Increase power in marginalized, predominantly Black communities through non-partisan voter engagement, capacity building for grassroots organizations, grantmaking, and policy advocacy to expand voting rights and civic participation.
Bvm Capacity Building Institute Inc puts most of its visible grantmaking behind non-partisan voter registration, turnout, and voting-rights advocacy for grassroots, predominantly Black-led organizations. The pattern is not limited to election-cycle activity: the foundation also funds capacity building, leadership development, and infrastructure support for local partners working in marginalized communities. In the recent-grants list, one of the largest awards went to the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles for GOTV, while another substantial grant supported Harvard Kennedy School in Boston for general operating. Those examples show a mix of field organizing and institutional support, with grants reaching both community-based groups and larger organizations. The funder’s active programs point to a consistent emphasis on strengthening organizations from the inside, including staff training, candidate development, and support for local infrastructure. Its stated focus also includes policy advocacy around voting rights and racial justice, with grants used to build power in communities that have been marginalized and predominantly Black.
A central theme is non-partisan voter mobilization. The foundation gave $100,000 to Arizona Coalition for Change in Phoenix for GOTV and voter registration, and $100,000 to A Phillip Randolph Institute in Washington, DC for the same purpose. Capacity building is another major lane: Bvm Capacity Building Institute Inc funds infrastructure, staff training, and candidate development for grassroots organizations, especially Black-led partners. It also supports emergency and rapid-response work; one recent grant provided $150,000 to Black Belt Community Foundation in Selma, AL for emergency relief. Civic engagement extends beyond direct voter contact, as shown by grants such as $67,000 to The Transformative Justice Coalition in Washington, DC for GOTV and voter registration. Across these areas, the foundation combines organizing support with organizational strengthening rather than relying on a single program model.
Typical grant size is moderate: the 25th percentile is $7,500, the median is $10,000, and the 75th percentile is $18,000. The recent list also includes much larger awards, which suggests a wide spread between routine partner support and larger strategic or operating grants. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not make program-related investments. Recipients appear across multiple years, including several organizations funded in both 2023 and 2025, which points to repeat support rather than one-off awards. Unsolicited applications are not accepted. The active programs emphasize direct funding plus capacity-building investments for grassroots organizations.
$8.6M
$13.6M
$25.2M
$27.5M
Most grants fall between $8K and $18K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$18K
About 22% of grants go to recipients in TX.
Clifford Albright
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Giving is regional, with a strong concentration in the South and in Texas by grant count. The recent grants also reach major hubs such as Atlanta, Washington, DC, New York, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Boston. Georgia recipients account for 22% of grants, but the foundation’s footprint extends beyond its HQ state. All recorded recipient-country data is domestic: 1,560 grants went to US organizations. That mix suggests a broad US-based network with especially frequent support for Southern civic groups.
Its core funding centers on non-partisan voter registration, voter turnout, civic engagement, capacity building for grassroots organizations, and voting-rights policy advocacy. The active programs also emphasize leadership development and support for predominantly Black-led organizations.
No. The funder’s grant data lists unsolicited applications as false, which indicates it does not accept them.
The distribution is relatively modest for routine awards: p25 is $7,500, the median is $10,000, and p75 is $18,000. The recent grants list also includes larger strategic awards above $100,000.
The pattern includes repeat support. Several organizations appear in multiple years across the recent-grants list, which shows the foundation returning to some partners rather than funding each group only once.
