We support work that creates a real shift in how people see themselves. The strongest projects create moments where participants begin to question their own assumptions, reconsider their perspective, or see others differently. We are not looking for projects that only share information. We are looking for experiences that lead to reflection and self awareness.

The Perception Box is the internal lens through which each of us experiences the world.

It is shaped over time by our beliefs, past experiences, identity, culture, and the stories we tell ourselves about who we are and what things mean. This lens influences what we notice, how we interpret situations, and how we respond to other people.

Most of the time, we are not aware of this lens. We experience our perspective as reality, not as one possible interpretation.

For example, two people can go through the exact same experience and walk away with completely different conclusions about what happened. Each person is interpreting the situation through their own Perception Box.

When someone begins to notice this, even in a small way, something shifts.

They may realize:

• The story I am telling myself might not be the only way to see this
• My reaction is being shaped by something I am bringing into the situation
• Someone else’s perspective might make sense from where they stand

This does not mean they are right or wrong. It means they are becoming aware of how their perspective is formed.

That awareness often creates a small but meaningful opening. There is usually more curiosity, less certainty, and a greater ability to stay present with different perspectives.

This is the shift we care about.

We are not trying to tell people what to believe. We are interested in helping people see how they believe what they believe.

A strong application clearly shows what actually happens in your program, how those experiences lead to reflection or insight, and a specific moment where a participant begins to see something differently. We are looking for clarity, not polish. The best applications make it easy to understand how change happens.

This is a specific moment in your program where a participant begins to question or reconsider their own perspective. For example, someone might realize that the story they have been telling about a conflict is not the only way to interpret it. If you cannot clearly describe this moment, your project may not be the right fit.

Before submitting, ask yourself the following to see if you are strong fit

• Can I clearly describe a specific moment where someone sees themselves differently?
• Does our work help people examine their own thinking, not just learn new ideas?
• Are we creating an experience, not just sharing information?
• Does this feel honest and grounded, or are we using language we think you want to hear?

If you can confidently answer yes to these, your project is likely a strong fit. If not, it may not be the right cycle to apply.

The most common mistake is describing what you believe instead of what you do. Many applications talk about goals, values, or outcomes, but do not clearly show how a participant actually experiences a shift in perspective.

If we cannot picture what happens, we cannot fund it.

No.

We do not fund advocacy, lobbying, or policy-focused work. There is important and necessary work happening in those areas. Our focus is different.

At Unlikely Collaborators, we support experiences that invite people to examine their own thinking, beliefs, and assumptions. We are interested in what happens internally when someone begins to see their own perspective more clearly. We are not a fit for projects that are primarily focused on changing others’ views, promoting a specific position, or telling people what to think.

If your work is centered on creating space for reflection, curiosity, and self-awareness, it may be a strong fit.

In order to help everyone differentiate between organizations, here are comparison examples of existing grantees

Dougy Center, Prison Yoga Project, Street Poets

These three organizations are all doing Perception Box work, but through different entry points.

• Dougy Center works through relationships and shared emotional experience.
• Prison Yoga Project works through the body and nervous system.
• Street Poets work through identity and creative expression.

Together they show that perspective shifts can happen emotionally, creatively, or somatically.

Case study: Perception Box work happens through 3 primary pathways

Pathway	Org	How shift happens
Relational / Emotional	Dougy Center	“I’m not alone”
Expressive / Identity	Street Poets	“This is my story… or is it?”
Somatic / Internal	Prison Yoga Project	“I can observe myself”

Here’s another comparative example:

Emory Purpose Project, Uncuffed, Mend Collaborative, Holistic Life Foundation

• The Emory Purpose Project works through structured inquiry into beliefs, meaning, and identity formation.
• Uncuffed works through storytelling and reflection, helping participants notice and reconsider the narratives they carry in real time.
• MEND Collaborative focuses on repairing the human relationship around harm, rather than reinforcing fixed identities of victim and perpetrator.
• Holistic Life Foundation helps participants develop the awareness to notice what they are feeling before they react.

Together, they show that perspective shifts can happen through examining beliefs, becoming aware of personal narratives, and integrating those insights through relationships and lived experience.

Case study: Perception Box work happens through cognitive / belief-based pathways

Pathway	Org	How shift happens
Cognitive / Meaning-Making	Emory Purpose Project	“Why do I believe this?”
Narrative + Reflection (Applied)	Uncuffed	“That story I tell... is it true?”
Relational + Somatic Integration	Mend Collaborative	“I can feel this, and choose differently”
Somatic + Emotional Awareness (Practiced)	Holistic Life Foundation	“I can notice what I’m feeling before I react”

These examples show that perspective shifts can happen through examining beliefs, questioning personal narratives, and building awareness through lived experience.

No. We care about the experience you are creating, not the language you use.

When we review applications, we are not asking whether your work is important. We are asking how your work creates a moment of self awareness. The strongest applications make this easy to understand.

