SAFE (Security, Action, and Freedom for Everyone) is a rapid response funding mechanism launched by Borealis Philanthropy, designed to provide flexible, emergency funding to grassroots organizations facing urgent threats to democracy, justice, and safety. These organizations, especially those working in the fields of disability justice, reproductive rights, racial justice, trans rights, and immigrant justice, are often left vulnerable during times of political and social unrest. SAFE ensures they have the resources needed to protect their teams, strengthen their infrastructure, and maintain their critical work on the frontlines. A new tranche of funding from Meyer Memorial Trust is available exclusively to organizations operating in the state of Oregon, in alignment with the donor’s geographic priorities.

The core goal of this initiative is to provide funding support to organizations in Oregon under threat by prioritizing safety, security, and defense infrastructure. This includes resources for legal defense, rapid bail initiatives, enhanced cybersecurity, physical security measures, and emergency operational needs. By addressing the shared vulnerabilities that movements face, SAFE equips organizations with the tools to protect their leaders, communities, and infrastructure, ensuring they can respond effectively to immediate threats while building long-term resilience in the fight for civil rights, justice, and equity. 

As we face increasingly volatile political environments and targeted attacks on our communities, the need for flexible and immediate funding has never been more urgent. The SAFE Initiative by Borealis responds to this by mobilizing resources quickly to provide critical support in times of need.

Borealis Philanthropy endeavors to provide rapid response funding to meet the urgent needs of organizations aiming to protect their teams, strengthen their infrastructure, and maintain their critical work on the frontlines. Applicant requests for funding must evidence work involving the safety and security of their communities, organizations, and staff across digital, legal, and physical needs. 

SAFE grants range from $5,000 to $50,000 for organizations in Oregon needing immediate financial support for operational security and crisis response. SAFE applicants are welcome and encouraged to apply for funding in partnership with other organizations/ individuals engaged in the same work to form a consortium. All funding must be used for grants implemented in Oregon. Please note: These grants are only available to organizations with an annual operating budget of $2 million or less.

SAFE Applications for funding should be specific, complete, and provide a clear alignment with SAFE priorities. 

SAFE is designed to meet current, critical needs within 3-6 months. 

Application Window: Beginning September 2025, accepting applications on a rolling basis.

Funding Amount: $5,000-$50,000 

Funding Eligibility: 

SAFE will fund individuals, organizations, and consortia – joint organization responses to an emerging crisis or threat with other non-profits/ peers in the field to pool resources and knowledge on the threat. Eligible grant types with some examples are detailed below and applicants are welcome to apply under any of the eligible risk categories. However, please note that due to a pre-determined risk weighting, applications addressing Legal, Physical Safety + Security, or Tech + Digital needs are prioritized and may be more competitive during the review process. We encourage applicants to carefully consider how their needs align with these higher-weighted categories when preparing their proposals.

Eligible Risk Categories:

1. Adaptive + Operational Support Costs:

• Personnel & Compensation: Salaries and wages, added insurance, hazard pay
• Administrative & Operational Support: Accounting/administrative needs, fundraising disruptions, project-specific funding
• Capacity Building & Technical Support: Capacity building, technical assistance
• Travel & External Costs: Travel costs, external context operating changes (e.g., pandemic/epidemic)
• Organizational Growth & Crisis Response: Organizational growth and/or launch of timely initiatives that meet a new and specific threat to key communities, climate response efforts

5. Rest + Healing Costs: Convenings, retreats, coalition building, mental health services, leadership pipeline development.

6. Tech + Digital Costs: Phishing prevention, data protection, tech maintenance, IT workshops, increased digital security, reputational protection.

Ineligible costs are listed below: 

1. Non-safety/ security related efforts 

2. Routine program activities 

3. Unrelated program costs 

4. Research not linked to safety or security

5. Regular fundraising campaigns

6. Funding activities outside of Oregon

Please note: These grants are only available to organizations with an annual operating budget of $2 million or less.

Funding decisions will be made through a two-tiered review process. Borealis staff will assess each application based on the three criteria detailed below:

Criteria

1. Funding Eligibility 

2. SAFE Strategic Alignment 

3. Urgency of Need (Likelihood that the risk will happen)

This grant does not require a formal written report. However, we may reach out to invite you to a brief conversation about how you used the funds, within 18 months of your grant’s end date.

OPTIONAL reporting for recipients is detailed below: 

• Funding Impact Report: A safety/ security statement outlining the overall impact of the grant on the organization, its staff, partners, and/or community members. 

• Lessons Learned Narrative: A brief narrative (1-2 paragraphs) about what worked well and what could be improved in future funding for security projects.

• Challenge Analysis: A brief narrative (1-2 paragraphs) detailing any challenges that arose and what mitigation steps were used to address them.

• Marketing Materials: A narrative detailing anything from the project you’d like Borealis to know about the project (e.g., stories from beneficiaries of funding)