Equitable Economic Development

The Outcomes We Seek

  • A More Inclusive Economic Development Practice

    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.

Equitable Economic Development

You can see recent Equitable Economic Development grants below.
And explore other Inclusive Economies grants in our database.

Year Approved
Organization
Status
Amount
Duration
2022 Family Values at Work: A Multi-State Consortium Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general operating support.

Active $1,200,000 72 months
2022 Coworker.org Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is to support Coworker.org to build systems that workers can use to develop leadership, new forms of collective power, and productive engagement with employers.

Closed $300,000 24 months
2022 Jobs to Move America Path Created with Sketch.

General operating support grant to empower communities to leverage their tax dollars to generate good, equitable jobs, career pipelines, sustainability, and more government accountability.  

Active $750,000 36 months
2022 International Economic Development Council Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is for partial funding of IEDC’s Equitable Economic Development Playbook initiative, a hybrid research and technical assistance project to identify and implement equitable economic development practices across the U.S.

Active $75,000 42 months
2021 MLK50: Justice Through Journalism Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general program support to MLK50.

Closed $350,000 24 months
2021 Activest Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is to provide general program support to Activest.

Active $330,000 30 months
2021 Aspen Institute Path Created with Sketch.

This grant supports progress toward an inclusive and equitable economy by promoting job quality including worker protections and rights and expanding access to capital and strengthening local entrepreneurial ecosystems to accelerate the recovery and growth of Latino-owned businesses.

Active $450,000 36 months
2021 PolicyLink Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general operating support. 

Active $750,000 36 months
2021 Center for Innovation in Worker Organization Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general program support to three CIWO projects: Strengthening Labor Standards Enforcement, Build the Bench, and WILL Empower.

Closed $200,000 24 months
2021 Economic Policy Institute Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is to support Southern EARN and grassroots partners’ research, policy, and advocacy efforts to win worker, racial, and gender justice reforms in the South.

Active $1,475,000 72 months
2021 New Growth Innovation Network Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is to provide general operating support.

Closed $280,000 24 months
2021 Jobs with Justice Education Fund Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of the grant is to support JWJEF’s efforts to build worker power towards a healthy and equitable economic democracy.

Closed $1,000,000 36 months
2021 Labor Innovations for the 21st Century (LIFT) Fund Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is to better the conditions of workers in the South while ensuring that workers have a say or voice in their communities and places of work.

Closed $600,000 36 months
2021 One Fair Wage, Inc. Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is to support One Fair Wage’s efforts to conduct policy, industry, and narrative shift activities to educate policymakers and the public about the need to end the subminimum wage for tipped workers and improve wages and working conditions for workers, particularly in the service sector.


Closed $450,000 24 months
2021 PowerSwitch Action Path Created with Sketch.

General operating support for the Partnership for Working Families, a national network of regional advocacy organizations that support innovative solutions to the nation’s economic and environmental problems.

Closed $900,000 36 months
2021 One Fair Wage, Inc. Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general operating support. Funds will be used to support OFW’s Emergency Fund that will give direct cash assistance to workers in Texas in response to the weather crisis.

Closed $23,450 6 months
2021 Texas Organizing Project Education Fund Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this general operating support grant is to allow Texas Organizing Project to support both current and alumni members of BCLI who have been impacted by the severe weather across Texas.

Closed $50,000 6 months
2021 Local Progress Policy Institute Path Created with Sketch.

For Local Progress to support, connect and unite local elected officials in advancing racial and economic justice. Funds will also help Local Progress organize members to collaborate across cities for impact at the state and national level.

Closed $750,000 36 months
2020 The Greenlining Institute Path Created with Sketch.

To support the Greenlining Institute’s Racial Equity Civic Fellowship, which is a full-time detailed staff person housed with the City of Oakland’s Economic Development to advance and implement a racial equity agenda that results in inclusive growth, increased economic security, and reduced racial income disparities.

Closed $400,000 24 months
2020 MLK50: Justice Through Journalism Path Created with Sketch.

To produce a series of stories on poverty, power and public policy, with a focus on workers; develop a monthly newsletter; build a membership program; and switch to a new content management system.

Closed $175,000 12 months
2020 Financial Services Stakeholder Project NFP Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general operating support.

Active $250,000 24 months
2020 National Employment Law Project Path Created with Sketch.

General operating support.

Closed $750,000 36 months
2020 Urban Manufacturing Alliance Path Created with Sketch.

General operating support.

Active $225,000 36 months
2020 Black Worker Initiative Path Created with Sketch.

To develop a new, cutting-edge regional economic development approach for Greater Birmingham, with strong input from diverse local partners and national experts.

