Wellspring opened its doors in 2001 with a mission to support the effective advancement of human rights and social justice.

Wellspring is supported by donors who share a common belief in and respect for the inherent worth and dignity of every person.

As an organization dedicated to social justice — including racial, gender, and economic justice — we try to live the values we seek to cultivate within the broader society by applying principles of fairness, respect and justice in our relationships with our grantees and collaborators, as well as in our internal management processes and structures.

With our grantees: Our grantees are closer to the issues they are working on and the communities they represent than we are, and we respect their knowledge and expertise. We engage with our grantees in a spirit of respect and humility. We listen to them, and we learn from them as we try to support them.

We embrace grantmaking strategies that vest power in the marginalized communities whose interests we seek to advance. We join with our grantees in reflective practice, supporting appropriate risk-taking and adaptation in light of lessons learned. We try not to put unreasonable burden on them. We hold ourselves accountable to the same standards of professionalism, excellence, and stewardship that we expect from our grantees, and we actively seek feedback on how we can do better.

Under our own roof:  Our effectiveness as a social justice grantmaker is enhanced to the extent that our team includes individuals whose life experiences and perspectives have proximity to or alignment with the life experiences and perspectives of those whose interests we work to advance — including women, people of color, LGBT people, people with disabilities, and people who have experienced poverty. We actively cultivate an institutional culture of respect, equity, and inclusion consistent with the values that we seek to promote through our mission.

We strive to create conditions in which every person is supported to bring their whole, best self to do great work, to learn and to grow. We are building a habit of open and skillful interactions about race and racism, gender and sexism. We maintain a consultative management culture that gives people voice in important decisions that affect them.