How We Work
Our Funding Philosophy
Our funding philosophy is rooted in trust, transparency, and shared learning. We know nonprofits and grassroots organizations need time, flexibility, and resources to do transformational work. We also recognize the power foundations hold and our responsibility to use it with care, openness, and accountability.
We continue to listen, learn, and adapt our approach as we work to be a more thoughtful and responsive funding partner. Explore our 2026 Funding Philosophy.
Why We Lead With Racial Equity and Justice
Racism continues to shape the conditions in which children live, learn, play, and grow, including access to care, safe places, education, economic opportunity, and a sense of belonging. Leading with racial equity and justice helps us address the systems and decisions creating these inequities, not only their effects.
This commitment is also connected to our history. John Rex built his wealth through the labor of people he enslaved and low-wage workers. Because our endowment bears his name and legacy, we have a responsibility to acknowledge the harm and to use our resources with intention and accountability.
We support organizations working to improve children’s social-emotional health and change the conditions that have caused the greatest harm to Black, Indigenous, Latine, and other children and families of color. When systems become fairer and more supportive for those who have faced the greatest barriers, all children and families benefit.
How Racial Equity and Justice Guide Our Work
What This Commitment Looks Like in Practice:
- Change the conditions that shape the social-emotional health of Black, Indigenous, Latine, and other children and families of color.
- Support approaches shaped by the knowledge, creativity, and leadership of Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and other residents of color that strengthen conditions for all children.
Who And What We Support
John Rex Endowment supports tax-exempt public charities under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, as well as nonprofit organizations and programs working with an eligible 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor.
We consider work based in Wake County as well as broader efforts across North Carolina that strengthen the systems, policies, movements, and conditions shaping children’s social-emotional health. We look beyond an organization’s size, formal infrastructure, or experience with funders and consider the knowledge, relationships, and leadership behind the work.
We look for organizations and efforts that:
- Work in Wake County or advance broader change across North Carolina that benefits children and families in Wake County.
- Center racial equity and justice in their work and organizational practices.
- Support children’s social-emotional health directly or address the systems and conditions that shape it.
What We Support
- Organizational and collaborative capacity building that strengthens leadership, operations, relationships, and long-term resilience.
- Racial equity learning and practice change, including assessments that help organizations understand and address inequity.
- Systems thinking and systems change that address root causes and help organizations, coalitions, and public systems work together more effectively.
- Movement building, advocacy, and organizing connected to children’s social-emotional health.
- Narrative change and communications that challenge harmful mindsets, build belonging, and strengthen shared responsibility for children’s well-being.
- Leadership, governance, strategy, evaluation, and learning that help organizations adapt and fulfill their missions.
- Partnerships shaped by community knowledge and leadership that improve the conditions surrounding children and families.
What We Do NOT Support
- Direct program or service delivery when it is the sole focus of a request.
- Annual fund drives, fundraising events, galas, capital campaigns, or endowments.
- Grants to individuals, including awards, prizes, competitions, or scholarships.
- Operating deficits, debt repayment, or activities that do not align with JRE’s mission and strategy.
- Political campaigns or partisan activities intended to influence elections.
Connecting With JRE
Visit our Funding Opportunities page for current opportunities, timelines, application steps, and contact information. When no opportunities are available, the page will make that clear and share other ways to stay connected and to hear about future funding.