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Review our mission, beliefs and program description
To determine if your organization’s mission is consistent with the Foundation’s purpose, review our Mission and Beliefs and Program Description below which includes Who Should Apply, How Grant Funds May be Used, and Expected Five-Year Outcomes.
If you would like to download and print our Program Description: Program Description (PDF)
Your organization must meet the following basic eligibility requirements:
- you are a not-for-profit organization
- you are located in the Southeast. (See map)
We do NOT make grants to:
- direct services such as food or medical assistance
- capital improvements such as building projects
- satellite operations of organizations outside the Southeast. (See map)
- individuals
Program description
Throughout our region, people who live in low-wealth communities and individuals from the public, private and nonprofit sectors are forming creative partnerships to advance economic and social justice. We invite proposals from local, statewide and regional nonprofits in the Southeastern US that have track records of helping low-wealth people build assets and transform economic conditions in their communities. We look for the most promising work that aligns with the Foundation’s Mission and Beliefs.
We support grassroots groups and networks in low-wealth communities that are poised to expand their scale of impact. We also support statewide or regional organizations and networks that are achieving large-scale impact. We are interested in both new approaches and proven strategies that link together grassroots and larger organizations.
Who should apply
The Babcock Foundation invites proposals from local, statewide and regional nonprofits in the Southeastern United States that have track records of helping low-wealth people build assets and transform economic conditions in their communities. We look for the most promising work that aligns with the Foundation’s mission and beliefs and that meets the following criteria:
- Strategies: Competitive applicants will have clear, promising strategies for moving people and places out of poverty, including systems or policy change at the local, state or regional level. We look for strategies that help individuals gain assets and transform their communities so they can build promising economic futures for their families without having to leave their communities.
- Scale: We look for strategies that hold the greatest promise for long-term impact at various geographic levels (neighborhoods, cities, counties, states, regions). We are most interested in efforts that have potential to expand or deepen their impact, or that are already achieving large-scale impact. The size and duration of Babcock’s investments are scaled to the size of impact.
- Networks, alliances and resources: At all levels of funding, we look for goal-oriented, flexible relationships among the nonprofit, public and private sector players necessary for leveraging influence and resources in order to achieve large-scale impact. The networks may be formal or informal, short-term or long-term, and structured in a variety of ways. We expect network structure, membership, relationships and strategies to evolve over time to get the job done effectively and democratically.
- Connections to low-wealth people: All applicants must have meaningful connections with low-wealth people and communities. We encourage and give preference to networks that include both grassroots organizations and institutional partners. Applicants that are not accountable to low-wealth people through their governance structures must demonstrate 1) impact in low-wealth communities, 2) trusting relationships with low-wealth people, and 3) an analysis of poverty that recognizes the need to address systems and policy.
- Bridging differences: We give preference to organizations and networks where people are working together across race, ethnic, economic and/or political lines. In order to receive long-term support from the Babcock Foundation, organizations and networks must build trusting relationships, shared values and productive work across these lines of difference.
- Long-term view: We are most interested in efforts that take a long-term view of what is required for people and places to build assets and move out of poverty. We are interested in achieving lasting impact on individuals and communities, nurturing new leadership, and investing in organizational effectiveness and sustainability.
- Strategic and opportunistic: We are interested in long-term, patient work to build critical infrastructure in communities, states and the region. We are also interested in supporting work where the moment to act is now in order to make significant change or leverage significant resources that will have long-term impact on the lives of many people and communities.
How funds may be used
Grants: Organizations may use grant funds in a variety of ways, including but not limited to:
- General operating support;
- Project support;
- “Glue” support for bringing together networks of grassroots and partner organizations;
- Organizational development support; including efforts to bring 18- to 30-year-olds into leadership roles in the organization.
We expect to establish relationships with applicants in order to learn how grant funds can be used most effectively to meet both the applicants’ needs and the Foundation’s goals. We use our experience over the past decade with support for organizational development, leadership development, and cross-race collaboratives to engage applicants and grantees in conversation about their needs in these areas.
Size of grants: The size and duration of grants is matched to the applicant’s scale of impact, need, capabilities, and opportunities. Initial grants are typically for one to two years, and subsequent grants may be for up to three years. The size of grants ranges from $20,000 to $50,000 annually for grassroots organizations, emerging networks or new projects that are poised to expand their impact. Organizations and networks with track records of impact are eligible for grants ranging from $50,000 to $200,000 annually, depending on their scale of impact. We welcome funding partners and rarely make grants that exceed 30% of a project or organizational budget. If you have questions about the appropriate terms for a grant request, please call the Foundation.
Program Related Investments (PRIs): We look for opportunities to make a few below-market-rate investments in economic development projects in low-wealth communities. To qualify, an organization must have a track record of managing debt or equity investments, a solid business plan, and other investors. The size of the investment is matched to the business plan. The Babcock Foundation typically makes PRIs to organizations with a past history or current relationship with the Foundation.
Expected five-year outcomes
From the universe of outcomes described below, we negotiate specific outcomes with each organization receiving Foundation support. Outcomes are tailored to the mission and strategies of each grantee.
We expect all grants to demonstrate impact over time on moving people and/or places out of poverty (e.g., home ownership, savings, education, job skills, employment, business ownership, asset retention, new investments in businesses and infrastructure in communities, or local ownership of assets).
We expect each organization or network that is funded for multiple years to meet most but not necessarily all of the following outcomes:
- Strategic linkages between grassroots groups in low-wealth communities and key institutions for achieving larger-scale impact than either can achieve alone;
- Specific progress on changing at least one local or state policy or system related to moving people and places out of poverty;
- Involvement of constituents, including youth, in democratic, inclusive processes for changing systems and policy;
- Cooperation and understanding across race, ethnic, economic, political and other fault lines in their communities;
Better use of public, private and nonprofit resources in order to be more effective at moving people and places out of poverty; and
- Greater internal capacity (e.g., income streams, skilled staff and board, supportive public policy, relationships) to continue the grantee’s impact.
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