Public Welfare Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $24,734,650 (2023)
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
Decision Time: 60 business days for LOI response
Grant Range: $10,000 - $900,000
Geographic Focus: National (U.S.), with priority areas in Oklahoma, Michigan, Georgia, Colorado, Louisiana, Jackson (MS), Milwaukee (WI), Tennessee, and Washington, DC
Application Status: Portal currently closed; reopening Fall 2026

Contact Details

Address: 1200 U Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Phone: (202) 965-1800
Email: info@publicwelfare.org
Website: https://www.publicwelfare.org

Overview

Founded in 1947, the Public Welfare Foundation is a private foundation with over $620 million in assets that has awarded more than $700 million in grants to over 5,700 organizations throughout its history. The foundation's mission is to "catalyze a transformative approach to justice in the United States that is community-led, restorative, and racially just." In 2019, the foundation narrowed and deepened its focus to criminal justice and youth justice reforms, prioritizing investments in local and Black and Brown-led organizations most impacted by the harms of the justice system. Under the leadership of President and CEO Candice C. Jones since 2017, the foundation has shifted toward multi-year and general support grants to strengthen organizational sustainability. In 2023, the foundation awarded 159 grants totaling approximately $24.7 million.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

General Support Grants: $10,000 - $900,000
Unrestricted funding for day-to-day operating costs or to further organizational work. The foundation prioritizes multi-year general support grants to strengthen sustainability.

Program or Project Support Grants: $10,000 - $900,000
Restricted grants designated for specific initiatives or projects.

Special Opportunities Grants: $8,000 - $100,000
One-time grants for especially timely and compelling opportunities. The foundation describes these as potentially serving "as a laboratory for new ideas."

Priority Areas

Criminal Justice Reform

Reducing incarceration rates through sentencing law reform
Parole and probation system reform
Diversion and alternatives to incarceration
Community-centered harm reduction initiatives
Criminal justice narrative reframing through storytelling and journalism
Structural and systemic changes in the U.S. criminal justice system

Youth Justice Reform

Ending the criminalization and over-incarceration of youth
Youth decarceration initiatives
Transformative approaches to youth justice system reform

Geographic Priorities Organizations working in: Oklahoma, Michigan, Georgia, Colorado, Louisiana, Jackson (Mississippi), Milwaukee (Wisconsin), Tennessee, and Washington, DC

Core Values All funding reflects the foundation's commitment to racial equity, economic well-being, and fundamental fairness.

What They Don't Fund

Individuals
Scholarships
Direct services (e.g., individual support services, case management)
International projects
Organizations without 501(c)(3) status (unless applying through a fiscal sponsor)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Kim Taylor-Thompson - Chair
Donna Byrd
Evelyn Diaz
Christopher Graham
Kristin Henning
Candice C. Jones - President & CEO (Ex-Officio)
Tamara Larsen
Rickke Mananzala
Sheena Meade
Gumersindo Oliveros

Senior Leadership

Candice C. Jones - President & CEO (since October 2017)
Thena Robinson Mock - Vice President of Programs
Craig Alexander - Chief Financial and Administrative Officer

Program Staff

John Burkhart - Program Director
Jed Oppenheim - Program Director
Alise Marshall - Director of Strategy and New Ventures

Quote from President & CEO Candice C. Jones: "Funding Black and Brown leaders cannot be a zeitgeist. We must prioritize leaders working in their communities because they make them safer and stronger from within."

Jones has also stated: "If I compromise, I pass on the expectation to compromise to another generation of Black women. I refuse to do that."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

IMPORTANT: The grant portal is currently closed. The Public Welfare Foundation is not accepting Letters of Inquiries at this time. Applications will reopen in Fall 2026.

When the portal reopens, the foundation uses a four-step process:

Review Guidelines - Consult the Letter of Inquiry (LOI) Content Guide
Create Account - Register on their grants management system
Submit LOI - Complete and submit your Letter of Inquiry (rolling basis)
Wait for Decision - Staff responds within 60 business days

Letter of Inquiry Requirements (when portal reopens):

Organization name and contact details
Proposal title
Total organization budget
Grant amount requested
Narrative (maximum 4,500 characters) covering:
- Organization's mission and work
- Problems being addressed
- Proposed activities
- Specific goals

If the LOI is approved, applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal and assigned a deadline for submission.

Decision Timeline

LOI Response Time: 60 business days
Full Proposal to Decision: Timeline not publicly specified, but varies based on application cycle

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, the foundation is described as competitive, particularly as criminal justice reform has become a crowded funding space in recent years. In 2023, the foundation made 159 awards from an undisclosed number of applications.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies are not explicitly stated on the foundation's website. Organizations are encouraged to contact the foundation at info@publicwelfare.org with questions.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's stated priorities and leadership guidance, successful applications share these characteristics:

1. Focus on Structural and Systemic Change
The foundation explicitly states: "Organizations and projects with a focus on structural and systemic changes in the U.S. criminal justice system" are prioritized. Direct service work is not typically funded. Applications should demonstrate how the work will create policy and system reform that results in transformative change.

2. Community-Led Leadership
The foundation "prioritizes investing in the leadership of those most proximate to the issues" and "believes that the best ideas bubble up from communities." Organizations led by people directly impacted by the criminal justice system, particularly Black and Brown leaders, are strongly preferred.

3. Alignment with Core Values
All funded work must align with the foundation's core values of racial equity, economic well-being, and fundamental fairness. Applications should explicitly address how the work advances racial justice.

4. Geographic Fit
Organizations should be working in one of the foundation's priority geographic areas: Oklahoma, Michigan, Georgia, Colorado, Louisiana, Jackson (Mississippi), Milwaukee (Wisconsin), Tennessee, or Washington, DC.

5. Clear Facts and Figures
The LOI guidance emphasizes that letters "should contain facts and figures about the organization." Successful applications provide concrete data about organizational capacity, community impact, and measurable goals.

6. Strategic Positioning
The foundation "looks for strategic points where its funds can make a significant difference." Applications should demonstrate how the requested funding will catalyze broader change rather than simply sustaining existing operations.

7. Innovation and Timing (for Special Opportunities)
Special Opportunities grants serve "as a laboratory for new ideas" and are for "especially timely and compelling" work. These applications should emphasize innovation and timeliness.

Recent Examples of Funded Work:

Milwaukee, WI: $900,000 over 36 months for general support to advance youth and adult decarceration and criminal legal reform in Wisconsin
Ann Arbor, MI: $900,000 over 36 months for general support to advance youth decarceration and reform in Michigan's youth justice system
Memphis, TN: Support for reducing incarceration in Memphis
Minneapolis, MN: $500,000 over 12 months for the Sector Support Fund
Washington, DC: Multiple narrative change grants ranging from $8,000 to $100,000

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Wait until Fall 2026: The grant portal is currently closed and will reopen in Fall 2026. Use this time to strengthen your alignment with the foundation's priorities.
Prioritize systemic change over direct services: The foundation explicitly does not fund direct service work. Your application must focus on policy reform, system change, or structural transformation in criminal or youth justice.
Center impacted leadership: The foundation has made a strategic commitment to funding Black and Brown-led organizations. If your organization is led by people directly impacted by the justice system, emphasize this prominently.
Multi-year general support is the goal: The foundation prefers to provide unrestricted, multi-year funding to strengthen organizational sustainability. Frame your request accordingly if you're eligible.
Geographic focus matters: Ensure your work is based in one of the foundation's priority states or cities. National organizations should demonstrate strong presence in these areas.
Be patient but proactive: With a 60-day LOI response time and competitive landscape, plan your application timeline accordingly. The foundation is described as "approachable," so don't hesitate to reach out with questions before applying.
Demonstrate transformative potential: The foundation seeks to "catalyze" change at "strategic points." Show how your work will create ripple effects beyond your immediate activities.

References

Information compiled December 2025