Helpful Guidance: Focus on what actually happens

1. Avoid general descriptions like “participants engage in discussion” or “we raise awareness.” Be specific about what participants do, say, feel, or notice.
2. Show the moment of shift by describing a real moment where someone begins to question their own perspective. If you can’t point to a moment, it likely isn’t clear in the design.
3. Connect activity to insight. Do not just list activities. Explain how those activities lead someone to see themselves differently.
4. Use real language, not performative language. We are less interested in perfect wording and more interested in honest descriptions of your work. If something feels overly polished or abstract, it often lacks clarity.
5. Stay grounded in the participant experience. Write as if we are observing your program in real time. What would we actually see happening?

Common reasons include the project focuses on changing others rather than helping participants examine themselves, the proposal describes intentions but not what actually happens, there is no clear moment where perspective shifts, or the language sounds aligned but the experience itself is vague or abstract. Please also keep in mind that due to the highly competitive nature of this process, we expect to receive more proposals than we able to support.

We fund United States based 501(c)(3) public charities or organizations with a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor. Organizations must have a sustained annual budget of at least 500,000 dollars.

Grants typically range from 50,000 to 250,000 dollars, depending on the scope and design of the project.

We look at the full project budget and how clearly the requested funding supports the core experience. Strong proposals show how our funding directly enables the moments of reflection and perspective shift described in the application.

Larger requests should reflect a clearly defined, well-developed program with the team and infrastructure to execute it. Smaller requests can still be highly competitive if the experience is focused, thoughtful, and clearly designed to create meaningful impact.

We do not prioritize scale alone. A smaller project that creates a deep, well-designed shift in perspective may be a stronger fit than a larger program with less clarity.

We encourage applicants to request an amount that is realistic for their project and aligned with their actual needs.

No. Funding is one time.

Yes. All requests are evaluated independently and must be project specific.

No. You will not be able to save your progress, so we recommend preparing your responses in advance.

If you can clearly describe how your work creates a moment where someone sees themselves differently, it may be a fit. If you cannot, it likely is not.

Funding can support either new or existing programs or projects.

This RFP is open to U.S.-based organizations conducting projects or programs within the United States. Within that, we are open to organizations serving a wide range of communities, geographies, and populations.

There is no preferred region or demographic focus for this RFP. What matters most is the participant experience itself and whether the project creates genuine opportunities for reflection, self-awareness, and perspective shift.

Both are welcome.

Some organizations may propose entirely new initiatives, while others may already be doing this work and are seeking support for an existing program or a new component within it. What matters most is that the proposal clearly demonstrates how participants engage in reflection and perspective expansion.

Yes. For this RFP cycle, we ask that both organizations independently meet the $500,000 annual operating budget requirement.

This RFP is primarily intended to support costs directly connected to the proposed project or participant experience. Budgets can absolutely include staffing, facilitation, instruction, participant support, or other expenses directly tied to carrying out the work.

Yes. Both the fiscally sponsored organization and the fiscal sponsor should independently meet the $500,000 annual operating budget requirement.

Grants will range from $50,000 to $250,000.

Award amounts will vary depending on the scope of the project, the clarity of the proposal, and the organization’s capacity to carry out the work.

At Unlikely Collaborators, we aim to keep reporting relatively simple and manageable. At minimum, grantees will participate in a six-month check-in so we can learn more about project progress, participant experiences, and any insights emerging from the work.

Yes, although we generally encourage organizations to consolidate related work into a single application when possible. Ultimately, we are evaluating the strength and clarity of the participant experience more than the number of requests submitted.

No. 

We intentionally wanted the application process to feel relatively accessible and straightforward. Budgets should clearly outline project expenses and anticipated funding sources, including the ask of Unlikely Collaborators, but there is no required format.

We understand that meaningful work unfolds on different timelines, and there is no required project length or fixed deadline by which all funds must be spent. Projects should ideally begin within six months of funding and include a reasonably clear timeline for implementation. If the timeline is expected to be longer, please explain that in the proposal narrative for our consideration.

We do not prioritize scale over depth.

Some projects create transformation through intimate, highly facilitated experiences. Others may reach broader audiences in meaningful ways. What matters most is whether the experience genuinely creates space for reflection, self-examination, or a shift in perspective.

We understand that Perception Box work can be difficult to measure.

Evaluation matters, but we are often less interested in proving a predetermined outcome and more interested in understanding whether something meaningful happened for participants.

Did someone become more aware of a long-held assumption?

Did they begin questioning a habitual reaction?

Did they recognize another way of interpreting a situation?

Those kinds of moments matter deeply to us.

Either can be compelling.

What matters most is that we can clearly understand who the experience is for, what participants are actually experiencing, and how the project creates opportunities for reflection or perspective shift.

Yes, potentially.

Many organizations work within complex social issues or systems. The key distinction for us is whether the proposed project is focused primarily on internal reflection and self-examination rather than persuading people toward a particular viewpoint.

Either is completely fine.

Some projects may be fully supported through this grant, while others may combine funding from multiple sources. It is simply helpful for us to understand the broader financial picture of the project and how this grant would support the work.