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.
Organizations interested in building a relationship with the Babcock Foundation are welcome to submit an organizational summary at any time. However, before submitting an organizational summary, we invite you to learn more about our Strategic Directions which outlines our Primary and Complementary Strategies.
Our Primary Strategy aims to strengthen state-based infrastructure for power building to advance racial equity in 11 Southern states. For organizations that may align with our Primary Strategy, please use this link to submit an organizational summary.
Our Complementary Strategy aims to learn alongside organizations engaged in restorative economic models that promote democratic practices, solidarity, and community ownership. In addition to grantmaking, our Complementary Strategy also encompasses our approach to program-related investments as outlined on our mission investing webpage. For organizations that may align with this Complementary Strategy, please use this alternative link to submit an organizational summary.
