Grants

Investing in nonprofits that are advancing a new, transformative system of justice with the core values of racial equity, economic well-being, and fundamental fairness for all.

Grants Overview


Public Welfare Foundation awards grants to nonprofits that honor the Foundation’s core values of racial equity, economic well-being, and fundamental fairness for all. The Foundation looks for strategic points where its funds can make a significant difference and improve lives through policy and system reform that results in transformative change.

The Foundation funds organizations that currently hold a 501(c)(3) status with the Internal Revenue Service working in the United States. Organizations that do not have this status can apply with a fiscal sponsor. The Foundation does not fund individuals, scholarships, direct services, or international projects.

Grant Types: How We Fund the Work

General Support Grants

General support grants are for day-to-day operating costs or to further the work of your organization. These grants are not earmarked for a particular program or project.

Program or Project Support Grants

Program or project support grants support a specific program or activity of the organization. These are restricted grants and must be used for that program or project.

Special Opportunities Grants

The Special Opportunities Program supports projects reflecting the Foundation’s mission and underlying values. These are one-time only grants that are especially timely and compelling. At times, this kind of grant serves as a laboratory for new ideas.

Grants Awarded

Public Welfare Foundation awards grants throughout the year. Please see our database below to see what we have funded. Filter grants by fiscal year and program area.

  • Oakland, CA // 2015

    Neighborhood Funders Group

    Support for the Working Group on Labor and Community Partnerships program.
    Awarded
    $75,000
    Term
    24 months
    Program
    Workers' Rights
  • San Francisco, CA // 2013

    Tides Center

    Support for Californians for Safety and Justice.
    Awarded
    $200,000
    Term
    24 months
    Program
    Criminal Justice
  • Oakland, CA // 2013

    National Center for Youth Law

    Support to raise awareness of the role of implicit bias in creating racial disparities in juvenile justice.
    Awarded
    $100,000
    Term
    12 months
    Program
    Youth Justice
  • San Francisco, CA // 2013

    Tides Center

    Support to help launch the Talent Philanthropy Project for activities to encourage philanthropic investment in nonprofit talent and staff development to build the capacity of the social justice advocacy sector.
    Awarded
    $16,500
    Term
    6 months
    Program
    President's Discretionary Fund
  • Los Angeles, CA // 2013

    Los Angeles Alliance For A New Economy

    Support for the Clean and Safe Ports Campaign.
    Awarded
    $500,000
    Term
    12 months
    Program
    Workers' Rights
  • San Jose, CA // 2013

    Working Partnerships USA

    Support for the organization's project to improve worker health and safety in California.
    Awarded
    $200,000
    Term
    24 months
    Program
    Workers' Rights
  • Oakland, CA // 2013

    Worksafe

    General support.
    Awarded
    $200,000
    Term
    24 months
    Program
    Workers' Rights
  • Oakland, CA // 2014

    Community Oriented Correctional Health Services

    Support to provide national and local stakeholders with education and technical assistance to create pretrial alternatives to detention leveraging Medicaid resources.
    Awarded
    $100,000
    Term
    12 months
    Program
    Criminal Justice
  • San Francisco, CA // 2014

    Legal Services for Children

    Support to work, along with the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, to promote the fair and equitable treatment of non-citizen youth by juvenile justice systems.
    Awarded
    $320,000
    Term
    24 months
    Program
    Youth Justice
  • Los Angeles, CA // 2014

    UCLA School of Law

    Support for UCLA School of Law's Epstein Program in Public Interest Law and Policy for its Jail Removal Project to provide jurisdictions with guidance on how to end the practice of detaining youth in adult jails.
    Awarded
    $150,000
    Term
    18 months
    Program
    Youth Justice