Public Welfare Foundation is making a targeted, sizable investment in grassroots movement infrastructure by funding Highlander Research and Education Center. The foundation appears to prioritize capacity-building and leadership development for community-based social justice organizing, with an emphasis on historically marginalized communities in the U.S. South.
Public Welfare Foundation Inc. puts major resources behind justice reform and movement infrastructure, with a recent pattern that includes seven-figure general support and large pooled-fund commitments. The foundation’s grantmaking centers on community-led, restorative, and racially just approaches to adult criminal justice and youth justice, alongside civil legal aid and related access-to-justice work. Recent grants show a clear preference for organizations that can build field capacity, support organizers, and advance policy change in targeted jurisdictions. Two of the largest recent awards show that pattern in different ways: $1,366,775 to Highlander Research and Education Center in New Market, Tennessee for general support, and $900,000 to Michigan Center for Youth Justice in Ann Arbor for operating and programmatic infrastructure. The foundation also backs intermediaries and collaborative vehicles, such as Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and Tulsa-area justice funds, which suggests an interest in coordinated local infrastructure rather than only standalone projects. Across the recent grants list, Public Welfare Foundation Inc. appears to support criminal justice reform, youth incarceration alternatives, narrative and media work, and data infrastructure. Its portfolio includes general operating support, program support, and special funding tied to timely opportunities, with repeated attention to Southern, Midwestern, and select local justice ecosystems.
In adult criminal justice reform, Public Welfare Foundation Inc. funded National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform with $700,000 for policy and technical assistance on violence intervention strategies. That sits alongside support for sentencing reform, community reinvestment, and reducing incarceration in targeted jurisdictions. Youth justice is another major thread. The foundation gave $650,000 to New Jersey Institute for Social Justice for the campaign to close youth prisons and reinvest in communities, and its active youth justice program emphasizes community-based alternatives and ending youth incarceration. The foundation also funds justice infrastructure. Vera Institute of Justice received $500,000 for Vera Louisiana to launch a criminal justice data dashboard, showing interest in data tools that support reform work. In addition, it supports evaluation and learning, as seen in grants to ORS Impact for programmatic evaluation and framework implementation.
$31.1M
$614.7M
$44.3M
$41.5M
Most grants fall between $25K and $200K, with a median of $100K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$100K
75th Percentile
$200K
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Concentrated, large-dollar grant to a single national/regional intermediary focused on movement-building and capacity rather than many small grants or service delivery.
Notable grantees: Highlander Research and Education Center
Public Welfare Foundation Inc. gives at a large scale, with typical grants centered around a $25,000 p25, $100,000 median, and $200,000 p75. The recent list includes both broad general support and larger targeted awards, including pooled funds and infrastructure support. The pattern looks recurring rather than one-off. ORS Impact appears more than once across different years, and several grantees also recur in the recent list, including Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and Operation Restoration. The foundation is a regular funder rather than a DAF vehicle, and it funds individuals. Unsolicited applications are accepted for multiple active grant programs, including general grants, general support, program or project support, and youth justice grantmaking.
Grantmaking is national, but it is heavily shaped by targeted U.S. jurisdictions. The highest concentration of grants is in DC, which accounts for 12% of grants, even though the foundation is headquartered there. Recent recipient cities include New Market, Ann Arbor, Washington, Oakland, Newark, Seattle, New Orleans, Atlanta, Milwaukee, Detroit, Montgomery, Denver, Aurora, Princeton, Lansing, and Brooklyn. Outside the U.S., the recipient distribution is entirely domestic: 534 grants, or 100%, went to U.S. recipients. The geography on the grant list also shows repeated support in Michigan, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Washington, DC.
Its active programs focus on adult criminal justice reform, youth justice reform, civil legal aid, sentencing reform, community reinvestment, and narrative or storytelling work. Recent grants also support evaluation, data dashboards, and pooled justice funds in targeted jurisdictions.
Yes, for several active programs. Unsolicited applications are accepted for civil legal aid, adult criminal justice funding, general grants, program or project support, general support, and youth justice grantmaking. Special opportunities grants and the president’s discretionary fund do not accept unsolicited applications.
The grant-size distribution centers on $25,000 at the 25th percentile, $100,000 at the median, and $200,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also includes awards well above that range, including multiple $500,000 grants and one $1,366,775 grant.
DC is the top state by grant count, accounting for 12% of grants. Other repeated recipient locations include Michigan, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Washington, showing a mix of national reach and targeted-state concentration.
