Proteus Fund Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $21.8 million (2023)
• Total Distributed: $297+ million since 1994
• Grant Range: $15,000 - $1,500,000
• Geographic Focus: United States
• Grants Awarded (2023): 291 grants
• Application Method: Mixed (varies by collaborative fund)

Contact Details

Main Contact:

• Website: https://www.proteusfund.org
• Phone: (413) 256-0349
• General Inquiries: Via contact form at proteusfund.org/contact
• Email: website.info@proteusfund.org

Offices:

• New York, NY
• Metro Boston, MA
• Remote staff across the United States

Programme-Specific Contacts:

• Prospective grantees should contact programme directors via the corresponding programme page on the Proteus website

Overview

Founded in 1994 by philanthropy veteran Meg Gage, Proteus Fund has evolved into a $51-60 million philanthropic organisation that connects progressive funders with grassroots movements for social justice. With over 90 staff members operating across 27 states, Proteus has distributed more than $297 million through over 6,000 grants to support activists, advocates, networks, and organisations working at local, state, and national levels. The organisation operates through three primary models: donor collaboratives that pool philanthropic resources around pressing issues, fiscal sponsorship providing infrastructure support to emerging initiatives, and donor advised funds. Proteus Fund focuses on the interconnected goals of racial, gender, queer, and disability justice alongside an inclusive, fully representative democracy. Since Paul Di Donato became President & CEO in 2016 (after previously directing the successful Civil Marriage Collaborative), Proteus has expanded to support 25 funds and initiatives. The organisation has earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and is recognised as a leader in collaborative philanthropy.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

RISE Together Fund (RTF) - Small Grants

• $15,000 average grant size; $25,000 maximum
• Open rolling applications (periodic rounds)
• Supports Black, African, Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian (BAMEMSA) communities
• Total Impact to Date: 403 grants totalling $18.9 million to 127 organisations

Piper Fund

• Supports democracy protection and reform efforts
• Total Impact to Date: 992 grants totalling $43.3 million to 277 organisations
• Focus areas: Money in Politics Reform, Judicial Integrity, Right to Protest

Rights, Faith & Democracy Collaborative (RFDC)

• Supports reproductive rights and LGBTQ rights organisations
• Counters religious extremism's harmful impacts

Solidarity Collaborative

• Newest programme supporting cross-movement solidarity
• Advances racial justice through intersectional allyship

Grantee Safety and Security Fund

• Provides rapid response support to frontline organisations under attack

Fiscal Sponsorship Programme

• Minimum $500,000 annual operating budget required
• Comprehensive Model A fiscal sponsorship
• Long-term partnership model (years, not months)

Priority Areas

Core Justice Areas:

• Racial justice
• Gender justice
• Queer justice
• Disability inclusion and justice
• Inclusive, representative democracy

Strategic Approaches:

• Grassroots and grasstops organising
• Public policy advocacy and issue campaigns
• Litigation support
• Narrative development and strategic communications
• Movement infrastructure building
• Security and wellness for activists

Key Values:

• Moving quickly to respond to urgent movement needs
• Promoting narrative change
• Supporting innovation and risk-taking
• Collaborative and collective movements
• Long-term partnership over transactional grantmaking

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, Proteus Fund focuses exclusively on U.S.-based organisations (fiscal sponsorship requires U.S. operations) and work that advances their specific justice areas. Projects outside racial, gender, queer, disability justice, or inclusive democracy fall outside their mission.

Governance and Leadership

Senior Leadership

Paul Di Donato, President & CEO (since 2016)

• 40+ years of social justice experience as activist, advocate, lobbyist, litigator, and philanthropic executive
• Previously directed Proteus Fund's Civil Marriage Collaborative for 8 years, which helped achieve marriage equality in 2015
• Oversees donor collaboratives, donor advised funds, and fiscally sponsored projects

Notable Leadership Quotes:

• "Of central importance to our success is the ability to master the delicate balance between crafting and executing effective long-term philanthropic strategies while remaining flexible enough to shift tactics and priorities in response to evolving circumstances on the ground."
• "We're trying to broaden our work to cover as many social justice areas as possible without getting so big that we lose our high-touch approach."

