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

MRBF Joins Supreme Court Amicus Brief about Census

A fair, thorough and accurate census count is vital to nearly every aspect of our personal and professional lives. The Constitution requires the federal government to count every member of the population every ten...

Berea Service Award

Deputy Director Gladys Washington Accepts Berea College Service Award

Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation Deputy Director Gladys Washington accepted the Berea College Service Award on March 28, 2019. The award was created "to honor persons who in their daily lives and their service to humanity have exemplified the Berea Commitments."

While writing her speech...

MRBF

Issues

Places

  • Louisiana's “Winning Side:” Powering Democracy through Civic Engagement

    The winds of change are stirring strong through Louisiana thanks, in large part, to a network of grassroots organizers, community advocates and policy experts working to improve the quality of life for low-wealth people. Last month, our staff and board visited Louisiana to learn about current strategies and emerging opportunities. The visit was my first chance as a Network Officer to engage...

    Together Louisiana

  • Asking Hard Questions: How We Created a Racial Equity Statement

    An indispensable aspect of any journey are the signs pointing the way, indicators of where you want to go that keep you moving in the right direction.

    Over the last several months, the board and staff of the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation have been exploring ways to incorporate racial equity more fully into all aspects of our work, from grantmaking to mission investing, from internal...

  • Congratulations to our New and Returning Grantee Partners

    Congratulations to our new and returning grantee partners who received funding in June 2018:

    Advocates for Community and Rural Education dba Rural Community Alliance

    Appalachia Funders Network

    Appalachian Citizens' Law Center

    Blueprint NC

    Coalfield Development Corporation

    CommunityWorks

    Homes of Hope, Inc.

    ...

  • A Proven Way to Battle Rural America’s Poverty

    This originally appeared as an op-ed in the Chronicle of Philanthropy on July 11, 2018.

    A county in Mississippi with a 28 percent poverty rate is about to boast the state’s first and only year-round, fully accessible camp for disabled children and adults. A rural county in South Carolina will soon have a dedicated high school to prepare students for health careers...