The Spread The Vote team has been reviewing more than $105,000 in funding requests for Bread to Spread, our microgrant program supporting community-based, nonpartisan civic engagement.
So far, we’ve funded four innovative local projects. With your help, we can support more organizations working to make civic participation accessible in their communities.
Meet three applicants whose ideas show what that support could make possible:
Native Voices, Native Votes Houston
The American Indian Center of Houston’s proposed Native Voices, Native Votes initiative would help Native American families and other underserved Houston residents navigate the voting process.
Through a welcoming community gathering and direct outreach, participants would receive help checking their registration, understanding identification requirements, learning about their ballots, and finding where and how to vote. Staff and community partners would also help identify practical barriers and connect participants with resources, including partners providing rides to the polls.
It’s a community-centered approach to making sure more people have the information and support they need to participate.
We Got This Texas
We Got This Texas is seeking $1,000 for a community civic resource fair that brings voter support and family-friendly activities together.
The organization plans to reach families through trusted relationships with groups providing parenting classes, after-school care, and other services. While children enjoy activities, families could get help checking voter registration, applying for identification documents, learning what’s on their ballots, and finding their polling places.
The organizer has also indicated that $600 could help make a scaled-down version possible- a reminder that a relatively small investment can help a local idea move forward.
Centre College – Let’s Slow Down
At Centre College in central Kentucky, the Office of Civic & Community Engagement is proposing a different approach to voter outreach: give students a reason to slow down, get comfortable, and connect. They describe getting students to stop at their table as fishing in a rushing stream.
The initiative, tentatively called “Let’s Slow Down”, would bring students together on the campus lawn with blankets, refreshments, and conversation prompts to talk about voting and their role in the community. Students would be encouraged to bring a friend or classmate, ask questions, and explore sample ballots in a relaxed, welcoming setting.
A microgrant of $1000 would help the team turn a hurried encounter into a meaningful conversation that encourages active civic participation.
Help bring more community ideas to life
Local organizations know their communities. Bread to Spread helps give them the resources to act on that knowledge.
Your contribution can help fund more projects like these and give more people the tools to participate in civic life.