The foundation funds grassroots and predominantly Black-led organizations, plus related partners such as churches, coalition groups, and civic organizations. Recent awards also include general operating support and emergency relief alongside GOTV and voter-registration grants.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvard Kennedy School | Boston, MA | $412,500 | 2025 | General Operating |
| Black Belt Community Foundation | Selma, AL | $150,000 | 2025 | Emergency Relief |
| Arizona Coalition for Change | Phoenix, AZ | $100,000 | 2025 | GOTV/Voter Registration |
| A Phillip Randolph Institute | Washington, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | GOTV/Voter Registration |
| Community Initiatives | Oakland, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | General Operating |
| NEO PHILANTHROPY INC | New York, NY | $75,000 | 2025 | GOTV/Voter Registration |
| THE PENNY FOUNDATION | Birmingham, AL | $75,000 | 2025 | GOTV/Voter Registration |
| FAITH FOR BLACK LIVES ACTION FUND | New York, NY | $75,000 | 2025 | General Operating |
| Equal Ground Education Fund | Orlando, FL | $70,000 | 2025 | General Operating |
| 412 JUSTICE | Pittsburgh, PA | $67,000 | 2025 | GOTV/Voter Registration |
| FDK Foundation | Monroe, LA | $65,000 | 2025 | GOTV/Voter Registration |
| The Sixth Episcopal District AME Church | Atlanta, GA | $60,000 | 2025 | GOTV/Voter Registration |
| OHIO COALITION ON BLACK CIVIC PARTICIPATION | Toledo, OH | $60,000 | 2025 | General Operating |
| Community Movement Builders | Scottdale, GA | $60,000 | 2025 | GOTV/Voter Registration |
| One Fair Wage Action Inc | Cambridge, MA | $60,000 | 2025 | Emergency Relief |
| GRAE | Houston, TX | $58,000 | 2025 | Warrant Clinic |
| Orchid Bloom | Raleigh, NC | $55,000 | 2025 | GOTV/Voter Registration |
| HESP LOCAL 6315 | Houston, TX | $54,500 | 2025 | Emergency Relief |
| National Pan Hellenic Council Inc | Dallas, TX | $54,500 | 2025 | Divine 9 Voter Mobilization |
| Our Own Wall Street | Detroit, MI | $54,000 | 2025 | GOTV/Voter Registration |
| Our Own Wall Street | Detroit, MI | $54,000 | 2025 | Emergency Relief |
| U2U | Charlotte, NC | $53,271 | 2025 | General Operating |
| Holla Community Development Corporation | Morven, NC | $51,500 | 2025 | GOTV/Voter Registration |
| The Freedom Roc | Akron, OH | $50,917 | 2025 | GOTV/Voter Registration |
| Mass Liberation Arizona Education Fund | Los Angeles, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | General Operating |
| Community Aid and Development | Stone Mountain, GA | $50,000 | 2025 | GOTV/Voter Registration |
| Georgia Muslim Voter Project | Atlanta, GA | $50,000 | 2025 | GOTV/Voter Registration |
| Workers Center for Racial Justice | Chicago, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | GOTV/Voter Registration |
| Philadelphia Reparations Task Force | Philadelphia, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | General Operating |
| Oakland Forward | Pontiac, MI | $45,000 | 2025 | Warrant Clinic ( Invitation Only) |
| West Valley NAACP | Avondale, AZ | $45,000 | 2025 | GOTV/Voter Registration |
| Greater Augusta s Interfaith Coalition CDC Inc | Augusta, GA | $45,000 | 2025 | GOTV/Voter Registration |
| Vanguard Strategies And Consulting LLC | Chandler, AZ | $45,000 | 2025 | GOTV/Voter Registration |
| Pastors United Community | Milwaukee, WI | $45,000 | 2025 | GOTV/Voter Registration |
| APRI Detroit Downriver Chapter | Detroit, MI | $45,000 | 2025 | GOTV/Voter Registration |
| Empowerment Alternatives 4Life Challenges | Baton Rouge, LA | $44,400 | 2025 | GOTV/Voter Registration |
| Bethel AME Church | Pittsburgh, PA | $43,200 | 2025 | Local Redistricting Committee |
| Black Youth Vote Kalamazoo | KALAMAZOO, MI | $43,200 | 2025 | GOTV/Voter Registration |
| Bethel AME Church | Columbus, OH | $43,200 | 2025 | GOTV/Voter Registration |
| James Weldon Johnson Branch of ASALH | Jacksonville, FL | $42,500 | 2025 | GOTV/Voter Registration |
| Life After Release | Suitland, MD | $40,000 | 2025 | GOTV/Voter Registration |
| HARRIET TUBMAN FREEDOM FIGHTERS | Jacksonville, FL | $40,000 | 2025 | Medicaid Expansion |
| Kilombo Academic and Cultural Institute | Decatur, GA | $39,600 | 2025 | General Operating |
| Abundant Life Ministries of Benton Harbor Inc | Benton Harbor, MI | $39,500 | 2025 | GOTV/Voter Registration |
| D I V A S Ministry Group Non Profit Organization | Horsham, PA | $39,500 | 2025 | GOTV/Voter Registration |
| Heather Hopes Inc | Fort Worth, TX | $39,500 | 2025 | GOTV/Voter Registration |
| Change For The Community Inc | Orlando, FL | $39,500 | 2025 | GOTV/Voter Registration |
| REACH MEDIA INC | Atlanta, GA | $39,000 | 2025 | General Operating |
| Hancock County Democratic Club Inc | Sparta, GA | $38,688 | 2025 | Environmental Justice |
| Vanguards Ministry | Flint, MI | $37,500 | 2025 | Rapid Response/ Emergency Relief ( Invitation Only) |
Harvard Kennedy School
$412,500General Operating
Black Belt Community Foundation
$150,000Emergency Relief
Arizona Coalition for Change
$100,000GOTV/Voter Registration
A Phillip Randolph Institute
$100,000GOTV/Voter Registration
Community Initiatives
$100,000General Operating
NEO PHILANTHROPY INC
$75,000GOTV/Voter Registration
THE PENNY FOUNDATION
$75,000GOTV/Voter Registration
FAITH FOR BLACK LIVES ACTION FUND
$75,000General Operating
Equal Ground Education Fund
$70,000General Operating
412 JUSTICE
$67,000GOTV/Voter Registration
FDK Foundation
$65,000GOTV/Voter Registration
The Sixth Episcopal District AME Church
$60,000GOTV/Voter Registration
OHIO COALITION ON BLACK CIVIC PARTICIPATION
$60,000General Operating
Community Movement Builders
$60,000GOTV/Voter Registration
One Fair Wage Action Inc
$60,000Emergency Relief
GRAE
$58,000Warrant Clinic
Orchid Bloom
$55,000GOTV/Voter Registration
HESP LOCAL 6315
$54,500Emergency Relief
National Pan Hellenic Council Inc
$54,500Divine 9 Voter Mobilization
Our Own Wall Street
$54,000GOTV/Voter Registration
Our Own Wall Street
$54,000Emergency Relief
U2U
$53,271General Operating
Holla Community Development Corporation
$51,500GOTV/Voter Registration
The Freedom Roc
$50,917GOTV/Voter Registration
Mass Liberation Arizona Education Fund
$50,000General Operating
Community Aid and Development
$50,000GOTV/Voter Registration
Georgia Muslim Voter Project
$50,000GOTV/Voter Registration
Workers Center for Racial Justice
$50,000GOTV/Voter Registration
Philadelphia Reparations Task Force
$50,000General Operating
Oakland Forward
$45,000Warrant Clinic ( Invitation Only)
West Valley NAACP
$45,000GOTV/Voter Registration
Greater Augusta s Interfaith Coalition CDC Inc
$45,000GOTV/Voter Registration
Vanguard Strategies And Consulting LLC
$45,000GOTV/Voter Registration
Pastors United Community
$45,000GOTV/Voter Registration
APRI Detroit Downriver Chapter
$45,000GOTV/Voter Registration
Empowerment Alternatives 4Life Challenges
$44,400GOTV/Voter Registration
Bethel AME Church
$43,200Local Redistricting Committee
Black Youth Vote Kalamazoo
$43,200GOTV/Voter Registration
Bethel AME Church
$43,200GOTV/Voter Registration
James Weldon Johnson Branch of ASALH
$42,500GOTV/Voter Registration
Life After Release
$40,000GOTV/Voter Registration
HARRIET TUBMAN FREEDOM FIGHTERS
$40,000Medicaid Expansion
Kilombo Academic and Cultural Institute
$39,600General Operating
Abundant Life Ministries of Benton Harbor Inc
$39,500GOTV/Voter Registration
D I V A S Ministry Group Non Profit Organization
$39,500GOTV/Voter Registration
Heather Hopes Inc
$39,500GOTV/Voter Registration
Change For The Community Inc
$39,500GOTV/Voter Registration
REACH MEDIA INC
$39,000General Operating
Hancock County Democratic Club Inc
$38,688Environmental Justice
Vanguards Ministry
$37,500Rapid Response/ Emergency Relief ( Invitation Only)