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New World Foundation

Annual Giving
$17.7M
Grant Range
$20K - $0.5M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $17,729,241 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation-only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $20,000 - $450,000 (most grants $20,000-$100,000)
  • Geographic Focus: United States (8 states) and international (8 countries)

Contact Details

Website: https://newwf.org

Location: New York, NY

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals and proactively identifies organizations to fund.

Overview

The New World Foundation (NWF) was chartered in 1954 by philanthropist Anita McCormick Blaine with an initial bequest of $7 million. Under the leadership of President Colin Greer since 1985, NWF has evolved into a distinctive public charity that gave $17.7 million in grants to 110 organizations in 2023. The foundation's mission is to "support leaders and organizations that advance democracy, protect community and build a humane social vision." NWF takes a distinctive approach to grantmaking by focusing exclusively on general support grants rather than project funding, providing multi-year support, and maintaining a payout rate of 9-12% of assets—well above the required 5%. The foundation believes that "dramatic progressive advances depend on dynamic organizing from the ground up" and works primarily with community-based organizations led by people living in the least privileged circumstances.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

NWF distributes funding through four major funds:

  • The New Majority Fund: Conceived in 2002 as a donor and foundation collaborative, this fund supports organizations building power at local levels to influence city, county, and state policy decisions. Focus on civic engagement and democratic participation.

  • The Phoenix Fund for Workers and Communities: Supports labor organizing and workers' rights in response to globalization and free trade agreements. To date, has distributed almost $10 million in general support grants and seed grants.

  • Climate Action Fund: Awards grants to organizations working to "reverse the devastating impact of society's dependence on fossil fuels." As an early supporter of the environmental justice movement in the 1990s, NWF funded anti-toxics work and has expanded to include land use, transportation, and climate issues.

  • Civic Opportunities Initiative Network (COIN): Cultivates youth leadership and civic engagement through programs in collaboration with schools and universities, identifying "recognizable pillars of support experienced by middle-class families that can be applied to successful education and mobility of low-income young adults."

Fiscally Sponsored Projects

  • Quality Jobs Fund: A $100 million collaborative with the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco supporting quality job growth in underserved communities primarily in California, Arizona, and Nevada. Directed by Noah S. Bernstein.

  • Local Economies Project: Directed by Bob Dandrew, focuses on local economic development.

Priority Areas

  • Economic justice and reducing economic inequality
  • Environmental justice and climate action
  • Workers' rights and labor organizing
  • Civic engagement and democratic participation
  • Youth leadership development
  • Community-based activism and grassroots organizing
  • Civil rights and social justice

Geographic Focus

United States: Eight states with concentrations of community activism

International: Through the Global Environmental Health & Justice Fund, supports organizations in Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, Nigeria, India, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines

What They Don't Fund

  • Project-specific grants (they only fund general support)
  • Organizations outside their strategic focus areas
  • Organizations not involved in grassroots community organizing
  • Countries outside the eight eligible nations for international grants

Governance and Leadership

Leadership

Colin Greer, President (since 1985) Dr. Greer, formerly a Professor at Brooklyn College, CUNY, has led the foundation for nearly four decades. Under his leadership, NWF shifted toward multi-year general support grants. He has stated: "When people gain a stake in their own communities, they commit to improving their own lives and the lives of their neighbors." His approach cultivates "radical empathy" among diverse thinkers and activists to craft solutions.

Senior Staff

  • Beata Pudelko - Director of Finance & Administration and Assistant Treasurer
  • Heeten Kalan - Senior Program Officer & Director of Democracy Programs (oversees Climate Action Fund, New Majority Fund, and Phoenix Fund)
  • Noah S. Bernstein - Director of the Quality Jobs Fund and Senior Program Officer
  • Bob Dandrew - Director of the Local Economies Project
  • Rahel S. Tekola - Program Officer
  • Joanna Mroz-Rakowicz - Associate Director, Finance & Administration
  • Agnes Pisarek - Grants Administrator

Board of Directors

The board is composed of social justice practitioners, past and present grantees, movement thinkers, and leaders:

  • Fred Azcarate, Chair - Executive Director of US Action
  • Linda Colon, Treasurer
  • Cynthia Choi, Secretary
  • Jonathan Glionna, Vice Chair
  • Vincent Warren, Member
  • Neidi Dominguez Zamorano, Member
  • Miya Saika Chen, Member
  • Kent Wong, Member
  • Mary Beth Maxwell, Member
  • Elizabeth G. Hines, Member
  • Maria Echaveste, Emeritus
  • Don Galante, Financial Advisor to the Board

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The New World Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals and instead proactively identifies and scouts organizations to fund. This invitation-only approach means the foundation reaches out to potential grantees rather than accepting applications.

Getting on Their Radar

The New World Foundation uses several specific strategies to identify potential grantees:

Regional Clustering: NWF identifies areas where it can make a cluster of grants among complementary and collaborating organizations. If your organization is part of a regional network of complementary groups working on economic justice, environmental justice, or civic engagement, you may be more likely to be identified.

Grassroots Leadership Focus: The foundation is "committed to discovering new leaders" and works closely with organizations "developed and run for and by people living in the least privileged circumstances." Organizations that demonstrate authentic grassroots leadership and community accountability are prioritized.

Anchor Organization Pathway: Grantees who have been funded for beyond three years become "Anchor Organizations" that receive additional support from NWF staff for fundraising. This suggests NWF values long-term relationships and may identify new organizations through existing grantee networks.

Field Presence: While not accepting proposals, the foundation states it is "responsive and approachable" and encourages organizations to "contact them with general questions." This suggests relationship building through informational conversations may be appropriate.

Movement Connections: Given their focus on social movements and the composition of their board (which includes grantees and movement leaders), being active in progressive social justice movements and visible at movement gatherings may increase the likelihood of being noticed.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As an invitation-only funder, timelines are determined by the foundation's proactive outreach process rather than fixed application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable—the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis rather than competitive application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as there is no application process. However, the foundation's multi-year funding model and "Anchor Organization" concept suggest they prioritize sustained relationships with existing grantees over constantly seeking new organizations.

Application Success Factors

Since NWF operates on an invitation-only basis, organizations cannot directly apply. However, understanding what NWF looks for when identifying grantees is valuable:

What NWF Values (Based on Their Stated Priorities)

General Support Philosophy: Colin Greer has stated that the foundation "makes only general support grants and doesn't require projects because they think that disables organizations." This reflects their belief that organizations closest to issues should decide how to use funds.

Base Building Approach: NWF prioritizes "base building" and "community-based organizations aiming to have state and regional impact as the core of social movements." Organizations focused on building constituent power and grassroots membership are aligned with this approach.

Long-Term Commitment: The foundation funds "multi-year and has no automatic cutoff in funding for a long time." They value sustained partnerships over short-term project funding, with grantees beyond three years becoming "Anchor Organizations."

Grassroots Leadership: NWF works with organizations "developed and run for and by people living in the least privileged circumstances." Authentic community leadership and accountability to constituencies are essential.

Higher Investment: NWF pays out 9-12% of assets in grants annually (versus the required 5%), demonstrating serious commitment to grantmaking and suggesting they seek organizations capable of absorbing meaningful funding levels.

Technical Assistance Receptivity: The foundation provides technical assistance in "finances, legal management, media strategy, research, and strategic planning skills" and offers "frequent seminars, workshops, and classes." Organizations open to capacity building support align with this model.

Community Stake Philosophy: Aligned with Greer's statement: "When people gain a stake in their own communities, they commit to improving their own lives and the lives of their neighbors."

Examples of Grantees

  • Kentuckians for the Commonwealth
  • California Calls
  • Various labor organizing groups globally (through Phoenix Fund)
  • Environmental justice organizations in eight international countries
  • Youth-focused civic engagement organizations (through COIN)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • You cannot apply directly to NWF—they proactively identify and invite organizations to participate in their grantmaking programs
  • Focus on building visibility in the field: Be active and visible in progressive social justice movements, particularly around economic justice, environmental justice, workers' rights, and civic engagement
  • Demonstrate authentic grassroots leadership: Organizations led by and accountable to communities experiencing injustice are prioritized
  • Build strong base-building capacity: NWF values organizations focused on constituent organizing and building grassroots power over service delivery models
  • Be prepared for long-term partnership: NWF's multi-year general support model means they seek organizations ready for sustained relationships, not one-time project funding
  • Engage regionally: NWF uses a "cluster" approach, so being part of regional networks of complementary organizations may increase visibility
  • Contact with questions: While unsolicited proposals aren't accepted, the foundation indicates they are "responsive and approachable" to general inquiries—relationship building through informational conversations may be appropriate

References

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