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 Coworker.org to build systems that workers can use to develop leadership, new forms of collective power, and productive engagement with employers.
General operating support grant to empower communities to leverage their tax dollars to generate good, equitable jobs, career pipelines, sustainability, and more government accountability.
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.
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.
The purpose of this grant is general program support to three CIWO projects: Strengthening Labor Standards Enforcement, Build the Bench, and WILL Empower.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
To develop a new, cutting-edge regional economic development approach for Greater Birmingham, with strong input from diverse local partners and national experts.
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 Coworker.org to build systems that workers can use to develop leadership, new forms of collective power, and productive engagement with employers.
General operating support grant to empower communities to leverage their tax dollars to generate good, equitable jobs, career pipelines, sustainability, and more government accountability.
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.
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.
The purpose of this grant is general program support to three CIWO projects: Strengthening Labor Standards Enforcement, Build the Bench, and WILL Empower.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
To develop a new, cutting-edge regional economic development approach for Greater Birmingham, with strong input from diverse local partners and national experts.