We seek to shift economic development practices to be more inclusive of people of color and produce better outcomes for our priority communities.
Increased Advocacy for Equitable Development
We seek to improve labor standards by increasing community voice in policy processes and by creating greater public and private sector accountability.
We support a cultural shift in economic development efforts through training programs, industry networks and technical assistance that equip government agencies with the necessary tools to embed accountability and equity into their economic development work. We believe that increasing the representation of diverse and progressive constituents in economic development decision making will lead to new policies and practices that produce better outcomes for people of color and low-wealth communities.
We believe that advocacy and organizing efforts have shifted public policy and private sector practices in relation to labor laws that benefit our priority communities. We support efforts to develop new progressive policies, protect existing progressive policies, and abolish regressive policies that harm people of color and low-wealth communities. We also plan to use this intervention for targeted support of cities or regions for longer-term place-based investments.
Selection Criteria
Promote Diverse Perspectives
We will support projects that foster a more diverse and inclusive public sector and prioritize the perspectives and innovations developed by its most marginalized citizens – leading to new systems of accountability and economic growth that is truly felt by all.
Reforms to Procurement and Labor Standards
We will support organizations that provide field infrastructure, research, and initiatives that improve labor standards and procurement policies.
Letter of Inquiry
We recognize the many needs and demands COVID-19 and the national social uprising against racism present for nonprofits and communities. We also acknowledge that we have limited resources, nonprofits have limited time, and that very few unsolicited funding inquiries at our foundation have historically led to a grant.
Given these realities, we are not accepting unsolicited letters of inquiry until further notice.
Equitable Economic Development
You can see recent Equitable Economic Development grants below.
And explore other Inclusive Economies grants in our database.
The purpose of this grant is to support the Bronx Economic Justice Project, a cohort of grassroots organizations developing collaborative economic models built on solidarity, mutual aid, and cooperation in under-resourced communities in the Bronx.
Active
$150,000
18 months
2024
TREND Community Development Corporation
The purpose of this grant is general operating support.
The purpose of this grant is to support the Local Solutions Support Center in coordinating and creating efforts to counter the abuse of preemption and strengthen local democracy by raising awareness of state preemption and its consequences, reducing the use of this threat to local autonomy, and strengthening the power of local governments to advance policies that promote equity, inclusion, public health, and civic participation.
The purpose of the grant is for general operating support for research, training, technical assistance, and publishing to promote greater accountability and equity in economic development.
The purpose of this grant is to support the Ascend Fund—a philanthropic collaborative dedicated to accelerating the pace of change toward gender parity in U.S. politics by investing capital in nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations that break down barriers preventing women from running for office and winning.
To develop a new, cutting-edge regional economic development approach for Greater Birmingham, with strong input from diverse local partners and national experts.
The purpose of this grant is general operating support for Transform Finance which seeks to build wealth and power for communities by challenging legacy investment approaches, seeding transformative investment models, and centering non-investor voices.
The purpose of this grant is to support Next River’s work to move conversation, culture, and resources to nourish the people and communities whose ways of being, doing, and relating point us toward the audacious change this moment demands.
Building Trust Through Practice: A Shared Journey Toward an Inclusive Economy
There's a lot of talk in philanthropy about racial justice, trusting and centering grantees, sharing power, and enabling the risks necessary for innovative ideas to launch, succeed, or fail. But what does this look like in practice? In this…
Covid-19
April 14, 2020
Foundations and Donors Step Up Grants to Help Workers Hurt by the Pandemic
As reported in the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Surdna is one of many funders stepping up their support for workers. Below is an excerpt of an article by Alex Daniels that looks at foundations' early efforts to help workers survive and thrive. Early…
News
March 14, 2019
Living Cities Blog: Start Up, Stay Up, Scale Up [SU(3)] – Part 3
San Francisco – along with Albuquerque and New Orleans – are a part of a Living Cities’ cohort intended to tackle entrepreneurial barriers for people of color. The initiative–named Start Up, Stay Up, Scale Up –is designed…
News
September 17, 2018
Living Cities Blog: Start Up, Stay Up, Scale Up [SU(3)] - Part 2
Albuquerque – along with San Francisco and New Orleans – are a part of a Living Cities’ cohort intended to tackle entrepreneurial barriers for people of color. The initiative–named Start Up, Stay Up, Scale Up –is designed to connect…
News
August 1, 2018
Living Cities Blog: Start Up, Stay Up, Scale Up [SU(3)] - Part 1
New Orleans – along with Albuquerque and San Francisco–are a part of a new Living Cities’ cohort intended to tackle entrepreneurial barriers for people of color. The initiative–named Start Up, Stay Up, Scale Up –is designed to connect…
News
June 8, 2018
Community LIFT: A Push for Place
By the end of July, the group that works to connect the dots among the city’s community development corporations plans to have a report that looks at how other cities are connecting the dots in a much broader way. Community LIFT has…
What We're Learning
August 4, 2017
Funders' Network Report: Anchored in Place
Anchor institutions can play a vital role in strengthening and connecting local economies, and can serve as powerful drivers for building inclusive and equitable communities. A new report issued this week by the Funders’ Network as part of its…
News
June 6, 2017
Six New Cities Selected for Equitable Economic Development Fellowship
WASHINGTON – June 6, 2017 – Today, National League of Cities (NLC), PolicyLink and the Urban Land Institute (ULI) announced the selection of six additional cities for participation in the organizations’ jointly-supported Equitable Economic…
News
April 28, 2017
Next City Announces New Equitable Cities Fellows
Next City announces two new journalism fellows who will cover the equitable economic development beat, Deonna Anderson and Serena Maria Daniels. Click here for complete…
You can see recent Equitable Economic Development grants below.
And explore other Inclusive Economies grants in our database.
The purpose of this grant is to support the Bronx Economic Justice Project, a cohort of grassroots organizations developing collaborative economic models built on solidarity, mutual aid, and cooperation in under-resourced communities in the Bronx.
Active
$150,000
18 months
2024
TREND Community Development Corporation
The purpose of this grant is general operating support.
The purpose of this grant is to support the Local Solutions Support Center in coordinating and creating efforts to counter the abuse of preemption and strengthen local democracy by raising awareness of state preemption and its consequences, reducing the use of this threat to local autonomy, and strengthening the power of local governments to advance policies that promote equity, inclusion, public health, and civic participation.
The purpose of the grant is for general operating support for research, training, technical assistance, and publishing to promote greater accountability and equity in economic development.
The purpose of this grant is to support the Ascend Fund—a philanthropic collaborative dedicated to accelerating the pace of change toward gender parity in U.S. politics by investing capital in nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations that break down barriers preventing women from running for office and winning.
To develop a new, cutting-edge regional economic development approach for Greater Birmingham, with strong input from diverse local partners and national experts.
The purpose of this grant is general operating support for Transform Finance which seeks to build wealth and power for communities by challenging legacy investment approaches, seeding transformative investment models, and centering non-investor voices.
The purpose of this grant is to support Next River’s work to move conversation, culture, and resources to nourish the people and communities whose ways of being, doing, and relating point us toward the audacious change this moment demands.