Shifting Power. Powering Freedom. Marguerite Casey Foundation helps community leaders gain the freedom they need to lead, so their communities can gain the power they need to change how society works.
Marguerite Casey Foundation uses large grants to support organizing, research, and power-building infrastructure, with several awards at the $1.5 million level in the recent grants list. In 2023, it gave $1.5 million to Highlander Research and Education Center for general operating support, and another $1.5 million to the UCLA Luskin Institute on Inequality and Democracy for institute support. Those grants sit alongside support for institutions tied to Black publishing, social justice research, and community organizing. The foundation also backs direct organizing and movement work. Buildus received $1.5 million in 2025 for advocacy, while Scholars for Social Justice received the same amount in 2025 for community organizing. Other grants in the list support fellows, coalition infrastructure, and local groups working on immigrant rights, voting access, and community-led change. Its grantmaking includes operating support and project support, with some awards repeated across years, such as Freedom Inc and Tides Foundation. The mix of grantees ranges from universities and research centers to coalitions, organizers, and intermediary funders, reflecting a broad approach to supporting people and organizations that shape policy and public life.
A major thread in the foundation’s work is community organizing and grassroots power-building. In 2025, it gave $1.5 million to Scholars for Social Justice for community organizing, and in 2023 it provided $500,000 to Communities United for general operating support. It also funds public-dollars and public-good work through intermediary and fellowship structures. One example is the $750,000 grant to Amalgamated Charitable Foundation for up to three Public Dollars for Public Good Senior Fellowships. Racial justice research and education appear in the portfolio as well. The foundation gave $1.5 million to the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois for the Portal Project of the Social Justice Initiative at UIC, and $1.5 million to UCLA Luskin Institute on Inequality and Democracy. Protecting vulnerable communities shows up through immigrant and rights-restoration grants, including $900,000 to Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition for general operating support and $500,000 to Tides Foundation for the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition.
$24.3M
$876.6M
$83.3M
$44M
Most grants fall between $15K and $150K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$150K
About 12% of grants go to recipients in CA.
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeRegístrate gratis para ver qué tan bien se adapta tu organización sin fines de lucro a este financiador, obtener un pitch generado por IA y descubrir fundaciones similares.
Typical grants cluster around a $15,000 p25, $50,000 median, and $150,000 p75, but the recent list also includes repeated seven-figure awards. The foundation is a regular funder and also makes program-related investments. Recipients can appear across multiple years: Freedom Inc received grants in both 2023 and 2025, and Tides Foundation appears multiple times in 2023 for different projects. The patterns in the list suggest a mix of general operating support, project-specific grants, fellowships, and intermediary support rather than a single grantmaking format.
Grant recipients are entirely in the United States in the data provided. New York is the top state by grant count, while Washington accounts for 13% of grants and is also the headquarters state. Recent recipients include organizations in Chicago, Washington, DC, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Madison, showing a broad national spread. The list also includes awards in places such as Nashville, Selma, Miami, Phoenix, and London, Kentucky, indicating that grants reach both major metro areas and smaller local communities.
The foundation funds community organizing, racial justice research, public-dollars work, and protection for vulnerable communities. Recent grants include support for organizing groups, university-based social justice initiatives, immigrant-rights coalitions, and rights-restoration efforts.
The typical grant size is $15,000 at the 25th percentile, $50,000 at the median, and $150,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also shows larger awards, including several grants at $1.5 million.
Yes. Many recent awards are labeled general operating support, including grants to Highlander Research and Education Center, Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, and Freedom Inc.
Yes. Washington state is the headquarters state and receives 13% of grants, but the foundation gives nationally. Recent recipients are located in cities including Chicago, Washington, DC, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami, Phoenix, and Nashville.
