We invest in evidence-informed public policies and strategies to advance racial equity and economic mobility for the next generation in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin.
ABOUT USInspiring creativity and cultural stewardship in the next generation and fostering culturally vibrant, equitable, and sustainable communities.
Building a more equitable democracy by striving for participation and representation by all people who call the Great Lakes home.
Closing income and race disparities in college and career success through equitable access to high-quality education.
Working to solve the long-term environmental challenges that threaten the next generation in the Great Lakes region.
Building safe and just communities in the Great Lakes Region.
Supporting high-quality journalism projects focused on public policy issues affecting the Great Lakes region.
In Illinois, the Joyce Foundation supports work to reduce domestic violence homicide in Cook County; to conduct research on justice system responses to gun offending; to strengthen Black cultural institutions; to promote youth civic engagement; to create pathways to college and career; and to promote community voice in water policy.
Example Grantees in Illinois
In Indiana, the Joyce Foundation supports work to raise the profile of the teaching profession; to strengthen the student-teacher experience; and to cover the Indiana Legislature with a focus on state elections and education.
Example Grantees in Indiana
In Ohio, the Joyce Foundation currently supports work to advance climate solutions; to advocate for inclusive higher ed state policies; to improve election administration, protect voting rights and lead redistricting reform; to reduce harmful college debt collection practices; and to address challenges faced by OH’s largest cities.
Example Grantees in Ohio
In Michigan, the Joyce Foundation supports work to engage community partners for input on redistricting maps; to provide Flint residents with trusted water safety information; to provide civic news coverage; and to promote community-driven alternatives to incarceration.
Example Grantees in Michigan
Learn more about our work in MichiganIn Minnesota, the Joyce Foundation currently supports work to promote voting and fair elections; to facilitate the implementation and evaluation of the “Lights On!” program; to develop recommendations on strengthening K-12, higher ed and workforce sector alignment; to advocate for a more racially equitable higher ed system; and to reduce global warming pollution from MN’s electric power sector.
Example Grantees in Minnesota
In Wisconsin, the Joyce Foundation currently supports work to protect voting rights; to prevent gun violence; to advocate for water policy reforms; to advocate to close racial and economic gaps in postsecondary education; and to support a community arts collaboration.
Example Grantees in Wisconsin
The Lend a Hand Fund was established in 2020 to provide support to BIPOC-led and BIPOC-serving community organizations working to help Chicago residents hardest hit by COVID and the impacts of systemic racism.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FUND
Two Joyce Foundation grantees recently reached settlement agreements in a legal case seeking to hold accountable individuals who played a key role in a scheme to submit a fraudulent slate of electors from Wisconsin in the 2020 presidential election.
Wisconsin achieves a huge victory with the enactment of fair maps. This victory for Wisconsin voters is the result of many years of advocacy and litigation by nonpartisan watchdog groups that took the fight for fair maps to the Supreme Court.
With a slate of clean energy bills recently passed and expected to be signed into law on November 28, 2023, Michigan will become a national leader in efforts to transition to a clean energy economy.
Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Ted Gregory highlights the Foundation's journey – from the first charitable giving to Joyce's current role as a $1 billion philanthropy advancing racial equity and economic mobility for the Great Lakes’ next generations.
LEARN MOREResearchers discussed new findings on childhood exposure to gun violence; the impact of exposure on youth mental health and on future adult experiences of gun violence; and the impact of “collective efficacy” on firearm violence exposure for youth.
Researchers discuss the Environmental Justice Science, Data, and Research Plan to identify research gaps and provide recommendations for federal agencies to advance goals of EO 14096 Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All.
Democracy Program Officer Melanie McElroy discusses the work of grantees on the 2024 Elections and voter protection..
Joyce Democracy Program Director Carrie L. Davis answers common election questions in the final week leading up to the elections.
Researchers discuss strategies for sustaining and expanding Community Violence Intervention (CVI) funding.
Panelists from R Street Institute and Niskanen Center the current landscape of de-escalation training in law enforcement, overall importance of it, and the current implementation status of the Law Enforcement De-Escalation and Training Act.
Two Joyce Grantees, the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics (IOP) and the Students Learn Students Vote (SLSV) coalition teamed up to host Youth Vote Fest: a unique opportunity to engage nearly 400 young voters at the RNC and DNC conventions.
We’re thrilled to announce the recipients of the 2024 Joyce Awards, marking the 20th anniversary of the foundation’s annual awards program supporting artists of color in the creation of new works with organizational partners across the Great Lakes region.
Learn more about this year's winners