Mix It Up Grants

Types of Grants Funded

The Mix It Up Grants Program funds small-scale, youth-directed activist projects that focus on identifying, crossing and challenging social boundaries in schools and communities.

The projects should be:

• Youth Driven: Youth (ages 13 years and older) must serve as decision-makers in the project. Ideally, the project is created and implemented by youth.
• Challenging: Projects should challenge the status quo and focus on crossing social boundaries through youth activism and youth leadership development.
• Creative: Youth and their advisors should step outside of the box, thinking of fresh ways to engage in and encourage socially just behaviors.
• Collaborative: Projects must promote collaboration across social boundaries — different grade levels, youth groups, clubs or community groups working together. Various adults and community volunteers should be invited to participate.
• On-Going: The project should be a part of an ongoing effort, or an effort that's just getting started, but will continue.
• Responsible: Project organizers should be very thoughtful when constructing a budget. Before purchasing items for your project, ask community partners and local vendors for in-kind donations. Also be sure to check multiple retailers for price comparisons and sales for items you must purchase. Partner with others in your community and share project expenses.

Funding limitations
Due to the high volume of materials that we provide each of the 10,000+ schools that participate in the annual Mix it Up at Lunch Day event, we are unable to provide grant money to support a Mix it Up at Lunch Day event at your school or in your community.

Conditions
As a recipient of a Mix It Up Grant, you are required to complete and submit a project report within thirty days after your project completion date. In addition to documenting your grant project for our records, your report may also serve as the basis for articles about your efforts in the print and online publications of Mix It Up or other Southern Poverty Law Center materials.

Notification
Within 8 weeks of receiving your complete application packet, we will let you know in writing if your project will receive a Mix it Up Grant.

If your project is selected for funding, we'll send you a grant agreement by e-mail, which you have to complete and return to us by snail mail.

Once we receive your agreement form in the mail, we will in turn send you a check within three weeks, along with instructions about the required final project report.

Application
To apply, complete the grant application form.

Keep in mind:

• there is no application deadline.
• grants cannot be renewed.
• grants are restricted to one per applicant or school per year.
• materials submitted for the application and the project report will not be returned.
• INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS CANNOT BE CONSIDERED.

Mail completed forms with the required attachments, to:

Mix it Up Grants
400 Washington Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36104

Mix it Up Grants are made possible through the generosity of the Southern Poverty Law Center's supporters.