Grants
Who Should Apply
The Babcock Foundation invites proposals from local, statewide, regional and national nonprofits serving the South that have track records of helping people and places move out of poverty and achieve greater social and economic justice. We look for the most promising opportunities to support power building work to advance racial equity and social and economic justice. A likely candidate for funding would align with the Foundation’s mission, vision and values and demonstrate the following characteristics:
- Accountability to low-wealth communities: Our grantee partners have meaningful connections with low-wealth people and are accountable to communities through their governance structures. These organizations have people of all backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences, and people directly affected by systems of oppression in leadership positions, including their boards of directors, steering committees and executive roles.
- Clear analysis and strategies: We look to partner with groups that have a clear analysis of how race and power are operating in a given context at a given moment. This analysis informs strategies for increasing impact, fostering trusting relationships with communities and leveraging political will to dismantle harmful systems and policies at the local, state, regional and/or institutional level.
- Networks, alliances and resources: We look to support goal-oriented, values-aligned networks to leverage resources, share strategies and achieve impact in ways that make sense in their places. These networks may be formal or informal, short-term or long-term, and structured in a variety of ways. We encourage networks that include both grassroots organizations and statewide or institutional partners.
- Long-term view: Change rarely happens overnight, particularly in the South. Our partners take a long-term view of what is needed to change systems and policies, build power, and advance social and economic justice and racial equity.
- Strategic and opportunistic: In addition to supporting long-term, patient systems change work, we aim to be nimble and responsive when the moment to act is now to improve the lives of people and communities.
The Foundation also remains open to new thinking about how to address poverty in the South. One way we learn about promising work across the region is through our open inquiry process. We are pleased to receive organizational summaries from organizations that meet our eligibility requirements and fit with our program description.
Examples of work the Foundation does not fund include:
- Direct service programs
- Individual elementary or secondary schools — charter, private or public
- Fundraising events such as walk-a-thons, telethons and sponsorships
- Scholarships
- Athletes, teams or sporting events, including charity golf tournaments
- Endowments and cash reserves
- Grants to individuals
Where We Work
The Foundation funds work that builds power to advance racial equity across an 11-state Southern footprint: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
How to Apply
- Exploring potential alignment: A prospective partner can submit an Organizational Summary at any point in the year.
- This Organizational Summary helps Foundation staff to get familiar with an organization’s strategies, networks, and goals. This is not a grant application nor a letter of intent- but an opportunity for the Foundation to learn about your organization’s work and explore potential alignment with current funding priorities.
- After the Organizational Summary is reviewed, staff may reach out to set up a learning call to explore potential alignment with MRBF’s funding priorities and strategic directions.
- Application Process: If funding is available and work aligns with priorities, the Foundation may invite the organization to submit a proposal, along with instructions and guidelines.
- Once a full proposal is received, staff conduct a learning meeting to learn more about the work and strategies.
- If the applicant organization is a good fit for MRBF funding, staff will write a recommendation for the board of directors for approval.
Thank you for your interest in the Babcock Foundation. We are currently transitioning to a new grants management system. Our online portal will be offline from November 1, 2025, through January 15, 2026.
We appreciate your understanding and patience as we make these improvements to better serve our partners and applicants. We are excited to reopen the portal next year with improved accessibility and functionality.
The Foundation will not be accepting organizational summaries while our system is undergoing these updates. For organizations intending to share more about your work, please follow up after January 15, 2026, to submit the organizational summary form.
If you are an existing grantee with questions, please contact your Network Officer directly.