Board of Directors

• Nic Campbell - Founder, Build Up Companies (strategic legal and governance expertise)
• Nima Shirazi - Vice President, Spitfire Strategies (communications strategist)
• Rick Scott - Consultant (former VP of Finance & Compliance at McKnight Foundation)
• Desiree Flores - Executive Director, General Service Foundation (20 years social justice grantmaking)
• Tammy Dowley-Blackman - CEO, Tammy Dowley-Blackman Group (former director of Proteus Diversity Fellowship)
• Patricia Eng - Consultant (former President & CEO, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy)
• Tia Oros Peters - CEO, Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples
• Risa Jaz Rifkind - Senior Director of Programmes, Disability Lead (National Council on Disability appointee)
• Maria Teresa Rojas - Philanthropy Consultant (Open Society Foundations background)
• Elizabeth (Betsy) Schmidt - Senior Research Fellow, University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Everette Thompson-François - Senior Programme Officer, Freedom Together Foundation (30+ years community organising)
• Eric K. Ward - Executive Director, Western States Center (civil rights leader)

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

RISE Together Fund Small Grants:

• Open rolling application process through online portal
• Application materials and guidelines available at proteusfund.org/rtf-2025-small-grants
• Applications reviewed on rolling basis until funds are depleted
• Periodic rounds (approximately annual) with specific opening/closing dates
• For 501(c)(4) organisations: Contact directly at webcontact.rtaf@proteusactionleague.org

Other Donor Collaboratives (Piper Fund, RFDC, Solidarity Collaborative):

• Do not accept unsolicited proposals
• Specific funds occasionally announce calls for proposals with defined timeframes
• Prospective grantees invited to contact programme directors for information about grantmaking opportunities
• Contact information available on corresponding programme pages at proteusfund.org
• Submit inquiries via website contact form or phone: (413) 256-0349

Fiscal Sponsorship:

• Minimum $500,000 annual operating budget (committed or pledged)
• U.S.-based organisations with U.S.-focused work only
• Must advance work in racial, gender, queer, disability justice, or inclusive democracy
• Model A comprehensive fiscal sponsorship only
• Initiate contact through "Get in Touch" portal: wkf.ms/3OCQMIw
• Review detailed FAQ document: "Everything You Need to Know About Fiscal Sponsorship"

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines vary by programme and are not publicly disclosed. The RISE Together Fund reviews applications on a rolling basis, suggesting relatively rapid turnaround. Given the emphasis on "moving quickly to respond to urgent movement needs," Proteus appears to prioritise responsive grantmaking over rigid annual cycles.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. With 291 grants awarded in 2023 from a $21.8 million budget, average grant size across all programmes was approximately $75,000, though this varies significantly by programme (RTF averages $15,000 while some grants reach $1.5 million).

Reapplication Policy

Not explicitly stated in public materials. For the RTF Small Grants programme with rolling deadlines, applicants can likely reapply in subsequent funding rounds. For relationship-based collaborative funds, ongoing communication with programme directors would inform reapplication timing.

Application Success Factors

Mission Alignment is Critical: Proteus Fund emphasises the interconnected nature of their work: "We cannot realise one without the other – making progress on all fronts is essential to realising their vision of a more equitable, just, and democratic future." Applications should demonstrate understanding of intersectional justice, not siloed issue work.

Grassroots Movement Connection: Recent grantmaking prioritises grassroots organisations in the U.S. working in social justice and democracy. Strong priority goes to "collaborative and collective movements toward social change." Demonstrate your organisation's role within broader movement ecosystems.

