De Colores Rapid Response Fund

De Colores Rapid Response Fund (RRF) has been established at PDF in honor of retired Development Officer, Ray Santiago. In his many years working in the farmworker movement, “De Colores,” a traditional Mexican folk song that celebrates nature and diversity, was and still is one of Ray’s favorite tunes. It is a great example of solidarity.

Ray recalls, “If I remember correctly, the song came to the Americas from Spain back in the 16th or 17th century. The song became very popular within the Latino community for special celebrations and occasions. It became the anthem of the United Farm Workers in California in the early 1960s. In time, it became the anthem of the larger farmworker movement, including the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC) in the Midwest, Florida and Texas. We would cross arms and sing it at rallies and picket lines. It’s a very uplifting song and always brought comfort to me.”

De Colores RRF is looking to impact positive, dynamic-shifting opportunities, rather than provide emergency response for humanitarian crises or technical assistance. It is designed to make funds available for quick, short-term delivery to hot spots of opportunity for organizing in marginalized urban and rural communities.

From our 2023 Annual Report

Please read our Grant Guidelines to see if your organization is eligible to apply.

Additional Criteria for grants from the fund include:

  • Organizing in U.S. grassroots communities, with a focus on communities of color, poor and working-class;
  • Opportunities for strategic intervention (i.e. Ferguson and Baltimore moments);
  • Opportunities to impact new and strategic shifts (i.e. Occupy); and
  • Opportunities to amplify the effects of in-the-moment issues (i.e. Hurricane Maria or #MeToo). The event or situation you are responding to was unanticipated and requires urgent action that is well thought out with clear goals and desired outcomes.

How it works:

  • Proposals are accepted all year, and reviewed regularly.
  • Groups will be notified within one to three weeks and checks will be mailed the following week.
  • Grants are in the $500 to $1,000 range.
  • Applications are accepted from coalitions, organizations and non-501(c)(3) groups, but not to fund individual efforts.
  • We will prioritize organizations with budgets under $250,000 with limited access to philanthropic resources.
  • Project budget should be less than $5,000.

This fund does not support:

  • Groups based outside the U.S.
  • Budget shortfalls
  • Ongoing, regularly scheduled programs
  • Start-up or general operating costs
  • Previously planned or long-term campaigns
  • Charity benefits
  • Direct service

To Apply:

To begin the application process, please fill out this brief application. We will contact you to set up an interview if your organization qualifies and is being considered for a grant.

Email us if you have any questions.