Funding Exchange
The Funding Exchange (FEX) was a national network of 16 independent social justice foundations, created in 1979 to provide seed grants to grassroots movements using a community-driven grantmaking model. The organization was legally dissolved in November 2018 after nearly 40 years.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Funding Exchange does
The Funding Exchange (FEX) was a national network of social justice foundations created in 1979 by young activists with inherited wealth who pursued a "change, not charity" model of progressive philanthropy. The organization served as a coordinating body linking 16 independent member foundations across the United States — including Liberty Hill Foundation, North Star Fund, Haymarket People's Fund, and Bread and Roses Community Fund, among others — and provided seed grant support to grassroots groups and social movements that mainstream philanthropy considered too new, untested, or controversial. Its core product was the Funding Exchange Network itself: a loosely federated structure in which community activists participated in grantmaking decisions, redefining the power dynamics of philanthropy.
FEX did not operate on a commercial revenue or pricing model. The organization was funded through donations and grants from progressive donors and foundations, and it redistributed those funds to grassroots social justice organizations through its member network. Causes supported included efforts to combat violence against women, promote disarmament and oppose nuclear power proliferation, advocate for workers' rights and a living wage, promote environmental justice and LGBT issues, fight right-wing extremist groups, and advance the U.S.-based Central America solidarity movement. There were no digital products, software platforms, or technology offerings associated with the organization.
After nearly 35 years of operation, the FEX board announced in 2013 the planned dissolution of the network and the closing of its national office. The Funding Exchange was legally dissolved effective November 21, 2018. The 16 member foundations continue to operate independently in their respective regions, and the FEX archives are preserved at the Rare Book & Manuscript Library of the Columbia University Libraries.
Funding Exchange firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Funding Exchange
- Legal name
- The Funding Exchange
- Website
- https://fex.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Closed
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Funding Exchange (FEX) was a national network of 16 independent social justice foundations, created in 1979 to provide seed grants to grassroots movements using a community-driven grantmaking model. The organization was legally dissolved in November 2018 after nearly 40 years.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Funding Exchange industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Social Justice Philanthropy Network
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB)
Keywords
Where Funding Exchange is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Funding Exchange business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Funding Exchange product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Funding Exchange operated as a national network of social justice foundations that connected 16 independent member foundations across the United States. It provided seed funding and operational support to grassroots social justice groups and movements considered too new, untested, or controversial by traditional philanthropy, including efforts on violence against women, disarmament, workers' rights, environmental justice, LGBT rights, and Central America solidarity. The organization was legally dissolved effective November 21, 2018.
Product overview
The Funding Exchange was not a technology company but rather a national network of social justice foundations created in 1979. It served as a coordinating body connecting 16 independent member foundations across the United States. The organization pioneered a new approach to philanthropy that involved community activists in grantmaking decisions. The network was dissolved in November 2018 after nearly 35 years of operation. There were no digital products, software platforms, or technology offerings associated with this organization.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Funding Exchange Network
Companies that use Funding Exchange
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Funding Exchange technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Funding Exchange partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Appalachian Community FundcoreRegional member foundation of the Funding Exchange network, providing grant support to grassroots social justice organizations in the Appalachian region.
- Bread and Roses Community FundcoreRegional member foundation serving the Philadelphia area, focused on funding grassroots social change movements and organizations.
- Chinook FundcoreColorado-based member foundation of FEX network supporting organizations working on social, economic, and environmental justice.
- Crossroads FundcoreChicago-based member foundation providing grants and support to community organizations fighting oppression and building power in the Midwest.
- Foundation for ChangecoreMember foundation focused on supporting social justice organizations and progressive movement building efforts.
- Fund for IdahocoreIdaho-based member foundation supporting grassroots organizations working on social, economic, and environmental justice in Idaho.
- Fund for Santa BarbaracoreCalifornia-based regional foundation supporting social justice movements and community organizations in Santa Barbara and surrounding counties.
- Fund for Southern CommunitiescoreMember foundation serving the Southern United States, funding grassroots social justice organizing and movement building across the region.
- Hawaii People's FundcoreHawaii-based member foundation supporting community organizing and social justice work throughout the Hawaiian islands.
- Haymarket People's FundcoreNew England-based member foundation providing grants and resources to grassroots organizations working for social and economic justice.
- Headwaters Foundation for JusticecoreMinnesota-based member foundation supporting community organizing and social justice movements in the Upper Midwest.
- Liberty Hill FoundationcoreLos Angeles-based member foundation and one of the largest social justice foundations in California, supporting grassroots organizing for environmental, social, and economic justice.
- McKenzie River Gathering FoundationcoreOregon-based member foundation funding social justice organizations working across the Pacific Northwest.
- North Star FundcoreNew York-based member foundation supporting grassroots organizing, community power building, and progressive movements in the tri-state area.
- Wisconsin Community Fund of Forward Community InvestmentscoreWisconsin-based member foundation supporting community organizing and social justice efforts throughout Wisconsin.
- Three Rivers Community FundcoreMember foundation supporting grassroots social justice organizations in the tri-state Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia region.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights1 record
Funding Exchange competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat3 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Funding Exchange social profiles
Digital presenceFunding Exchange financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Funding Exchange leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Funding Exchange funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Funding Exchange M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Funding Exchange
What does Funding Exchange do?
The Funding Exchange operated as a national network of social justice foundations that connected 16 independent member foundations across the United States. It provided seed funding and operational support to grassroots social justice groups and movements considered too new, untested, or controversial by traditional philanthropy, including efforts on violence against women, disarmament, workers' rights, environmental justice, LGBT rights, and Central America solidarity. The organization was legally dissolved effective November 21, 2018.
Is Funding Exchange a public or private company?
Funding Exchange is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently closed.
When was Funding Exchange founded?
Funding Exchange was founded in 1979. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Funding Exchange based?
Funding Exchange is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
Does Funding Exchange have an API?
No public API is recorded for Funding Exchange.
What industry is Funding Exchange in?
Funding Exchange's product category is Social Justice Philanthropy Network. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAN, Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAB, Community Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8300.