be used to:
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Inform the community about their rights
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Strengthen local raids response infrastructure
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Support and accompany individuals and/or families impacted by detention/deportation
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Accompany individuals to ICE check-ins or court dates
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Other efforts that help ensure communities are better prepared and supported as ICE enforcement, detention, and deportations intensify.
This priority will have two funding cycles: one in the Spring and one in the late Fall.
Mini-grants will range from $3,000 to $6,000, and we expect to award 10 to 13 mini-grants in this cycle.
A maximum of three grants per state will be awarded (subject to change in exceptional circumstances).
To qualify, the organization must be an active SEIRN member for at least 3 months at the time of applying.
Important: Not all applicants will receive a mini-grant, and mini-grants may be lower than the amount requested.
Process:
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Deadline to apply: May 11, 2026
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Notifications: week of June 11th, 2026
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Disbursements: week of June 29th, 2026 (after paperwork is submitted)
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Payment method: bank transfer
RAIDS RESPONSE MINI-GRANTS
Raids response mini-grants are available to groups in the Southeast region responding to an ICE raid or ICE operation resulting in the simultaneous detention of 5 people or more within the same community.
Because this is emergency funding, there are no requirements for groups to be SEIRN members.
Mini-grant amounts can range from $4,000 and $8,000. These mini-grants are intended to provide immediate support to help organizations mobilize a response while they secure additional resources.
We will award a maximum of 3 grants for the same state. In cases where enforcement activity escalates or impacts multiple communities, additional requests may be considered.
Important: Not all applicants will receive a mini-grant, and mini-grants may be lower than the amount requested.
Requirements:
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Be actively responding to an ICE raid or ICE operation resulting in the simultaneous detention of 5 people or more within the same community.
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Be a grassroots group or a non-profit organization based in the Southeast and serving communities in the Southeast.
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Organizations with annual budgets under $150,000 will be prioritized.
Process:
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Deadline to apply: applications are accepted on a rolling basis until funds are available
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Notifications: within 7 days after submitting the application
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Disbursement: processed after all paperwork is received. Groups will have 4 weeks to submit the payment request
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Payment method: bank transfer