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.

  • Washington, DC // 2015

    Advancement Project

    Support for youth organizing for police reform in targeted locations around the country.
    Awarded
    $125,000
    Term
    12 months
    Program
    Special Opportunities
  • Washington, DC // 2015

    Center for Community Change

    Support to the Poverty Initiative's campaigns for job quality.
    Awarded
    $100,000
    Term
    24 months
    Program
    Workers' Rights
  • Washington, DC // 2015

    Center for Economic and Policy Research

    Support for the Working Group on Domestic Contracting.
    Awarded
    $50,000
    Term
    12 months
    Program
    Workers' Rights
  • Washington, DC // 2015

    Center for Progressive Reform

    Support for Winning Safer Workplaces, Lessons from the Past, Reforms for the Future program.
    Awarded
    $500,000
    Term
    24 months
    Program
    Workers' Rights
  • Washington, DC // 2015

    Farmworker Justice

    General Support.
    Awarded
    $150,000
    Term
    12 months
    Program
    Workers' Rights
  • Washington, DC // 2013

    Dewey Square Group

    Support to design and execute a communications campaign to support the pretrial advocacy field in influencing key decision makers and policymakers across the nation to embrace pretrial reform.
    Awarded
    $163,000
    Term
    12 months
    Program
    Criminal Justice
  • Washington, DC // 2013

    Justice Policy Institute

    General support.
    Awarded
    $50,000
    Term
    12 months
    Program
    Criminal Justice
  • Washington, DC // 2013

    National Association of Counties Research Foundation

    Support to educate the organization's members, county government officials, about opportunities to manage local jail populations using pretrial detention reform, risk assessment and other front-end diversion practices.
    Awarded
    $220,000
    Term
    24 months
    Program
    Criminal Justice
  • Washington, DC // 2013

    National Association of Pretrial Services Agencies

    $20,000 in general support and $30,000 for support to explore how to divert pretrial defendants from incarceration by tapping into the promise of health care reform.
    Awarded
    $50,000
    Term
    12 months
    Program
    Criminal Justice
  • Washington, DC // 2013

    National Criminal Justice Association

    Support to elevate the issue of pretrial detention reform through education and technical assistance among State Administering Agencies, which distribute and monitor federal and state criminal justice formula grants.
    Awarded
    $100,000
    Term
    12 month
    Program
    Criminal Justice