CANOGA PARK, Calif.—In keeping with its mission statement, the Free Speech Coalition has recently called to its members' attention an offer by the Third Wave Fund, a Brooklyn-based progressive organization that's been around since 1992, and which is currently offering to give grants from its "Sex Worker Giving Circle" (SWGC) of between $5,000 and $20,000 to U.S.-based tax-exempt non-profit organizations. The grants will be given to those that take on such causes as helping sex workers address oppressive labor practices within the sex trade, fostering political education, cultural work, and anti-stigma work, as well as legal education and outreach, including work to address the impacts of the criminal legal system. The grants are open to any organization whose members do sex work for money, including such activities as domination, prostitution, adult film work, webcamming and similar activities.
One thing, though: In order to obtain a grant, applications must be submitted by midnight, Wednesday, June 27. The application can be found on Third Wave Fund's website here.
According to the website, "Third Wave Fund is the only national fund that supports and strengthens feminist and gender justice activism led by young women of color, trans, intersex, gender non-conforming, and queer youth. Our focus is on efforts that advance the political power, well-being, and self-determination of communities of color and low-income communities in the US. The Sex Worker Giving Circle is a cross-class, multiracial, intergenerational giving circle made up of a group of Fellows who are women, queer, and trans folks with current or past experience in the sex trade."
Third Wave Fund has set out some criteria upon which its decisions to grant funding will be based. Those include:
- Gender Justice Focus: Applicants specifically work toward gender justice that address patriarchy, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, gender inequity, and/or gender-based violence as well as the ways that gender oppression intersects with racism, ableism, classism, and criminalization.
- Vision & Strategies: Applicants have a strong vision for themselves and the future and operate with a root cause analysis of oppression that goes beyond the achievement of legal rights and legislative policies.
- Leadership: Applicants are led by and accountable to the communities they serve and work to develop leadership within those communities.
- Potential for Impact & Growth: Applicants demonstrate a vision for long-term growth and impact and demonstrate how they stand to significantly benefit from funding.
In applying for such funding, applicants will need to provide proof of their organization's 501(c)(3) status and current budget, a short (no more than five pages) written narrative of the proposed use for the funds, and a demographic chart of the organization. Also noteworthy: "Your work must be led by the communities you serve; only work led by and for people with current or previous sex work or sex trade experience is eligible for funding."
What with the current legislative attacks on the adult industry, grants such as these could be put to very good use to combat the impending attempts to destroy the availability of adult content and to put performers and others out of work, so eligible groups within the industry should certainly consider applying.
