Mary’s Pence is pleased to announce its Fall 2026 grantee partners, awarding grants to ten grassroots organizations working to advance social justice and strengthen communities across the United States.
From improving maternal health and expanding educational opportunities to supporting survivors of violence and reducing unnecessary incarceration, this cohort reflects the many ways grassroots organizations are responding to systemic injustice. Each brings a deep understanding of the challenges people face and a commitment to building solutions that are accessible, inclusive, and rooted in their communities.
The grants come at a time when many small nonprofits face an increasingly difficult funding landscape. Mary’s Pence remains committed to investing in grassroots organizations whose work is often overlooked by traditional funding sources. This continued support is possible thanks to the loyal donors who make the organization’s grantmaking possible year after year.
The Fall 2026 cohort also reflects the value of sustained investment. All grantee organizations are receiving their second or third Mary’s Pence grant, allowing them to continue developing their work and strengthening their impact over time.
Asian American Voices for Education
Atlanta, Georgia | 2nd Grant
Asian American Voices for Education amplifies the stories of Asian Americans, fostering understanding by helping students learn how many cultures have shaped the nation. They collaborate with educators, school districts, and community partners to provide training and advocate for inclusive education across Georgia.
Georgia Black Doula Network
Atlanta, Georgia | 3rd Grant
Atlanta Doula Collective has evolved into the Georgia Black Doula Network, continuing its dedication to improving maternal health for Black and Indigenous families. They provide affordable perinatal care, culturally responsive education, and advocate for increasing the representation of Black and Indigenous birth workers across the state.
Black Coalition for Safe Motherhood
Yonkers, New York | 2nd Grant
Black Coalition for Safe Motherhood is dedicated to improving maternal health through health care, advocacy, education and holistic community support. BCFSM envisions a time when Black birthing families are supported and cared for with the respect and dignity that all people deserve.
The CHAAD Project
Chicago, Illinois | 3rd Grant
The Chicago Hospitality Accountability and Advocacy Database, CHAAD, Project, created by and for hospitality workers in Chicago, advances accountability and fights labor abuses. They offer resources, education, legal support, and organizing tools for low-wage, marginalized workers — especially women, queer, trans, Black, Brown, undocumented, and disabled individuals.
Idaho Justice Project
Boise, Idaho | 3rd Grant
Idaho Justice Project uplifts the experiences of people impacted by imprisonment, raises awareness of criminal justice disparities, advocates for policy reforms, and supports affected communities. The Idaho Women’s Incarceration Project works to reduce the factors that contribute to women’s incarceration rates in Idaho.
LitShop
St. Louis, Missouri | 3rd Grant
LitShop empowers girls and gender-expansive youth from low-income communities through free, creative enrichment programs that build confidence, academic skills, leadership, and a sense of belonging. By providing hands-on experiences in areas such as STEM, building trades, and the arts, LitShop helps participants see themselves in fields where they are often underrepresented and discover new possibilities for their futures.
Phumulani: Minnesota African Women Against Violence
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota | 2nd Grant
Phumulani is a survivor-led, culturally rooted nonprofit on a mission to end gender-based violence within African immigrant communities in Minnesota. Grounded in African values, traditions, and collective care, they aim to restore dignity, rebuild trust, and transform pain into purpose.
Rockland Prison Justice Project
Nyack, New York | 2nd Grant
Rockland Prison Justice Project creates a healing community for formerly incarcerated women, helping them build confidence and leadership through workshops and ongoing peer support. They help women become facilitators and mentors, using their lived experience to support one another and help create a more compassionate, empowering model of reentry.
Seeds Worth Sowing
Minneapolis, Minnesota | 3rd Grant
Seeds Worth Sowing builds community-based infrastructure that helps Black and Brown families in South Minneapolis access essential resources, housing support, and maternal health services without the barriers and bureaucracy of traditional assistance systems. Through its Community Welfare System, the organization combines direct mutual aid for families with workshops and toolkits that help other organizers build more accessible, dignified, community-led care systems.
The Curve Foundation
Oakland, California | 3rd Grant
The Curve Foundation champions the resilience and achievements of LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary people. Building on the legacy of Curve magazine, it increases visibility, fosters critical conversations and community connections, offers intergenerational programs, supports community-focused journalists, and strengthens connections, especially during Lesbian Visibility Week.