The Norman Foundation supports efforts that enhance communities' ability to determine their own economic, environmental, and social well-being. It aims to empower people to control the forces that affect their lives, focusing on economic justice and development, environmental health, and linking local actions to broader national and international reforms.
The grant program focuses on promoting economic justice, preventing the disposal of toxics in communities, and linking community-based efforts to broader reform initiatives. It supports projects that arise from the communities directly impacted and that aim for ethnic, gender, and other forms of equity. The foundation looks for organized, practical efforts likely to achieve systemic change, including actions that can serve as models, create self-sustaining institutions, and influence other entities for social, economic, and environmental betterment. Grants are provided for general support, projects, collaborative efforts, and capacity building for social change organizations.
Funding preference is accorded to entities operating on yearly budgets below $1 million.