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Transformational Philanthropy

Proteus Fund creates dynamic relationships between progressive philanthropists, movement leaders, and other allies that go far beyond transactional grantmaking. Our trusted position among funders and field actors enables us to support both through collaborative grantmaking and strategies to achieve social justice victories.

Advancing Justice & Democracy

Our work focuses on the interconnected goals of racial, gender, queer, and disability justice and an inclusive, fully representative democracy. We cannot realize one without the other – making progress on all fronts is essential to realizing our vision of a more equitable, just, and democratic future.

A Modern Approach to Collaborative Movement Building

Lasting change comes through the work of grassroots movements. Our work lifts up opportunities, gaps, and challenges facing movement organizations —and aligns grantmakers to support the efforts of movement actors to shape narratives and execute on shared advocacy strategies. Here’s how we do it:

Donor Collaboratives

We mobilize funders around pressing issues and work with them to align their resources with the needs of movements for social justice. By educating donors and connecting them to the needs of grantees, we create grantmaking and other programmatic strategies to expand the collective impact of the work.

Fiscal Sponsorship

We support and grow innovative social justice initiatives aligned to our mission, vision, and values through operational insight and management – and connect them with critical initiatives in our portfolio. These projects, both directly and indirectly, advance the objectives of the broader movements we support.

Evolving Philanthropy

Through our grantmaking, donor education and mobilization, and fiscal sponsorship program, we work to evolve and improve the practice of philanthropy. We share learning and insights on and advocate for the most effective philanthropic strategies, tactics, and practices with the goal of making the sector a more nimble, innovative, and responsive partner with social justice movements.

Strategies For Change

We support movements for justice, equity, and democracy through shared strategies and approaches that lead to legal, social, and cultural sea-changes.

Expanding the capacity of organizations, coalitions, and movements to build, share, and wield power.
Aligning and multiplying philanthropic grantmaking to ensure the maximum resources at the right time for the right purpose.
Nurturing a progressive ecosystem that fosters greater opportunities for learning, networking, and collaboration on critical issues and movement dynamics.

Moving quickly and responding to urgent needs of grantees and movements as shifts happen in real time on the ground.
Promoting narrative change as a critical strategy for victory by resourcing effective narrative development work – creating compelling shared stories that effectively reframe issues and promote progressive values and vision.
Encouraging innovation and risk-taking by giving donors and movement leaders creative learning spaces to support bold strategies and new ideas for action.

Proteus Action League (“PAL”) is a 501(c)(4) affiliate of Proteus Fund that supports legislative lobbying and related activities that provide important and complementary support to Proteus Fund’s work. Find out more about PAL, and how its work complements and supports Proteus Fund’s social justice mission.