Democratic Philanthropy in Action
Foundation and donor support is the lifeblood that enable Southern Partners Fund to assist grassroots community leaders, organizations and networks to build their capacity and power to achieve racial and economic equity in SPF’s 12-state region across the rural South.
Why Donate?
Interested in funding the rural South? Foundation and donor support are the lifeblood of SPF, which assists rural grassroots community leaders, organizations, and coalitions in building their capacity and power to achieve racial and economic equity in the 12 southeastern states that SPF serves.
Our model of democratic philanthropy is authentic and different from most foundations.
- SPF is entirely governed by current or former leaders of rural grassroots community organizations.
- SPF’s board and members—rural community leaders from its 12-state funding region, at least 80% of whom are affiliated with current and former grantee partners—make all operating and grantmaking decisions.
- For the past 25+ years, we’ve proudly championed our founders’ belief: those directly impacted by injustice are uniquely positioned to develop solutions.
Dr. King said that we must fight against what he called the triplets of evil: racism, poverty, and war, and I just want to remind you that this is still our work.
– Rev. Raphael Warnock, from his keynote speech at SPF’s 2019 Gala, prior to becoming a U.S. Senator
Philanthropic Partners
Dawn Blagrove
The powers that be in North Carolina are on an unrelenting quest to drag Black people back to Jim Crow south. Through voter suppression, gerrymandered districts, and tactics that are one step up from counting jelly beans to get access to the ballot, the goal is to extinguish Black political power. Emancipate NC is able to ferociously fight back, with and for the people, to hold the line thanks to generous and supportive partners like Southern Partners Fund. Together, we are holding the line against tyranny and building Black political power.
Portia Shepherd
SPF has been instrumental in supporting our organization’s work, particularly in the areas of community engagement and advocacy. It has allowed us to continue our efforts in Epes, AL and other communities by funding important initiatives, such as our collaboration with Brown University’s Community Noise Lab to monitor and address the impacts of biomass facilities. This funding has provided the resources needed to ensure that our advocacy and prevention education efforts continues and that we can support communities in protecting their health and environment.
Ways to Donate
Looking to support social justice through democratic philanthropy? Consider becoming part of the movement and donate. Your donations are critical to SPF’s grantmaking approach of providing sustained funding to rural grassroots organizations throughout the Southeast.
Gifts may be submitted via our secure online payment portal or by mailing a check. Should you prefer to make a wire transfer or have questions about any of the gift types below, please contact Daphne Saethang at daphne@southernpartnersfund.org.
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Corporate Giving
Donor Stories
Please take a look at these letters of support from two of our longstanding donors. Get to know us and consider supporting the rural Southeast by contributing to SPF and its model of democratic philanthropy at whatever level works for you.
Barbara Meyer
, Bert and Mary Meyer Foundation
“Twenty years ago, I helped midwife Southern Partners Fund into existence. My family foundation, the Bert and Mary Meyer Foundation, provided a container from 1994 to 1998 for SPF’s founders, 18 grassroots community leaders throughout the rural South, to define SPF’s mission, structure, and values. We turned over our multi-million-dollar endowment to Southern Partners Fund ten years later using an IRS-required intermediary.
Since its founding 21 years ago, SPF has distributed $15 million in grants and grown its endowment from $6 million to $9 million while continuing to be governed by a board of people of color community leaders throughout the rural South. Those impacted by systemic injustice, the “real experts” in SPF’s eyes, make all operating and grantmaking decisions. SPF’s executive director, Fernando Cuevas, began working in tomato fields at eight. SPF’s board, members, and staff are the real thing.
Their mission statement, created 25 years ago, is even more relevant today:
Culture is the essence of our people and should be valued, shared, and preserved. We have built our strength and unity by incorporating integrity, respect, love, diversity, and interconnectedness standards.”
SPF’s grantee leaders are continuing the southern civil rights movement despite dwindling financial support from outside the region. Southern Partners Fund is the only foundation supporting and connecting grantees to build a power base in the rural South.
I am incredibly proud to be a 20-year funder of Southern Partners Fund. I am proud of their grantmaking history and aggressive determination to prevail, despite hearing in early years that they would fail if they let the fox loose in the henhouse. Their critics could not foresee the fox living in peace and harmony in a henhouse where the hens were in charge.
What an incredibly inspirational model. ”
Ron Miller
, New Visions Foundation
“New Visions Foundation aims to support the cultural transition to a more fair, democratic, and sustainable society. In 2014, I realized that activists in the South embrace this vision and struggle to advance their organizations in a challenging and resistant climate. Reports from the National Committee on Responsible Philanthropy (NCRP) indicated that this climate of resistance had national implications, that “as the South goes, so goes the nation.” They observed that grassroots change efforts in the South were primarily neglected by progressive funders from outside the region – like us.
So, we began exploring possibilities for supporting social change work in the South. We learned that SPF, guided and managed by grassroots organizers, is intimately familiar with the regional goals and struggles of progressive movements. We soon determined that the most effective way to support visionary, community-oriented activism in the South would be to build SPF’s grantmaking capacity and let them allocate the funds to groups on the frontlines in neglected and underfunded communities. We provided relatively modest grants for a couple of years. Then, we made a significant multi-year commitment, including contributions to SPF’s endowment, enabling them to continue their vital work for years. Now, our grants to SPF are by far the largest we give.
In late 2018, I attended a gathering of SF’s constituent organizations and met around 60 regional organizers, a group of incredibly devoted, warm-hearted, and inspiring leaders. They work in challenging, if not discouraging, situations to bring new visions of justice, compassion, healing, and empowerment to their communities. Promoting this very principle is why our foundation was established. Without our network, discovering these essential small local organizations on our own would be highly unlikely. By partnering with SPF, the New Visions Foundation can steer resources where they are sorely needed and where they can make a significant difference in people’s lives. Isn’t this what philanthropy is for?
I encourage other funders to join us. Take a closer look at Southern Partners Fund and expect to be inspired!”