Yes. Recent grants include $620,000 to ORS Impact for programmatic evaluation, $585,000 to ORS Impact for Evaluation and Learning Framework implementation, and $500,000 to Vera Institute of Justice for a criminal justice data dashboard in Louisiana. The portfolio also includes general support and infrastructure-oriented awards.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE JUST TRUST FOR EDUCATION | TULSA, OK | $500,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR OKLAHOMA JUSTICE FUNDERS COLLABORATIVE FUND |
| SOCIAL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENTREPRENEURS | CALABASAS, CA | $500,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR WOMEN ON THE RISE GA |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN | DETROIT, MI | $500,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR MICHIGAN JUSTICE FUND, PHASE II |
| FOUNDATION FOR LOUISIANA | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $500,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR LOUISIANA JUSTICE FUND |
| MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $500,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR SECTOR SUPPORT FUND |
| AMALGAMATED CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $499,999 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR COURAGE PROJECT |
| ORS IMPACT | SEATTLE, WA | $489,800 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR EVALUATION AND LEARNING PARTNERSHIP |
| NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM | OAKLAND, CA | $472,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR VIOLENCE REDUCTION RESEARCH AND PRACTICE NETWORK |
| POSSIBILITY LABS | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $440,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR PWF CONVENING LED BY CATALYZE JUSTICE |
| PRINCETON UNIVERSITY | PRINCETON, NJ | $409,323 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR VIOLENCE REDUCTION RESEARCH AND PRACTICE NETWORK |
| MICHIGAN LIBERATION EDUCATION FUND | DETROIT, MI | $400,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR MICHIGAN LIBERATION EDUCATION FUND |
| VERA INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $400,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR SAFETY AND JUSTICE NARRATIVE CHANGE |
| DEEP CENTER | SAVANNAH, GA | $400,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR - BUILDING COMMUNITY POWER IN CHATHAM COUNTY, GA |
| STAND FOR CHILDREN LEADERSHIP CENTER | PORTLAND, OR | $400,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR JUSTICE AND COMMUNITY SAFETY IN MEMPHIS |
| NATION OUTSIDE | DETROIT, MI | $400,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE PRAXIS PROJECT | OAKLAND, CA | $350,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR BUILDING MASS FREEDOM: A ROADMAP TO DECARCERATION, HEALING, AND POWER |
| COMMUNITY INITIATIVES | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $300,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OPERATION RESTORATION | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $300,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR CONTINUING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY |
| LATINO COALITION FOR COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $300,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR TRANSFORMING JUSTICE INITIATIVE |
| TULSA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | TULSA, OK | $300,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SOUTHERN CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS | ATLANTA, GA | $300,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR CAMPAIGN TO TRANSFORM GEORGIA'S CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM |
| VOICE OF THE EXPERIENCED | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $300,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE NATIONAL REENTRY NETWORK FOR RETURNING CITIZENS | WASHINGTON, DC | $300,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR NEW STRATEGIES/SYSTEMS CHANGE WORK |
| MUCKROCK FOUNDATION | BOSTON, MA | $300,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO MLK50: JUSTICE THROUGH JOURNALISM |
| COLORADO CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM COALITION | DENVER, CO | $300,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR TRANSFORMING JUSTICE IN COLORADO |
| VOICES FOR A SECOND CHANCE | WASHINGTON, DC | $300,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR PATHWAYS FORWARD: THE SECOND CHANCE RECLAMATION INITIATIVE |
| DC JUSTICE LAB | WASHINGTON, DC | $300,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR DC JUSTICE LAB |
| JUSTCITY | MEMPHIS, TN | $250,304 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PROMISE OF JUSTICE INITIATIVE | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $250,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR ENDING PLANTATION PRISONS & BUILDING COMMUNITY POWER IN LOUISIANA |
| URBAN ASSOCIATION OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROFESSIONALS INC | AZUSA, CA | $250,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE MARSHALL PROJECT | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR THE MARSHALL PROJECT |
| LOUISIANA CENTER FOR CHILDREN'S RIGHTS | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $250,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ESSIE JUSTICE GROUP | OAKLAND, CA | $250,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR ALTADENA COMMUNITY CARE & ADVOCACY |
| OKLAHOMA APPLESEED CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE | TULSA, OK | $250,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR OK APPLESEED MULTI-YEAR GEN OPS SUPPORT |
