STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND GRANTS ($10,000+)
Strategic Initiatives often involve forums, roundtables, conferences, or other convenings. Developed as partnerships between the Foundation and regional, national, and international organizations, these grants often bring experts together to focus on a policy issue. The Foundation also makes occasional larger general operating fund grants to organizations closely aligned to our goals.
While we are not accepting unsolicited proposals at this time, we welcome new ideas and perspectives. Please contact Maura Sullivan, Program Officer.
- Identifing Climate Change as a National Security Priority
Over a decade ago, the Jackson Foundation began viewing climate change as a national security threat and became an early funder in this space. We saw it as a means to depoliticize the issue of climate change, engage a broader and more bipartisan audience, and persuade policymakers to act.
List of Past Grants
| Organization | Location | Grant Description | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project for Civic Health | Washington State | In partnership with the Office of Washington Lt. Governor Denny Heck, the University of Washington Evans School, and The William D. Ruckelshaus Center, the Foundation gathered civic leaders together in a day-long summit. Community leaders, elected officials, and organizations from across the state took part, representing different disciplinary fields and political identities. Participants shared information, built relationships, and strengthened efforts to hold the ground of civility. | 2024 |
| Council on Strategic Risks | Washington, D.C. | This initiative provided funding for the Center for Climate & Security’s efforts to advance climate security within and outside of the federal government, cultivate and connect new generations of climate leaders, and deepen its analytical power. | 2024 |
| Climate Solutions | Seattle, WA | Climate Solutions, together with three partner organizations, received funding to implement a communications and storytelling campaign that will highlight climate success stories in Washington state and emphasize the effectiveness of clean energy solutions. | 2024 |
| The Seattle Times | Seattle, WA | The Foundation supported a new reporting initiative, The Seattle Times’ Climate Lab, which aims to inform the public, policymakers, civic leaders, and voters about climate change and its impacts in the Pacific Northwest. Their approach includes exploring solutions, offering information to consumers, and highlighting successes. | 2024 |
| University of Washington Jackson School of International Studies | Seattle, WA | The Foundation provided funding toward the Jackson School’s 2023-2024 academic year programming, and its 2024-2025 academic year programs. The funds support programs including the school’s military and civil relations initiative with the U.S. Army War College Military Leadership Program, Russia-related educational programming, and the UW Center for Human Rights. Danny Hoffman, UW Jackson School Director, also holds the Stanley D. Golub Endowed Chair in International Studies, which the Foundation established. | 2024 |
| Human Rights First | New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA; and Washington, D.C. | These funds assist Human Rights First (HRF) to transform Global Magnitsky sanctions and similar legislation in other countries into core diplomatic tools used to promote accountability and justice for human rights violations and corruption. Program activities include strengthening the NGO coalition HRF assembled to implement Global Magnitsky sanctions; assisting other countries in adopting and utilizing similar legislation; and generating, analyzing, and sharing Magnitsky-related data. | 2024 |
| University of Washington Evans School of Public Policy & Governance | Seattle, WA | Funding was provided to expand the Public Policy and International Affairs Program’s Junior Summer Institute. This leadership development program provides access to undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds – including underrepresented communities, those with a lower socio-economic status, and first-generation college students – to explore public policy careers and graduate programs. Piloted in the summer of 2022, this grant went toward the third year of launching this program at the Evans School. | 2023 |
| Project for Civic Health | Washington State | In partnership with the Office of Washington Lt. Governor Denny Heck, the University of Washington Evans School, and The William D. Ruckelshaus Center, the Foundation gathered civic leaders together in a day-long summit. The participants generated practical, actionable ideas to address polarization in Washington state, and shared concrete measures aimed at audiences such as the Washington State Legislature, local jurisdictions, and the media. | 2023 |
| Council on Strategic Risks | Washington, D.C. | This initiative provides funding for the Center for Climate & Security’s work, including informing Executive Branch climate security policy; continuing to build bipartisan Congressional support for implementing climate action; developing a diverse national security workforce; and delving into the intersection of climate security and climate justice. | 2023 |
| University of Washington Jackson School of International Studies | Seattle | After serving as interim director, Danny Hoffman was named Director of the Jackson School. As director, Hoffman also holds the Stanley D. Golub Endowed Chair in International Studies, which the Foundation established. The Foundation provided grants to the School toward its 2022-2023 academic year programming, and its 2023-2024 academic year programs. The funds support programs that Prof. Hoffman prioritized, including its military and civil relations initiative with the U.S. Army War College Military Leadership Program, Russia-related educational programming, and the UW Center for Human Rights. | 2023 |
| Human Rights First | New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA; and Washington, D.C. | These funds assist Human Rights First transform Global Magnitsky sanctions and similar legislation in other countries into core diplomatic tools used to promote accountability and justice for human rights violations and corruption. Program activities included strengthening the NGO coalition HRF assembled to implement Global Magnitsky sanctions; assisting other countries in adopting and utilizing similar legislation; and generating, analyzing, and sharing Magnitsky-related data. | 2023 |
| National Bureau of Asian Research | Washington, D.C. and Seattle, WA | NBR initiated a new concept to pilot a Pacific Rim Congressional Study Group – a bicameral, bipartisan study group for congressional leaders from U.S. Western states. By combining the knowledge of NBR’s thought leaders with the expertise of practitioners from the U.S. government, the Study Group offered a means for busy Congressional staffers to gain understanding about the topics such as trade, climate, data protection, and security matters. | 2023 |
| University of Washington, Jackson School of International Studies | Seattle | To support a graduate student research assistant for a new project at the Center for Human Rights focused on indigenous efforts in environmental sustainability. The program involves digital storytelling created by students about Puget Sound restoration efforts and Washington Treaty Tribes, in order to increase public awareness of environmental challenges in the Salish Sea and Tribal rights. | 2022 |
