We seek to shift economic development practices to be more inclusive of people of color and produce better outcomes for our priority communities.
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.
You can see recent Equitable Economic Development grants below.
And explore other Inclusive Economies grants in our database.
|
Year Approved
|
Organization
|
Status
|
Amount
|
Duration
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 |
Activest
The purpose of this grant is to provide general program support to Activest. |
Active | $330,000 | 30 months |
| 2021 |
Aspen Institute
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
The purpose of this grant is general operating support. |
Active | $750,000 | 36 months |
| 2021 |
Center for Innovation in Worker Organization
The purpose of this grant is general program support to three CIWO projects: Strengthening Labor Standards Enforcement, Build the Bench, and WILL Empower. |
Active | $200,000 | 24 months |
| 2021 |
Economic Policy Institute
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
The purpose of this grant is to provide general operating support. |
Active | $280,000 | 24 months |
| 2021 |
Jobs with Justice Education Fund
The purpose of the grant is to support JWJEF’s efforts to build worker power towards a healthy and equitable economic democracy. |
Active | $1,000,000 | 36 months |
| 2021 |
Labor Innovations for the 21st Century (LIFT) Fund
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. |
Active | $600,000 | 36 months |
| 2021 |
One Fair Wage, Inc.
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
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. |
Active | $900,000 | 36 months |
| 2021 |
One Fair Wage, Inc.
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
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
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. |
Active | $750,000 | 36 months |
| 2020 |
Greenlining Institute
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
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
The purpose of this grant is general operating support. |
Active | $250,000 | 24 months |
| 2020 |
National Employment Law Project
General operating support. |
Active | $750,000 | 36 months |
| 2020 |
Urban Manufacturing Alliance
General operating support. |
Active | $225,000 | 36 months |
| 2020 |
Black Worker Initiative
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
The purpose of this grant is general operating support |
Closed | $50,000 | 6 months |
| 2020 |
Urban Manufacturing Alliance
The purpose of this grant is general operating support. |
Closed | $20,000 | 6 months |
| 2020 |
Next City
The purpose of this grant is general operating support. |
Closed | $50,000 | 6 months |
| 2020 |
Amalgamated Charitable Foundation
The purpose of this grant is to fund the equitable economic recovery grantmaking efforts of the Families and Workers Fund. |
Closed | $50,000 | 6 months |
| 2020 |
NDN Collective
The purpose of the grant is for general operating support. |
Closed | $225,000 | 12 months |
| 2020 |
One Fair Wage, Inc.
The purpose of this grant is to support the One Fair Wage relational voter program which aims to engage hundreds of thousands of low-wage workers who have been heretofore excluded both from the minimum wage and from voter engagement efforts. |
Closed | $175,000 | 12 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
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 |
Activest
The purpose of this grant is to provide general program support to Activest. |
Active | $330,000 | 30 months |
| 2021 |
Aspen Institute
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
The purpose of this grant is general operating support. |
Active | $750,000 | 36 months |
| 2021 |
Center for Innovation in Worker Organization
The purpose of this grant is general program support to three CIWO projects: Strengthening Labor Standards Enforcement, Build the Bench, and WILL Empower. |
Active | $200,000 | 24 months |
| 2021 |
Economic Policy Institute
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
The purpose of this grant is to provide general operating support. |
Active | $280,000 | 24 months |
| 2021 |
Jobs with Justice Education Fund
The purpose of the grant is to support JWJEF’s efforts to build worker power towards a healthy and equitable economic democracy. |
Active | $1,000,000 | 36 months |
| 2021 |
Labor Innovations for the 21st Century (LIFT) Fund
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. |
Active | $600,000 | 36 months |
| 2021 |
One Fair Wage, Inc.
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
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. |
Active | $900,000 | 36 months |
| 2021 |
One Fair Wage, Inc.
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
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
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. |
Active | $750,000 | 36 months |
| 2020 |
Greenlining Institute
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
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
The purpose of this grant is general operating support. |
Active | $250,000 | 24 months |
| 2020 |
National Employment Law Project
General operating support. |
Active | $750,000 | 36 months |
| 2020 |
Urban Manufacturing Alliance
General operating support. |
Active | $225,000 | 36 months |
| 2020 |
Black Worker Initiative
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
The purpose of this grant is general operating support |
Closed | $50,000 | 6 months |
| 2020 |
Urban Manufacturing Alliance
The purpose of this grant is general operating support. |
Closed | $20,000 | 6 months |
| 2020 |
Next City
The purpose of this grant is general operating support. |
Closed | $50,000 | 6 months |
| 2020 |
Amalgamated Charitable Foundation
The purpose of this grant is to fund the equitable economic recovery grantmaking efforts of the Families and Workers Fund. |
Closed | $50,000 | 6 months |
| 2020 |
NDN Collective
The purpose of the grant is for general operating support. |
Closed | $225,000 | 12 months |
| 2020 |
One Fair Wage, Inc.
The purpose of this grant is to support the One Fair Wage relational voter program which aims to engage hundreds of thousands of low-wage workers who have been heretofore excluded both from the minimum wage and from voter engagement efforts. |
Closed | $175,000 | 12 months |