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.

  • Baltimore, MD // 2015

    Community Law in Action, Inc.

    Support for a campaign to end the automatic prosecution of youth in adult courts for certain crimes in Maryland.
    Awarded
    $200,000
    Term
    24 months
    Program
    Youth Justice
  • Chicago, IL // 2015

    Children and Family Justice Center

    Support to promote more effective and fair juvenile justice policies in Illinois.
    Awarded
    $180,000
    Term
    24 months
    Program
    Youth Justice
  • Washington, DC // 2015

    Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

    Support to provide technical assistance on fiscal and budget issues to state advocates advancing youth decarceration reforms.
    Awarded
    $400,000
    Term
    24 months
    Program
    Youth Justice
  • Washington, DC // 2015

    Campaign for Youth Justice

    General Support.
    Awarded
    $800,000
    Term
    24 months
    Program
    Youth Justice
  • Little Rock, AR // 2015

    Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families

    Support to advance reforms to reduce the use of youth incarceration in Arkansas.
    Awarded
    $200,000
    Term
    24 months
    Program
    Youth Justice
  • New York, NY // 2015

    Vera Institute for Justice

    Support to Common Justice, a project that promotes a significant increase in federal victims' assistance funds to advance racial equality in the justice system.
    Awarded
    $100,000
    Term
    24 months
    Program
    Criminal Justice
  • Landsowne, VA // 2015

    Prison Fellowship Ministries

    Support to mobilize grassroots prison ministry volunteers for advocacy in states targeted by the Americans for Safety and Justice sentencing reform campaign.
    Awarded
    $300,000
    Term
    24 months
    Program
    Criminal Justice
  • Washington, DC // 2015

    New Venture Fund

    Support for Alliance for Safety and Justice, a multi-state advocacy campaign seeking to significantly reduce the U.S. prison population in target states, and build momentum to reform nationally.
    Awarded
    $750,000
    Term
    24 months
    Program
    Criminal Justice
  • New York, NY // 2015

    National Employment Law Project

    Support for a coordinated national campaign with Community Legal Services, a sub-grantee, to reduce unnecessary structural barriers to employment for people with criminal records.
    Awarded
    $400,000
    Term
    24 months
    Program
    Criminal Justice
  • Washington, DC // 2015

    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
    $150,000
    Term
    24 months
    Program
    Criminal Justice