| Millennial Action Project | Washington, D.C. | To provide general operating support for the Millennial Action Project, the largest nonpartisan organization of young lawmakers in the United States. This funding supports activities such as holding its Annual Future Summit event, strengthening its policy advisory councils, and refining its leadership development program. | 2022 |
| University of Washington Evans School of Public Policy & Governance | Seattle | To expand the Public Policy and International Affairs Program’s Junior Summer Institute. This leadership development program provides access to undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds, including underrepresented minorities and students with lower socio-economic status, to explore public policy careers and graduate programs. Piloted in the summer of 2022, this funding will provide support toward summer 2023 programming. | 2022 |
| Council on Strategic Risks | Washington, D.C. | To support the Center for Climate & Security’s work, including informing Executive Branch climate security policy; continuing to build bipartisan Congressional support for implementing climate action; developing a diverse national security workforce; and delving into the intersection of climate security and climate justice. | 2022 |
| Environmental and Energy Study Institute | Washington, D.C. | To provide general operating funds supporting EESI’s programming, which includes educating members of Congress and their staff on environmental matters, delivering technical assistance for rural clean energy investments, and providing a paid climate internship program in Washington, D.C. | 2022 |
| University of Washington Jackson School of International Studies | Seattle | A donation to the Advancing Human Rights at Home Fund, made in honor of the late Peter H. Jackson – son of Senator Jackson. The fund supports work done by the Center of Human Rights’ staff and students, including academic research, student education, and community engagement, to further the pursuit of justice and equality for all who live within our borders. | 2022 |
| Human Rights First | Washington, D.C. | To transform Global Magnitsky sanctions and similar legislation in other countries into core diplomatic tools used to promote accountability and justice for human rights violations and corruption. Program activities included strengthening the NGO coalition HRF assembled to implement Global Magnitsky sanctions; assisting other countries in adopting and utilizing similar legislation; and generating, analyzing, and sharing Magnitsky-related data. | 2022 |
| University of Washington, Jackson School of International Studies | Seattle | To support undergraduate and graduate student researchers at the Center for Human Rights to examine the human rights’ implications of immigration enforcement in Washington state, and to contribute to the Human Rights Observatorio – an initiative monitoring the implementation of new immigration laws in Washington. | 2021 |
| University of Washington, Evans School of Public Policy & Governance | Seattle | To support the launch of the Public Policy and International Affairs Program’s Junior Summer Institute. This leadership development program provides access for students from diverse backgrounds, including underrepresented minorities and students with lower socio-economic status, to learn about public policy graduate programs and careers. | 2021 |
| Council on Strategic Risks | Washington, D.C. | To support the Center for Climate & Security’s work engaging with policymakers to build bipartisan cooperation for climate action using a national security lens. Focused on educating Members of Congress using fact-based nonpartisan information to highlight the national security threats from global warming. | 2021 |
| Environmental and Energy Study Institute | Washington, D.C. | To hold two virtual public briefings ahead of the international climate conference, COP26, in order to build bipartisan Congressional support for legislative action on climate. Key experts discussed What to Expect at COP26 and International Climate Finance. These discussions provided substantive conversations to inform a Congressional audience and the public about this critical gathering. | 2021 |
| Wilson Center Environmental Change & Security Program | Washington, D.C. | To hold two convenings in partnership with the University of California Berkeley Center for Law, Energy & the Environment to examine the outcomes of state-level climate policy innovations and bring lessons learned from the states to the federal level. These programs aim to underline the need for Congress to address federal-level climate policies. | 2021 |
| University of Washington, Jackson School of International Studies | Seattle | A donation to the Advancing Human Rights at Home Fund, made in honor of the late Peter H. Jackson – son of Senator Jackson. The fund supports work done by the Center staff and students, including academic research, student education, and community engagement, to further the pursuit of justice and equality for all who live within our borders. | 2021 |
| Human Rights First | New York City, NY, and Washington, D.C. | To transform Global Magnitsky sanctions and similar legislation in other countries into core diplomatic tools used to promote accountability and justice for human rights violations and corruption. Program activities included strengthening Human Rights First’s coalition of NGOs to submit strong case files and educating policymakers about the law. | 2021 |
| Freedom House | Washington, D.C. | To further efforts toward limiting authoritarian reach, including strengthening the implementation of Global Magnitsky sanctions, drawing the attention of policymakers and civil society to transnational repression, and raising awareness of China’s increasing repression and expanding global media influence. | 2021 |
How to apply
If interested, please submit an LOI via our online application system. Select the option for Strategic Initiatives Grant Application. Choose which goal area(s) the program will address, enter the project’s name, and attach a 1-2 page LOI. Please see the Deadlines below for our timeline for submission of LOIs and full proposals.
If invited to submit a full proposal, we will require the following information:
- Cover letter and executive summary; amount requested
- Rationale and purpose
- Program goals
- Activities, audience, implementation strategy
- Anticipated timeline
- Expected impacts and outcomes
- How this ties into the Jackson Foundation goals and outcomes (link to strategic plan page!)
- Evaluation and Follow up (including impact criteria / metrics for success; reporting and disseminating project results)
- Results of any of our previous partnerships
- Detailed budget (organizational budget and proposed program budget, including identification of other potential or secured funding sources) and most recent financial statement
- Credibility statement – experience and capability of organization as well as identification of governing board/individuals responsible for the program
- Copy of the organization’s most recent IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter or that of your fiscal sponsor
Deadlines
| Letter of Intent Due | Proposal Due | Notification of Decision |
|---|---|---|
| December 1 | January 1 | March |
| March 1 | April 1 | June |
| June 1 | July 1 | September |
| September 1 | October 1 | December |