Helping to Move People and Places out of Poverty

Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation

Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation

The Babcock Foundation partners with organizations and networks working to alleviate poverty and increase social and economic justice in 11 Southern states. We believe in democracy, opportunity and the power of partnerships, and we follow the lead of local experts who know what their communities need to thrive.

We support collaborative, multi-strategy, place-based work focused on democracy and civic engagement, economic opportunity, and supportive policies and institutions. We believe sustained, general-support grants are critical to helping organizations remain nimble and effective. In addition to grantmaking, we make strategic investments aligned with our mission and values. 

Established in 1953 with a $12 million bequest from Mary Reynolds Babcock, in its early days the Foundation supported historically black colleges and universities, grassroots advocacy groups, voter education and government accountability efforts – a unique legacy for Southern family philanthropy. 

The values that guided the Foundation in those days – fairness, democracy, equity and opportunity – continue to be our North Star today. 

Our Mission & Vision

Grants

Stories

Position Announcement: Impact Investment Officer

The Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation has created a new impact investment officer position -- an exciting opportunity for someone committed to using capital creatively to improve the lives of people of color and low-wealth communities. Reporting to the chief finance and...

Flozell Daniels, Jr

Introducing our Next CEO

The board and staff of the Babcock Foundation are thrilled to announce that Flozell Daniels, Jr. will serve as our next CEO and lead the organization into its next chapter. Daniels currently serves as CEO and...

Revoking Reproductive Justice is Only the Beginning

As the nation begins a long weekend commemorating Independence Day, Americans who champion democracy, social justice, a clean environment, and racial and gender equity are not in a particularly celebratory mindset. A series of regressive rulings from the Supreme Court has halted and reversed...

MRBF

Issues

Places

  • Position Announcement: Impact Investment Officer

    The Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation has created a new impact investment officer position -- an exciting opportunity for someone committed to using capital creatively to improve the lives of people of color and low-wealth communities. Reporting to the chief finance and operations officer, the impact investment officer will help reimagine, develop and drive innovative...

  • Ford Foundation Invests $10M to Support Southern Organizing via Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation

    Today the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation announced it will invest an additional $10 million from the Ford Foundation to support organizing and advocacy in the American South. Over the next five years, Ford’s investment will augment the Babcock Foundation’s ongoing primary grantmaking strategy, which is to help strengthen the growing organizations and networks working together to advance...

  • Introducing our Next CEO

    The board and staff of the Babcock Foundation are thrilled to announce that Flozell Daniels, Jr. will serve as our next CEO and lead the organization into its next chapter. Daniels currently serves as CEO and President of the Foundation for Louisiana , which launched in 2005 to foster an equitable recovery from...

    Flozell Daniels, Jr

  • Revoking Reproductive Justice is Only the Beginning

    As the nation begins a long weekend commemorating Independence Day, Americans who champion democracy, social justice, a clean environment, and racial and gender equity are not in a particularly celebratory mindset. A series of regressive rulings from the Supreme Court has halted and reversed progress, and more harmful decisions await on the polluted horizon. The court has agreed to take up a...

  • Welcome our New Staff Members!

    The board and staff of the Babcock Foundation are thrilled to introduce you to five new staff members who joined our team this year. With a broad range of expertise and skills, these folks will help MRBF deepen our mission across the South. Their strong alignment with the Foundation’s vision, values and commitments will help our team build a culture that is warm, convivial and focused, even as...

    MRBF new staff