Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation

We are forever grateful for the work Jerry Gonzalez and Chad Berry put in to ensure the Foundation was responding to justice-workers’ needs across the South during the early days of Covid and the 2020 uprisings for racial justice. Their mark on the Foundation is apparent as they helped steward the Foundation’s evolution for more than a decade. Their unwavering commitment to racial justice is evident in the more than $120 million the Foundation granted over the course of their three consecutive board terms. We wish them the absolute best and look forward to supporting their efforts to build a better, more just South.

We are delighted to welcome a group of such powerful changemakers to the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation’s board of directors. Our new board members represent the richness of the South—both in diversity of experience, culture, and expertise. By harnessing our board’s deep knowledge, we will continue to make transformative investments in our region that advance racial equity and lay the foundation for a future where everyone can live in healthy, safe communities, participate in the decisions that affect their lives, and share in the region’s prosperity. Help us welcome Helen Butler, Nayley Perez-Huerta, Dr. Karida L. Brown, and Austin Thompson.

Women of color are consistently on the front lines when it comes to progress, yet organizations serving women and girls of color receive less than 0.5 percent of philanthropic funding. Check out "Shifting the South," a new report by the Women's Foundation of the South highlighting the urgent need to support these organizations. #BlackPhilanthropyMonth

The MRBF staff who had the privilege of attending PolicyLink's #EquitySummit2024 are still floating from the experience. We are carrying forward the mandate to doggedly pursue what was once considered impossible, with JOY and LOVE for ALL! And HUGE congratulations to our incredible board president Ashleigh Gardere on her promotion to President of PolicyLink! We could get used to saying "Madam President!"

Help us spread the word: We're extending the application deadline for our associate network officer position to August 30.

Join our team! We're seeking a justice-minded associate network officer to help us advance our mission across the beautiful, abundant American South!

Many thanks to the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust for the early #Juneteenth Jubilee for the Winston-Salem-based foundations today! And thank you Crossnore Communities for Children for hosting us last-minute. Beautiful campus, fun games, excellent food, good people, music and dancing!

Many thanks to the Mission Investors Exchange for having our CEO Flozell Daniels, Jr. on yesterday's plenary luncheon panel, "Unlocking All?Assets for Impact." Flozell shared his perspectives on impact investing alongside Nicole Taylor (President and CEO, Silicon Valley Community Foundation), Sam Gill (President and CEO, Doris Duke Foundation) and moderator Bruce McNamer (President, Builders Initiative). The panelists unanimously urged all of philanthropy to get their balance sheets and platforms?off the sidelines in the vital, ongoing work to protect democracy while maintaining and growing American civil liberties and expanding racial equity outcomes. Flozell also emphasized the abundant impact investment opportunities in the South. ??: Julius E. Kimbrough, Jr.

Congratulations! What a great group of North Carolinians, deserving of some solid R&R.

Our impact investment officer Julius E. Kimbrough, Jr. is celebrating the union victory in Tennessee. We hope to see more of this across the South and, of course, higher wages and better working conditions! ??