Sapelo Foundation Grants is sponsored by Sapelo Foundation. Supports initiatives advancing social justice, community prosperity, civic power, and environmental protection for marginalized communities in Georgia, including arts and community building projects.

Grant Portfolios - Sapelo Foundation Environmental Justice & Protection Objectives Increase the number of Georgians who: 1. Shape and benefit from environmental policies, practices, and systems that are just and effective. 2.

Prosper in safe, healthy, sustainable, and protected environments.

State & federal conservation advocacy Sustainable & equitable land use and protection Coastal environmental advocacy and resilience Data center proliferation Electric membership cooperative organizing Local and state clean energy advocacy Weatherization and energy efficiency in low-wealth communities By utilizing strategies reflected in our values, practices, objectives, and grant criteria, we seek to contribute to just systemic change that results in the following: 1.

Increased Passage & Implementation Increased passage and implementation of policies, practices, and systems that advance environmental justice and protection. 2. Stronger Collaboration Stronger collaboration among organizations, collaborations, and networks that pursue environmental justice and protection efforts.

Stronger capacity of organizations, collaborations, and networks that pursue environmental justice and protection, as evidenced by: (a) Stronger policy advocacy, civic engagement, and grassroots community organizing work. (b) Stronger equity and justice lenses across their work. (c) Stronger organizational health, leadership, and membership.

More Georgians, especially communities of color and rural communities: (a) Participate in policy advocacy, civic engagement, or grassroots community organizing for environmental justice and protection. (b) Prosper in safe, healthy, sustainable, and protected environments. Our grant process starts with a Letter of Connection (LOC).

You can submit an LOC anytime, but it must be received by January 15 to be considered for that year. Our staff and a board committee review each LOC, and we’ll let you know by mid-March if you’re invited to submit a full application. Invited applications are reviewed at the board’s spring meeting, usually held between late April and mid-May .

We share decisions right after the meeting, and funding is disbursed once we receive the signed grant agreement. Lists of our recent grantee partners are available for download and are shared at the end of each year. Objectives Increase the number of Georgians who: 1.

Shape and benefit from civic and social policies, practices, and systems that are just and effective. 2. Prosper with full rights, protections, access, and agency in our democracy.

Voter education & ballot access Youth civic participation & leadership Civic power-building in under-resourced communities First amendment issues, particularly free speech & assembly Alternatives to arrest and incarceration School discipline & youth justice Licensing reform & workforce access By utilizing strategies reflected in our values, practices, objectives, and grant criteria, we seek to contribute to just systemic change that results in the following: 1.

Increased Passage & Implementation Increased passage and implementation of policies, practices, and systems that advance social justice. 2. Stronger Collaboration Stronger collaboration among organizations, collaborations, and networks that pursue social justice efforts.

Stronger capacity of organizations, collaborations, and networks that pursue social justice, as evidenced by: (a) Stronger policy advocacy, civic engagement, and grassroots community organizing work. (b) Stronger equity and justice lenses across their work. (c) Stronger organizational health, leadership, and membership.

More Georgians, especially communities of color and rural communities: (a) Participate in policy advocacy, civic engagement, or grassroots community organizing for social justice. (b) Prosper with fuller rights, protections, access, and agency in our democracy. Our grant process starts with a Letter of Connection (LOC).

You can submit an LOC anytime, but it must be received by July 15 to be considered for that year. Our staff and a board committee review each LOC, and we’ll let you know by mid-September if you’re invited to submit a full application. Invited applications are reviewed at the board’s spring meeting, usually held between late October and mid-November .

We share decisions right after the meeting, and funding is disbursed once we receive the signed grant agreement. Lists of our recent grantee partners are available for download and are shared at the end of each year. Objective Advance social prosperity in McIntosh County across generations by improving outcomes for young people.

1. Thrive in School & Graduation More young people in McIntosh County succeed in and graduate from high school. 2.

Thrive in Life, Career, & Community More young people in McIntosh County are aware of their options after high school graduation and succeed in the paths they choose for their lives, careers, and communities. McIntosh County grants are by invitation only. For decades, we administered different and impactful forms of a named scholarship program – the Annemarie & Richard J.

Reynolds, Jr. Scholarship – to honor the Reynolds’ commitment to the people of McIntosh County. After a phase out period from 2020 to 2023, The Sapelo Foundation no longer administers the Annemarie and Richard J. Reynolds, Jr. Scholarship Program.

However, we are continuing our longtime commitment to McIntosh County, with new goals, programs, and special partners. In partnership with Communities in Schools and the McIntosh County School System, we are pursuing the next phase of the program. Now, we are focused on a wholistic and collaborative approach that includes year-round support for students, families, schools, and communities.

Specifically, Communities in Schools will pursue the following four goals, built off of its successful partnerships in neighboring Glynn County. 1. Establish the program at the local high school, McIntosh Academy, and hire a Site Coordinator to support social, emotional, and academic needs of students, families, communities, and staff year-round.

2. Analyze and improve programs and service delivery during the initial phase with possible expansion to additional counties in southeast Georgia, as well as better connect learnings and opportunities across Glynn and McIntosh Counties with the help of a Program Manager. 3.

Achieve long-term systemic change in McIntosh County’s ability to provide outstanding educational opportunities for its students. 4. Administer a named scholarship program – the Annemarie and Richard J.

Reynolds, Jr. Scholarship – for graduating seniors of McIntosh Academy. To learn more about our work and special partners, please read the news article featuring Communities in Schools, the McIntosh County Superintendent, and The Sapelo Foundation. Or, visit Communities in Schools’ website .

Tool I: Organization Development Fund Objective Support internal, individual efforts of one organization or network. Advance the desired outcomes of Grant Portfolios I-III. Monthly, open grant process for current grantee partners that seek up to $2,000.

Tool II: Collaboration Development Fund Objective Support external, collaborative efforts across two or more organizations or networks. Advance the desired outcomes of Grant Portfolios I-III. Monthly, open grant process for current direct grantee partners that seek up to $5,000.

Tool III: Smith W. Bagley Advocacy Award Objective Celebrate one organization or network, in memory of our late president. Advance the desired outcomes of Grant Portfolios I-III.

Annual, closed grant process. Tool IV: Mini-Sabbaticals for Advocates-in-Residence Objective Support mini-sabbaticals for advocates-in-residence at Musgrove on St. Simons Island.

Advance the desired outcomes of Grant Portfolios I-III. Annual (July 15 – September 15) , open grant process for current and recent direct and indirect grantee partners.