Strategic Positioning: Proteus values organisations that work at the intersection of multiple strategies: community organising, policy advocacy, litigation, narrative development, and communications. Show how your work creates "lasting change" through multi-pronged approaches.

Flexibility and Innovation: The organisation seeks partners who can "balance long-term strategies while remaining flexible enough to shift tactics and priorities in response to evolving circumstances." Demonstrate adaptive capacity alongside strategic vision.

Read Guidelines Carefully: For RTF Small Grants, "applicants are advised to read the priorities, criteria, and process carefully before applying." This suggests applications that don't align with stated priorities are declined.

For Relationship-Based Funds: Since most collaborative funds don't accept unsolicited proposals, building relationships with programme staff is essential. Attend sector convenings, engage with current grantees, and demonstrate you're part of the networks Proteus already supports.

Recent Funding Examples:

• Voter Participation Center: $1.5 million (2023)
• Grassroots International: $750,000 (2023)
• Movement Strategy Center: $750,000 (2023)
• Funders United for Democracy and Trans Justice: Proteus Fund's "single largest grant to date supporting transgender justice"
• Disability Culture Lab: Flexible support grant enabling staff hiring and programme launch including in-house communications firm

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Know your collaborative fund: Each of Proteus's donor collaboratives has distinct priorities. Research which fund aligns with your work before reaching out (Piper for democracy/protest rights, RTF for BAMEMSA communities, RFDC for reproductive/LGBTQ rights, Solidarity for cross-movement work).

• Demonstrate intersectional analysis: Proteus explicitly rejects single-issue work. Show how your efforts connect racial, gender, queer, and/or disability justice with democracy-building.

• Build relationships proactively: With most funds operating on invitation-only or relationship-based models, attend sector events where Proteus staff participate, connect with current grantees, and use the contact forms on specific programme pages to introduce your work before formal opportunities arise.

• Emphasise collaborative approach: Proteus values "collective movements" and operates through "collaboratives." Highlight partnerships, coalition work, and how your organisation amplifies broader movement strategies rather than working in isolation.

• Focus on narrative change: Proteus explicitly prioritises "promoting narrative change" as a critical strategy. If your work includes communications, media, or cultural strategy components, emphasise these.

• For RTF Small Grants applicants: This is your best entry point with an open application process. Even if you need more than $25,000, consider applying here to get on Proteus's radar and demonstrate impact for future larger opportunities.

• Show long-term vision with adaptive tactics: Proteus seeks partners who balance strategic planning with responsiveness to "evolving circumstances on the ground." Demonstrate both your theory of change and your capacity to pivot when needed.

References

1. Proteus Fund Official Website - https://www.proteusfund.org - Accessed December 23, 2025
2. Proteus Fund About Page - https://www.proteusfund.org/about/ - Accessed December 23, 2025
3. Charity Navigator Profile - https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/043243004 - Accessed December 23, 2025
4. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/43243004 - Accessed December 23, 2025
5. Inside Philanthropy Profile - https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-p/proteus-fund - Accessed December 23, 2025
6. Proteus Fund Board of Directors - https://www.proteusfund.org/board-of-directors/ - Accessed December 23, 2025
7. Proteus Fund Fiscal Sponsorship - https://www.proteusfund.org/fiscal-sponsorship/ - Accessed December 23, 2025
8. RTF 2025 Small Grants - https://www.proteusfund.org/rtf-2025-small-grants/ - Accessed December 23, 2025
9. Piper Fund - https://www.proteusfund.org/piper/ - Accessed December 23, 2025
10. RISE Together Fund - https://www.proteusfund.org/rtf/ - Accessed December 23, 2025
11. Philanthropy New York - "Paul Di Donato Announced as New President and CEO" - https://philanthropynewyork.org/news/paul-di-donato-announced-new-president-and-ceo-proteus-fund - Accessed December 23, 2025
12. Proteus Fund 2023 Annual Report - https://www.proteusfund.org/2023-annual-report/ - Accessed December 23, 2025