Herb Block Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Herb Block Foundation supports education, art, human services, poverty, basic freedoms and civic engagement in the Washington, D.C. metro area and beyond.
IP TAKE: This D.C. funder has very specific interests in mind for its grantmaking but is also an accessible foundation with several LOI deadlines per year.
PROFILE: Established in 2001, the Herb Block Foundation is a private foundation based in Washington, D.C. Block was a well-known political cartoonist who spent his career “fighting against abuses of the powerful.” He ensured that this foundation was created to encourage editorial cartooning and to also support educational and charitable programs. The foundation is committed to "defending basic freedoms, combating all forms of discrimination and prejudice and improving the condition of the poor and underprivileged.” It funds local efforts for education, art, human services, poverty, basic freedoms and civic engagement.
Grants for Education, Arts and Culture, Community Development, and Democracy and Civic Engagement
The Herb Block Foundation’s “defending basic freedoms” grantmaking program involves adhering to freedoms guarantee in the Bill of Rights, eliminating prejudice and ensuring government agencies be accountable to the public. The “pathways out of poverty” grant program addresses education for youth and adults through programs for literacy education, GED preparation, after-school activities, increasing high school graduation rates, job placement and vocational training. “Encouraging citizen involvement” grants focus on citizen education and voter participation. The foundation awards the Herblock Prize to encourage editorial cartooning. In addition to grants, the foundation also awards scholarships to students who want to continue their studies at Washington, D.C. area community colleges.
Past local grantees include the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights Coalition, YMCA of Metropolitan Washington and D.C Central Kitchen.
Important Grant Details
Grants range between about $5,000 and $25,000. Grantmaking largely focuses on the Washington, D.C. metro area, while other grants have a nationwide reach. The foundation defines the greater Washington, DC region as the District of Columbia, the counties of Arlington, Fairfax and the city of Alexandria in Virginia and Montgomery and Prince George's counties in Maryland.
This foundation accepts unsolicited letters of inquiry from nonprofits. Each grant program has its own set of LOI and full proposal deadlines. The application process is online, but grantseekers may also apply by hard copy via mail. Direct general questions to the staff at info@herbblock.org or 202-223-8801.
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