The Babcock Foundation invites proposals from local, statewide, regional, and national nonprofits serving the South that have track records of helping people and places move out of poverty and achieve greater social and economic justice. We look for the most promising opportunities to support power-building work to advance racial equity and social and economic justice.

A likely candidate for funding would align with the Foundation’s mission, vision, and values and demonstrate the following characteristics:

• Accountability to low-wealth communities: Our grantee partners have meaningful connections with low-wealth people and are accountable to communities through their governance structures.

• Clear analysis and strategies: We look to partner with groups that have a clear analysis of how race and power are operating in a given context at a given moment.

• Networks, alliances, and resources: We look to support goal-oriented, values-aligned networks to leverage resources, share strategies and achieve impact in ways that make sense in their places.

• Long-term view:  Change rarely happens overnight, particularly in the South. Our partners take a long-term view of what is needed to change systems and policies, build power, and advance social and economic justice and racial equity.

• Strategic and opportunistic:  In addition to supporting long-term, patient systems change work, we aim to be nimble and responsive when the moment to act is now to improve the lives of people and communities.

How Funds May Be Used

• General operating support

• Project support

• “Glue” support for networks of grassroots and partner organizations

• Organizational development

Size and duration of grants:

The size and duration of grants are matched to an organization’s scale of impact, needs, capabilities and opportunities. Once invited to apply, potential grantees will work with a network officer to determine the amount and duration of grants.

Program-related investments:

We look for opportunities to make below-market-rate investments to spur economic development in low-wealth communities. The Foundation typically makes these PRIs to community development financial institutions with missions and impacts consistent with our grant-making priorities.

The Foundation also remains open to new thinking about how to address poverty in the South.

A prospective grantee partner submits an organizational summary at any point in the year.

MRBF staff review the organizational summary to determine whether to invite the organization to submit a full grant proposal.