Samuel Rubin Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Samuel Rubin Foundation invests in human rights, civic engagement, and gender equality nonprofit organizations working in the United States and abroad. Its global security efforts focus on the fields of social, economic, political, civil and cultural rights.
IP TAKE: Rubin gives small grants, but progressive groups working on peace and human rights issues should get to know this accessible funder. They’re also responsive and approachable.
The Rubin Foundation does not limit grants on the basis of geography; however, international organizations must be sponsored by a U.S.-based organization with tax-exempt status. The foundation typically does not award more than one grant per fiscal year per organization. The foundation also features limited discretionary funds for smaller ‘emergency’ grants between board meetings.
PROFILE: Samuel Rubin established the Samuel Rubin Foundation in 1949 to “further his vision of a world dedicated to peace and justice,” and remains “dedicated to the pursuit of peace and justice and the search for an equitable reallocation of the world’s resources.” Born in 1901, Rubin emigrated to the U.S. from Bialystok, Russia (present-day Poland) as a boy, and later established the Spanish Trading Company. The company went dark after dictator Francisco Franco rose to power in Spain, but Rubin would go on to found Faberge Perfumes. Rubin sold Faberge for $25 million in 1963, dedicating a portion of the sale proceeds to establish the Samuel Rubin Foundation. The foundation does not have specific grantmaking programs; however, its social justice objectives and past grantmaking demonstrate strong support for human rights, gender equity, and democracy and civic engagement causes.
Grants for Security and Human Rights
Although the foundation supports work on a variety of global security and human rights issues, peace and nuclear security projects dominate. Remaining grants are awarded to a number of human rights groups including those that work toward securing women’s rights in vulnerable locations.
In the past, the foundation has awarded human rights related grants to nonprofits such as International Civil Society Action Network, which received funding for its work promoting peace, justice, and human rights; and the New Israel Fund, a global nonprofit dedicated to strengthening democracy, promoting freedom, and equality for Israel’s citizens. To learn more about the types of nonprofit organizations the Rubin Foundation supports, explore its grantees lists.
Grants for Women and Girls
While the foundation does not have a dedicated focus area dedicated to women and girls, it is “especially interested in organizations with a focus on the prevention and resolution of violent conflict, disarmament, reproductive justice, media justice, racial justice, and empowering the traditionally disenfranchised, including people of color, women, and youth.” In the past, the foundation has awarded grants to nonprofits such Alliance for Global Justice, which received support for its Coalition of Women for Peace; and the 888 Women’s History Project, which received funding for the film festival expenses related to its “Left on Pearl” documentary. To learn more about the types of nonprofit organizations the Rubin Foundation supports, explore its grantees lists.
Grants for Civic and Democracy
According to the foundation’s website, it is “especially interested in organizations with a focus on the prevention and resolution of violent conflict, disarmament, reproductive justice, media justice, racial justice, and empowering the traditionally disenfranchised, including people of color, women, and youth.” Past grantees for democracy and civic engagement include Black Voters Matter Capacity Building Institute’s Black Voters Matter Fund, and Center for International Policies Promoting Restraint: Demilitarizing U.S. Foreign Policy. To learn more about the types of organizations the Rubin Foundation supports, explore its grantees lists.
Important Grant Details:
While the Rubin Foundation is a flexible funder, accepting proposals on a rolling basis, most of its grants range from $5,000 to $10,000, no matter the organization or project. The foundation does not impose geographic restrictions on its grantmaking, though nonprofits based outside of the United States must have a U.S. based sponsor with tax-exempt status to qualify for a Rubin Foundation grant.
The foundation prefers that grant seekers adhere to its deadlines, which are roughly slated for early May, September, and January.
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