Marguerite Casey Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Marguerite Casey Foundation funds organizations and initiatives that broadly align with its mission and grantmaking priorities; this can include support for anything from LGBTQ issues to racial justice, from farmworkers to elder care, and from civic engagement to predatory lending.
IP TAKE: The Marguerite Casey Foundation prefers to established long-term relationships with reliable partners. Grant seekers approaching this funder should highlight their work with underserved, marginalized and vulnerable communities. A hands-on, supportive funder, the Casey Foundation is a great funder to have in your corner. Those successful in securing a grant here engage with and put worth work that centers on equity across the board of major importance to Casey. The foundation also provides its grantees with a variety of resources and likes to partner on occasion. While this foundation has evolved heavily in recent years, its mission remains the same. While its transformation has worked to simplify its efforts, it has also lead to less public transparency; however, you can read more about about its grantees and grantmaking by subscribing to their newsletter and social media. These grants are generous, often for several years. The Casey Foundation is committed to growing their grantees’ work long-term. Casey spreads its grants fairly evenly among large national organizations and grassroots and community groups.
PROFILE: In 2001, the Marguerite Casey Foundation was established by the Casey Family Programs—a nonprofit dedicated to improving the foster care system in the United States. The Marguerite Casey Foundation invests in organizations that work to “shift the balance of power in their communities toward working people and families, and who have the vision and capacity for building a truly representative economy.” The foundation’s vision centers on building a representative economy and democracy amongst historically excluded communities.
The foundation views the world through a relationship between democracy and economy that works to “represent the contributions, dreams, and desires of communities that have been historically excluded from sharing in the resources and benefits of society.” Casey’s inclusion efforts remain an over-arching grantmaking strategy.
Grants for LGBTQ
The Marguerite Casey Foundation supports organizations that advocate for a more just and equitable society. While the foundation does not have specific program dedicated to LGBTQ issues, its LGBTQ-related grantmaking facilitates its mission to achieve a more just and equitable society for everyone in the US. Casey Family Programs, however, has a dedicated program for LGBTQ issues. Past LGBTQ grantees include the Adults and Youth Development Association and the Advancement Project: People of Color Donor Organizing Project.
Grants for Housing and Community Development
Casey’ focuses on low-income families and communities. The foundation’s Housing and Community Development grantmaking reflects this and includes funding for areas broadly related to Child Care, Elder Care, Gentrification, and Poverty, in addition to Housing and Community Development. Past grantees include American Indians in Texas – Spanish Colonial Missions, Arizona Community Action Association, Brighton Park Neighborhood Council, and California Child Care Resource and Referral Network Project.
Grants for Racial and Indigenous Justice, and Immigration
Casey’s grantmaking in the realm of Racial Justice includes support for organizations that address issues surrounding race relations, race equality, immigration, community organizing, and Native Americans. Past grantees include the ACLU, 9to5 - National Association of Working Women, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Alabama Arise, and Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice United.
Grants for Public Health and Food Systems
The Marguerite Casey Foundation focuses public health grantmaking mainly on Food Security/Access to Health Food, Elder Care, Access to Health Care, and the promotion of healthy environments and lifestyles. Past grantees include the Children’s Defense Fund and the American Indian Association of Tucson.
Grants for Democracy and Civic Engagement
Casey’s grantmaking includes focus areas broadly related to Civic Engagement, Voter Engagement, Immigration, Race Relations, Race Equality, and Community Organizing. Past grantees include the ACLU, Action Now Institute, and the Economic Policy Institute.
Grants for Criminal Justice Reform
The Marguerite Casey Foundation’s grantmaking includes a focus on areas relating to Criminal Justice Reform. Past grantees include the ACLU, Action Now Institute, and the Economic Policy Institute.
Grants for Work and Opportunity
Casey’s grantmaking in the realm of economic opportunity includes support for organizations that address issues surrounding Employment, Poverty, Community Development, Farmworkers, Living Wages, Predatory Lending, Tax Policy, and Workers’ Rights. Past grantees include 9to5 National Association of Working Women, Action Now Institute, and the Economic Policy Institute.
Important Grant Details:
The Casey Foundation’s grants range from $1,000 to $1.5 million. According to the foundation, the average grant is around $240,000. The Marguerite Casey Foundation does not accept unsolicited letters of inquiry, requests for funding, or grant proposals.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
LINKS:
What Grantees Tell GrantAdvisor: