Henry M. Jackson Foundation
OVERVIEW: The Henry M. Jackson Foundation approaches global security through the wider lens of human rights issues related to U.S. foreign policy making, education and climate change.
IP TAKE: The Henry M. Jackson Foundation should not be confused with the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine. One of the more approachable global security funders, this is a great one to know, particularly if your organization works in the Seattle area. Jackson is particularly focused on bridging the gap between foreign policy and academia, so your proposals should reflect some aspect of both to strengthen your chances. This is an open-minded, but rigorous funder that expects research-based information backing your work.
PROFILE: The Henry M. Jackson Foundation was established in 1983 to continue the “unfinished” work of the late Senator Henry “Scoop” Jackson. It seeks to “tackle critical policy issues while engaging a new generation of civic leaders, guided by Senator Jackson’s hallmark inquisitiveness, vision, pragmatism, honesty, and determination.” Senator Jackson spent 43 years working in public service, first as a U.S. congressman, and later as a senator. During his lifetime, Jackson was committed to a number of social and political issues including advancing democracy and advocating for international peace and security. The foundation works in three program areas: Leadership, Climate, and Human Rights and International Affairs Education.
Grants for Global Security, Human Rights and Higher Education
The Jackson Foundation’s Human Rights and International Affairs Education program “seeks to advance human rights and international affairs education, with special emphasis on Russia and China.” Grants stemming from this program focus primarily on research and connections between academic researchers, including students, “who are seeking to provide policymakers with the best information available to inform decision-making.” The foundation endowed the Helen H. Jackson Chair in Human Rights at the University of Washington’s Jackson School of International Studies. Other grantees in this area include the Free Russia Foundation, the National Bureau of Asian Research and the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy and Governance.
Grants for Civic Engagement and Democracy
Jackson’s grantmaking for Leadership seeks to “to produce the next generation of public, private, civic leaders.” The program prioritizes diversity and leadership in the areas of human rights and climate change. The foundation’s signature leadership program is the Jackson Fellows Leadership Program, a nine-month program for civic leaders under the age of 40 in the Seattle area. Other grantees and partners of the leadership program include the Edward Carlson Leadership and Public Service Center in Seattle, Northwest Youthcorps and Seattle’s One World Now, a youth organizing organization.
Grants for Environmental Conservation and Climate Change
Jackson’s grantmaking for Climate has gone mainly to organizations and institutes engaged in climate research and policy development toward climate change mitigation and national security. Past grantees in this area are the Center for Climate and Security, the Institute on Science for Global Policy, the Environmental Grantmakers Association and the BlueGreen Alliance Foundation.
Important Grant Details:
Grants from this foundation range from $10,000 to $50,000. Grantmaking appears to prioritize the Seattle area, where the foundation supports both large and small organizations, but some grants go to large national organizations working in the foundation’s areas of interest.
This funder accepts applications via its online portal. The foundation runs four annual cycles, with proposal due dates on the first of January, April, July and October. Interested grantseekers are invited to reach out to discuss opportunities with a staff member at any time via email prior to submitting materials.
PEOPLE:
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