Tuesday is equity & justice day on The Grant Brief.

Three foundations funding the structural side of justice — economic opportunity, democracy, and community power — with real deadlines this summer. All three take open applications and fund organizations, not just individuals.

What we know: Joyce made 470 grants totaling $52.2 million in its latest year, at an $80,000 median, with top recipients including Chicago Public Media, Education First, and the Aspen Institute. It funds across education, environment, gun-violence prevention, democracy, and economic opportunity, with a consistent racial-equity lens. Grantmaking is concentrated in the Great Lakes states, so a national organization needs a clear regional footprint.

Realistic fit: established nonprofits working on systemic change in one of Joyce's program areas within the Great Lakes region, with evidence of impact and a policy or field-building angle.

What we know: Park made 457 grants totaling $30.4 million at a $50,000 median, with top recipients including the Tides Foundation, the Center for Investigative Reporting, and WGBH. Its Democracy program funds work on money in politics, voting access, public-interest media, and government accountability. This is one of the more accessible national democracy funders: it accepts inquiries directly rather than by invitation only.

Realistic fit: nonprofits working on campaign-finance reform, voting rights, investigative or public-interest journalism, and civic accountability, with a national or field-level theory of change.

What we know: Gund made 334 grants totaling $29.8 million at a $50,000 median, with top recipients including Cleveland State University and the Ohio Progressive Collaborative. This program funds organizing, worker power, and economic-justice work, but it is focused on Ohio, especially Greater Cleveland. The July 15 deadline is close, so this is one to move on now if you're eligible.

Realistic fit: Ohio-based organizations doing community organizing, workforce and worker-power, or economic-justice work, ideally rooted in Cleveland.

The thread: none of these fund a good intention, they fund an organization with a track record and a place. Joyce and Gund reward a clear regional footprint; Park rewards a credible national or field strategy. Match the funder to where your work actually lands.