CVWC/ Rural Organizing Academy 2026-2027
Call for Applications
Deadline: October 23, 2026
Introduction
The Central Valley Worker Coalition/ Rural Organizing Academy is an annual project under the UC Merced Community and Labor Center, with funding from the James Irvine Foundation. The primary aim of the initiative is to support California workers and organizations engaging in historic worker justice initiatives; and to develop education and training that prepares the next generation of organizers to protect San Joaquin Valley workers.
Funding Opportunity
UC Merced will award one-year grants between $30,000-$124,000 to each organization.
Priority will go to organizations demonstrating the greatest commitments in the application. Funding will be for a period of one year, with possibility of renewal for a total of up to three years.
Funded participants must engage in worker organizing through: 1) Central Valley Worker Coalition Meetings, 2) ROA Field Work, 3) ROA Assessment and Planning, 4) SPOT Tool Implementation, 5) Statewide Coalition Participation and Worker Engagement.
Application
Applicants will complete a questionnaire regarding their intent. The questionnaire will have questions to be answered in 1-3 sentences each, with a final question between 250-500 words.
Eligibility Criteria
UC Merced Community and Labor Center will only fund non-profit organizations with a mission to serve workers and advance worker interests in the eight-county San Joaquin Valley region.
Applications are limited to only those previous ROA member organizations invited to apply.
Selection Criteria
To be considered, applications will meet the requirements of the funding opportunity and eligibility criteria identified above.
The most competitive applications will demonstrate commitments and intent aligned with the funding opportunity goals.
Funding Information
Funds will be all-inclusive of organization costs (e.g. staff salary, travel, materials, indirect cost recovery).
Grantees will be required to always adhere to state and local laws, and University of California policy.
Deadlines and Timeline
The grant term is twelve months, with a start date of November 12, 2026. The application deadline is Friday, October 23, 2026. Applications selected for further consideration can expect to be contacted for an interview by Monday, October 26, 2026.
