Areas of interest
Our DC program supports work to advance resilient and vibrant communities with an increasing understanding of the impacts of historic and systemic racism on people in our region. We believe that people should be empowered and resourced to develop solutions and lead change in their communities. While our work is focused on DC and the Virginia Piedmont, we recognize the role statewide and regional approaches play in advancing lasting, transformative change for people in the places they call home.
We believe that land use decisions are critical to sustain a vibrant regional urban core, protect the character of rural communities, and to manage and reduce the impacts of climate change on communities. How our communities grow, move around, and supply our food — and who is included in those decisions — will determine the ongoing livability and resilience of our region. Our geographic focus is Washington, DC and the Virginia Piedmont and includes work that:
- Promotes land use, transportation, housing, and economic development policy to preserve and increase public access to natural resources and productive farmland, address climate change, and build equitable, resilient, and prosperous communities.
- Enables an inclusive, regenerative, and thriving local agricultural economy that addresses barriers to equitable economic opportunity and land ownership for historically disadvantaged producers while increasing access to healthy, locally produced food in the region.
With the growing pressure of gentrification in DC neighborhoods, we support strategies that contribute to inter-related issues of social, economic, and environmental resilience that enable people to benefit, stay, and thrive in their neighborhoods. Our work is focused primarily on the historically marginalized and disinvested communities of DC’s Wards 7&8 and includes work that:
- Promotes high-quality civic space, with a focus on parks in the Anacostia River corridor, that build community, promote civic engagement, and increase climate resilience.
- Builds wealth for neighborhood residents and local businesses and supports strategies to prevent displacement of long-time residents.
- Improves community well-being through increased access to quality and culturally competent health care and lasting, community-driven and owned solutions to food justice and neighborhood safety.
- Supports arts and cultural institutions and local artists that promote cross-cultural understanding reflective of the region’s rich diversity.
Our vision is grounded in a people-centered, fair, inclusive, and equitable political system that fulfills the promise of a representative democracy. To get there, infrastructure and a network of actors working in collaboration is needed to sustain the movement beyond an election cycle. We believe that effective movements center work on a local level and are supported by state-wide and national organizations. This includes work that:
- Organizes communities and empowers leaders to engage in policy decisions, election protection, voter education and participation.
- Builds coalitions, networks and movements in our region that connect community voice with lasting, system change that aligns with our areas of interest.
A focus on Parkinson’s Disease is a legacy priority area to support medical training to enhance the field of Parkinson’s and direct services to improve the day-to-day lives of those living with Parkinson’s Disease and their caregivers.
Preparing to apply
The Washington, DC program accepts applications by invitation only in the fall and spring of each year. However, please contact us if your work aligns with our priorities. We are eager to learn about visionary leaders and innovative programs. Note that our Washington program generally only funds organizations within the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia.
About GOapply: As of January 2023, proposals to Prince Charitable Trusts are only accepted through the GOapply application and report portal (see “GOAPPLY” button below). All applicants will be required to register when visiting GOapply for the first time using their organization’s EIN#. However, if you are a previous grant recipient your grants history remains in our records.
About the proposal review process: Once a proposal has been received, you will be notified if we need additional information, and a site visit may be scheduled. Within six months of the proposal submission deadline, organizations will be notified as to whether the request has been funded.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Potomac Riverkeeper
