Learning for Justice Educator Fund

Overview

Learning for Justice (LFJ), a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), plays a key role in achieving SPLC’s vision of “a world in which everyone can thrive and the ideals of equity, justice, and liberation are a reality for all.” We’re driven by a passion for social justice, a deep belief that education is the best way to realize this world, and a firm commitment to making sure that every student has the opportunity to learn and thrive.

The Learning for Justice Educator Fund supports educators who embrace and embed social justice, anti-bias and anti-racist principles throughout their classrooms and schools. We seek to collaboratively build educators’ capacity to do this. We believe these approaches in education encourage children and young people to challenge injustice and learn how to be agents of change in their own lives and communities.

Learning for Justice’s Educator Fund offers the opportunity to work with LFJ to address systemic inequities within education. Throughout our partnership, we offer ongoing guidance and critical resources. With help from your expertise about your own school community, we intend to collaboratively generate innovative solutions that promote affirming school climates, promote student action and raise everyone’s consciousness.

LFJ Educator Fund funds three types of projects: classroom level, school level and district level. For all project types, we seek to fund projects that culminate in measurable student outcomes and sustainable systems change.

All Learning for Justice Educator Fund projects must incorporate at least one LFJ resource, framework or publication. Each applicant must also demonstrate how the endeavor addresses one or more of the following key outcomes:
● Restorative discipline: an increase in schools and districts shifting from punitive discipline policies to restorative discipline policies;
● Youth civic engagement: an increase in student civic engagement, especially supporting the rights of marginalized students and communities;
● Dismantling oppressive narratives: an increase in schools and districts shifting from white supremacist or oppressive policies and curricula to policies and curricula that are anti-racist or support the safety and self-determination of all students.

Our aim is to build, over time, a network of educators who are enthusiastic about learning from each other and sharing their experiences with the broader Learning for Justice community.

Learning for Justice offers two grant cycles per school year.
Fall Semester Cycle Application deadline: April 12, 2024
Spring Semester Cycle Application deadline: Mid-October (TBD)

Classroom-level grant amounts will range from $500 to $2,500. Projects must be completed within six months of receiving grant funds. 

School- and district-level awards range from $2,500 to $25,000. Applicants may apply for up to three years of project funding. Applicants seeking multi-year funding will be expected to provide clear strategies, action plans, milestones and timelines for achieving project objectives over the course of the project period, in addition to the standard application. Multi-year funds will be released annually, based upon review and approval of annual progress evaluations.

Educators throughout the U.S. may apply. Priority will be given to eligible proposals operating in the SPLC’s core states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi.