OVERVIEW: The Sapelo Foundation supports the environment, social justice and advocacy and policy in Georgia.
IP TAKE: Sapelo is a long-standing progressive funder that has been serving Georgia residents for almost a century. This is an accessible grantmaker, but not all of its programs accept applications for support. While its strategic plan has been evolving, its trustees decide upon new priorities within each issue area every so often. Make sure to check its website and current approach to grantmaking in Georgia before gathering your materials. This foundation may accept unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits at certain times. Periodically, it exclusively accepts invitation-only grants. In addition to grantmaking, this funder sometimes provides loans to nonprofits making it a good one to know for a range of reasons.
PROFILE: Established in 1949, the Sapelo Foundation is a private family foundation based in Savannah, Georgia. This is the foundation of Richard J. Reynolds, Jr., who had an interest in the Georgia barrier island of Sapelo Island and created the Sapelo Island Marine Institute. The foundation began pursuing charitable activities when the university of Georgia took over the operation of the institute. The foundation “strives for a just Georgia through partnerships and solutions that increase environmental protection, social prosperity and civic power.” It funds local efforts for the environment, social justice, advocacy and policy.
Grants for Environmental Conservation
The Sapelo Foundation’s Environmental Justice & Protection program supports environmental protection through grants for water resources, sustainable coastlines, forests and clean energy.
- Grantees include Georgia Conservation Voters Education Fund, Golden Isles Coastal Resiliency Network, Georgia Wand Education Fund, and Southern Environmental Law.
- See other grant recipients on Sapelo’s Grantee Partners page.
Grants for Civic Engagement, Democracy and Criminal Justice
While Sapelo prioritizes voter access, education, and engagement within a distinct Voting Rights priority area, it views its support of voter engagement as fundamental to building power to address both Social Justice and Environmental Justice & Protection. For Sapelo, power building occurs at the nexis of restoring faith in and creating access to democratic process. Sapelo’s Social Justice grantmaking funds civic engagement, fairness in the legal system, minority community development and policy efforts. Its current priorities are voting rights and criminal justice.
- The foundation awards “two-year grants for voting rights in fall of odd years and two-year grants for criminal justice in fall of even years.”
- Grantees include GALEO Latino Community Development Fund, ACLU Foundation of Georgia, Georgia Justice Project, and Georgia Budget and Policy Institute.
- See other grant recipients on Sapelo’s Grantee Partners
Grants for Community Development
The foundation supports marginalized communities and especially communities of color. The McIntosh County program seeks to help young people thrive in school, as well as in their lives, careers, and communities.
- These grants are by invitation only.
- Grantees include Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Georgia, Rhizome Action Network, Voices for Georgia’s Children, Augusta University, and Communities in Schools of Glynn County. See other grant recipients on Sapelo’s Grantee Partners
- There is also the Annemarie & Richard J. Reynolds, Jr. Scholarship Program that supports local students pursuing higher education.
Other Grant Opportunities
The Sapelo Foundation provides Development Tools and minigrants outside of its regular focus areas to support nonprofit operations.
- The Organization Development Fund offers grants of up to $2,000 to “support internal, individual efforts of one organization or network.”
- The Collaboration Development Fund awards grants up to $5,000 to “support external, collaborative efforts across two or more organizations or networks.”
- The Smith W. Bagley Advocacy Award makes one grant to recognize the achievements of one nonprofit.
- Mini-Sabbaticals for Advocates-in-Residence provides “inspiring and intimate space for retreats or gatherings on St. Simon’s Island, GA.”
- The foundation also provides loans for nonprofits.
Important Grant Details:
Grants range between about $1,000 and $500,000. It awards a little over $1 million annually and holds around $35 million in assets.
- Grantmaking focuses on the state of Georgia. However, it does not fund projects that solely operate in the Metro Atlanta Area.
- It is interested in Georgia’s rural-urban continuum, strengthening collaborations and building capacity of its grantees. However, the funder does not support brick-and-mortar projects, health care initiatives, medical research, museums or large public facilities.
- Direct general questions to the staff at info@sapelofoundation.org or (912) 298-0222.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
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