In April of 2025, Southern Vision Alliance launched a new Block & Build Rapid Response Fund. This fund was established to support grassroot organizations in responding rapidly in their communities. This means that when a new policy or issue arises, organizations can apply for funds to address the rising need.
Since it launched, Block & Build has awarded 19 grants totaling $50k to grantees in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Texas, Alabama and Louisiana. Key issues that organizations are responding to include anti-trans legislation, anti-immigrant legislation, housing justice, rights of the undocumented, ICE and homeland security investigations and local land policies.
The Block & Build fund focuses entirely on emerging or escalating issues across the southeastern part of the United States. Organizations are asked in their application to explain how the issue in question is emergent and how any mutual aid they wish to offer with their grant would be tied to powerbuilding. Because building power is an inside job and any issue that we rise to meet, must return power to those most affected!
The fund is led by an Advisory Board of movement leaders from impacted communities. Applications submitted to the fund are reviewed by the board and given fair and responsible consideration. The members of our advisory board understand the current threats facing our movement as well what is needed to respond and resist.
Block & Build asks organizations to consider the following when applying:
- What has changed or escalated in the communities you organize in?
- What is a new or increasing concern in the work you are doing?
- In what ways does your organization build power in impacted communities?
This fund is distinctive in its accessibility to support groups applying for grants. We offer monthly virtual office hours for people to drop in and ask questions and receive clarity on whether or not their work meets the fund’s criteria. We also offer feedback on any proposal that is denied so that groups have clarity and guidance on how best to frame their work moving forward.
The Block & Build Rapid Response Fund is honored to support the dedicated and hardworking organizations who receive grants. The meaningful work they do builds the tide of transformative change. We look forward to continuing to operate this fund in service of social justice movements across the southeast.
If your organization or an organization in your community is interested in applying and has questions, please contact us at power@southernvision.org.