| HIGHLANDER RESEARCH AND EDUCATION CENTER INC | NEW MARKET, TN | $250,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR TOWARDS A PEOPLE'S JUSTICE |
| POSSIBILITY LABS | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $225,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR CATALYZE JUSTICE: SUPPORTING PARTNERS NATIONWIDE IN YOUTH JUSTICE TRANSFORMATION |
| YOUTH LAW CENTER | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $225,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR TENNESSEE YOUTH JUSTICE REFORM ADVOCACY |
| GREATER MILWAUKEE FOUNDATION INC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $210,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR ZERO YOUTH CORRECTIONS MILWAUKEE |
| FREEDOM INSTITUTE INC | GRAND JUNCTION, CO | $200,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR TRANSFORMING JUSTICE INITIATIVE |
| THE LENS | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $200,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR THE LENS: LOUISIANA CRIMINAL JUSTICE REPORTING |
| DETROIT JUSTICE CENTER | DETROIT, MI | $200,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SAFE & JUST MICHIGAN | LANSING, MI | $200,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BLACK SWAN ACADEMY INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $200,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR 10 YRS OF PRIDE PURPOSE POWER |
| FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF LOUISIANA'S INCARCERATED CHILDREN | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $200,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ATLANTAFULTON COUNTY PREARREST DIVERSION INITIATIVE INC | ATLANTA, GA | $200,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SCHOOL JUSTICE PROJECT | WASHINGTON, DC | $200,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION LEGAL SERVICES & ADVOCACY FOR COURT-INVOLVED STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES |
| CAPITAL B NEWS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR ATLANTA CRIMINAL JUSTICE REPORTING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
| CAMPAIGN FOR THE FAIR SENTENCING OF YOUTH | WASHINGTON, DC | $200,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR JUSTICE REFORM |
| HIVE MENTALITY | RICHMOND, VA | $200,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR AN ALTERNATIVE TO YOUTH INCARCERATION |
| FAITHFULLY ORGANIZING RESOURCES FOR COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT DETROIT | DETROIT, MI | $200,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR FROM CRISIS RESPONSE TO LASTING CHANGE: STRENGTHENING DETROIT'S CVI ECOSYSTEM |
THE JUST TRUST FOR EDUCATION
$500,000SUPPORT FOR OKLAHOMA JUSTICE FUNDERS COLLABORATIVE FUND
SUPPORT FOR MICHIGAN JUSTICE FUND, PHASE II
SUPPORT FOR SECTOR SUPPORT FUND
ORS IMPACT
$489,800SUPPORT FOR EVALUATION AND LEARNING PARTNERSHIP
SUPPORT FOR VIOLENCE REDUCTION RESEARCH AND PRACTICE NETWORK
SUPPORT FOR VIOLENCE REDUCTION RESEARCH AND PRACTICE NETWORK
MICHIGAN LIBERATION EDUCATION FUND
$400,000SUPPORT FOR MICHIGAN LIBERATION EDUCATION FUND
SUPPORT FOR SAFETY AND JUSTICE NARRATIVE CHANGE
SUPPORT FOR JUSTICE AND COMMUNITY SAFETY IN MEMPHIS
NATION OUTSIDE
$400,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SUPPORT FOR BUILDING MASS FREEDOM: A ROADMAP TO DECARCERATION, HEALING, AND POWER
SUPPORT FOR CONTINUING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY
LATINO COALITION FOR COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
$300,000SUPPORT FOR TRANSFORMING JUSTICE INITIATIVE
SOUTHERN CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
$300,000SUPPORT FOR CAMPAIGN TO TRANSFORM GEORGIA'S CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM
SUPPORT FOR NEW STRATEGIES/SYSTEMS CHANGE WORK
SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO MLK50: JUSTICE THROUGH JOURNALISM
SUPPORT FOR TRANSFORMING JUSTICE IN COLORADO
VOICES FOR A SECOND CHANCE
$300,000SUPPORT FOR PATHWAYS FORWARD: THE SECOND CHANCE RECLAMATION INITIATIVE
SUPPORT FOR ENDING PLANTATION PRISONS & BUILDING COMMUNITY POWER IN LOUISIANA
SUPPORT FOR OK APPLESEED MULTI-YEAR GEN OPS SUPPORT
SUPPORT FOR TOWARDS A PEOPLE'S JUSTICE
SUPPORT FOR CATALYZE JUSTICE: SUPPORTING PARTNERS NATIONWIDE IN YOUTH JUSTICE TRANSFORMATION
GREATER MILWAUKEE FOUNDATION INC
$210,000SUPPORT FOR ZERO YOUTH CORRECTIONS MILWAUKEE
FREEDOM INSTITUTE INC
$200,000SUPPORT FOR TRANSFORMING JUSTICE INITIATIVE
SUPPORT FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION LEGAL SERVICES & ADVOCACY FOR COURT-INVOLVED STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
SUPPORT FOR ATLANTA CRIMINAL JUSTICE REPORTING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
SUPPORT FOR FROM CRISIS RESPONSE TO LASTING CHANGE: STRENGTHENING DETROIT'S CVI ECOSYSTEM
Current and upcoming funding from Public Welfare Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: 501(c)(3) status or fiscal sponsor required; grants focused on policy, advocacy, organizing, leadership development, or demonstrations aligned with Foundation priorities.
Deadline: No specific public deadlines. Portal currently closed; site says check back Fall 2026.
Who can apply: Organizations must hold 501(c)(3) status or apply with a fiscal sponsor. The Foundation does not fund individuals, scholarships, direct services, or international projects.
Deadline: No specific deadlines published; portal currently closed (check back Fall 2026).
Who can apply: Projects must reflect the Foundation’s mission and underlying values; grants are one-time only and especially timely and compelling.
Deadline: No public deadline stated; awards are made throughout the year.
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