Closed $150,000 29 months
2020 PowerSwitch Action Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general operating support

Closed $50,000 6 months

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You can see recent Equitable Economic Development grants below.
And explore other Inclusive Economies grants in our database.

Year Approved
Organization
Status
Amount
Duration
2022 Family Values at Work: A Multi-State Consortium Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general operating support.

Active $1,200,000 72 months
2022 Coworker.org Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is to support Coworker.org to build systems that workers can use to develop leadership, new forms of collective power, and productive engagement with employers.

Closed $300,000 24 months
2022 Jobs to Move America Path Created with Sketch.

General operating support grant to empower communities to leverage their tax dollars to generate good, equitable jobs, career pipelines, sustainability, and more government accountability.  

Active $750,000 36 months
2022 International Economic Development Council Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is for partial funding of IEDC’s Equitable Economic Development Playbook initiative, a hybrid research and technical assistance project to identify and implement equitable economic development practices across the U.S.

Active $75,000 42 months
2021 MLK50: Justice Through Journalism Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general program support to MLK50.

Closed $350,000 24 months
2021 Activest Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is to provide general program support to Activest.

Active $330,000 30 months
2021 Aspen Institute Path Created with Sketch.

This grant supports progress toward an inclusive and equitable economy by promoting job quality including worker protections and rights and expanding access to capital and strengthening local entrepreneurial ecosystems to accelerate the recovery and growth of Latino-owned businesses.

Active $450,000 36 months
2021 PolicyLink Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general operating support. 

Active $750,000 36 months
2021 Center for Innovation in Worker Organization Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general program support to three CIWO projects: Strengthening Labor Standards Enforcement, Build the Bench, and WILL Empower.

Closed $200,000 24 months
2021 Economic Policy Institute Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is to support Southern EARN and grassroots partners’ research, policy, and advocacy efforts to win worker, racial, and gender justice reforms in the South.

Active $1,475,000 72 months
2021 New Growth Innovation Network Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is to provide general operating support.

Closed $280,000 24 months
2021 Jobs with Justice Education Fund Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of the grant is to support JWJEF’s efforts to build worker power towards a healthy and equitable economic democracy.

Closed $1,000,000 36 months
2021 Labor Innovations for the 21st Century (LIFT) Fund Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is to better the conditions of workers in the South while ensuring that workers have a say or voice in their communities and places of work.

Closed $600,000 36 months
2021 One Fair Wage, Inc. Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is to support One Fair Wage’s efforts to conduct policy, industry, and narrative shift activities to educate policymakers and the public about the need to end the subminimum wage for tipped workers and improve wages and working conditions for workers, particularly in the service sector.


Closed $450,000 24 months
2021 PowerSwitch Action Path Created with Sketch.

General operating support for the Partnership for Working Families, a national network of regional advocacy organizations that support innovative solutions to the nation’s economic and environmental problems.

Closed $900,000 36 months
2021 One Fair Wage, Inc. Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general operating support. Funds will be used to support OFW’s Emergency Fund that will give direct cash assistance to workers in Texas in response to the weather crisis.

Closed $23,450 6 months
2021 Texas Organizing Project Education Fund Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this general operating support grant is to allow Texas Organizing Project to support both current and alumni members of BCLI who have been impacted by the severe weather across Texas.

Closed $50,000 6 months
2021 Local Progress Policy Institute Path Created with Sketch.

For Local Progress to support, connect and unite local elected officials in advancing racial and economic justice. Funds will also help Local Progress organize members to collaborate across cities for impact at the state and national level.

Closed $750,000 36 months
2020 The Greenlining Institute Path Created with Sketch.

To support the Greenlining Institute’s Racial Equity Civic Fellowship, which is a full-time detailed staff person housed with the City of Oakland’s Economic Development to advance and implement a racial equity agenda that results in inclusive growth, increased economic security, and reduced racial income disparities.

Closed $400,000 24 months
2020 MLK50: Justice Through Journalism Path Created with Sketch.

To produce a series of stories on poverty, power and public policy, with a focus on workers; develop a monthly newsletter; build a membership program; and switch to a new content management system.

Closed $175,000 12 months
2020 Financial Services Stakeholder Project NFP Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general operating support.

Active $250,000 24 months
2020 National Employment Law Project Path Created with Sketch.

General operating support.

Closed $750,000 36 months
2020 Urban Manufacturing Alliance Path Created with Sketch.

General operating support.

Active $225,000 36 months
2020 Black Worker Initiative Path Created with Sketch.

To develop a new, cutting-edge regional economic development approach for Greater Birmingham, with strong input from diverse local partners and national experts.

Closed $150,000 29 months
2020 PowerSwitch Action Path Created with Sketch.

The purpose of this grant is general operating support

Closed $50,000 6 months