Yes. Some organizations appear in multiple years in the recent list. Freedom Inc received grants in both 2023 and 2025, and Tides Foundation appears several times in 2023 for different project supports.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCHOLARS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE | CHICAGO, IL | $1,500,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ORGANIZING |
| BUILDUS | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,500,000 | 2025 | ADVOCACY |
| TENNESSEE IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE RIGHTS COALITION (TIRRC) | NASHVILLE, TN | $900,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FOOT SOLDIERS PARK | SELMA, AL | $833,333 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| UNEMPLOYED WORKERS UNITED | BROOKLYN, NY | $500,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ORGANIZING |
| CONGREGATIONS ORGANIZED FOR PROPHETIC ENGAGEMENT (COPE) | SAN BERNARDINO, CA | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITIES UNITED | CHICAGO, IL | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| KENTUCKY COALITION | LONDON, KY | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FLORIDA IMMIGRANT COALITION | MIAMI, FL | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MORE PERFECT UNION FOUNDATION | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| JUSTICE CATALYST ACCESS FUND INC | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FLORIDA RISING TOGETHER | MIAMI, FL | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| LEADERS IGNITING TRANSFORMATION EDUCATION FUND | MILWAUKEE, WI | $500,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ORGANIZING |
| ARIZONA CENTER FOR EMPOWERMENT | PHOENIX, AZ | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BLACK LEADERS ORGANIZING FOR COMMUNITIES EDUCATION FUND | LOS ANGELES, CA | $500,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ORGANIZING |
| THE HANA CENTER | CHICAGO, IL | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FREEDOM INC | MADISON, WI | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FLORIDA RIGHTS RESTORATION COALITION | ORLANDO, FL | $500,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| KC TENANTS | KANSAS CITY, MO | $474,300 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT EDUCATION FUND | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $418,750 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SOUTHERNERS ON NEW GROUND | ATLANTA, GA | $418,750 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| POWER COALITION FOR EQUITY AND JUSTICE | BATON ROUGE, LA | $418,750 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ORGANIZING |
| DREAM DEFENDERS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $416,750 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ORGANIZING |
| SOUTHWEST GEORGIA PROJECT FOR COMMUNITY EDUCATION | ALBANY, GA | $400,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PEOPLE'S BUDGET BIRMINGHAM | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $400,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ORGANIZING |
| MAINE PEOPLE'S RESOURCE CENTER | PORTLAND, ME | $400,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CHANGE LABS | TUBA CITY, AZ | $375,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FIRELANDS WORKERS UNITED | SEATTLE, WA | $353,200 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ORGANIZING |
| INDUSTRIAL COMMONS | MORGANTON, NC | $350,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FAIR FOOD NETWORK | DETROIT, MI | $350,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| DEBT COLLECTIVE | NEW YORK, NY | $350,000 | 2025 | ECONOMIC JUSTICE |
| STATE DEMOCRACY DEFENDERS FUND | CONCORD, NH | $350,000 | 2025 | ADVOCACY |
| WORKMONEY FOUNDATION INC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $350,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TRUST NEIGHBORHOODS | KANSAS CITY, MO | $350,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| EQUITY AND TRANSFORMATION | CHICAGO, IL | $330,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TENANT UNION FEDERATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $300,000 | 2025 | ECONOMIC JUSTICE |
| LATINO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $300,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SOUTHSIDERS ORGANIZED FOR UNITY AND LIBERATION | CHICAGO, IL | $268,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TEWA WOMEN UNITED | SANTA CRUZ, NM | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SOLUTIONS NOT PUNISHMENT COLLABORATIVE | CALABASAS, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ORGANIZING |
| WASHINGTON COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK EDUCATION AND RESEARCH FUND (WASHINGTON | SEATTLE, WA | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ORGANIZING NEIGHBORHOODS FOR EQUALITY NORTHSIDE | CHICAGO, IL | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SEATTLE ARTS AND LECTURES | SEATTLE, WA | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SOMOS UN PUEBLO UNIDO | SANTA FE, NM | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WE ARE DOWN HOME | GREENSBORO, NC | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PASHKO | EAGLE BUTTE, SD | $250,000 | 2025 | ECONOMIC JUSTICE |
| ICA FUND | OAKLAND, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| AFTERGLOW CLIMATE JUSTICE FUND | DENVER, CO | $250,000 | 2025 | ECONOMIC JUSTICE |
| FULL SPECTRUM LABS | OAKLAND, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | ECONOMIC JUSTICE |
| DANIEL MARTINEZ HOSANG | NEW HAVEN, CT | $250,000 | 2025 | 2024 FREEDOM SCHOLAR AWARD |
SCHOLARS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE
$1,500,000COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
BUILDUS
$1,500,000ADVOCACY
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
UNEMPLOYED WORKERS UNITED
$500,000COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
BLACK LEADERS ORGANIZING FOR COMMUNITIES EDUCATION FUND
$500,000COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
DREAM DEFENDERS
$416,750COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
PEOPLE'S BUDGET BIRMINGHAM
$400,000COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
FIRELANDS WORKERS UNITED
$353,200COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
DEBT COLLECTIVE
$350,000ECONOMIC JUSTICE
STATE DEMOCRACY DEFENDERS FUND
$350,000ADVOCACY
EQUITY AND TRANSFORMATION
$330,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
TENANT UNION FEDERATION
$300,000ECONOMIC JUSTICE
SOLUTIONS NOT PUNISHMENT COLLABORATIVE
$250,000COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
WASHINGTON COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK EDUCATION AND RESEARCH FUND (WASHINGTON
$250,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
PASHKO
$250,000ECONOMIC JUSTICE
AFTERGLOW CLIMATE JUSTICE FUND
$250,000ECONOMIC JUSTICE
FULL SPECTRUM LABS
$250,000ECONOMIC JUSTICE
DANIEL MARTINEZ HOSANG
$250,0002024 FREEDOM SCHOLAR AWARD