Our Mission Is Easy
Environment
Art
Science
Youth Education
The Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation was founded in 2007 to promote the arts, education, and initiatives that seek to better our world by utilizing nature and the sciences. The Foundation was established by Mrs. Cornelia T. Bailey during her life and now serves to honor her philanthropic legacy as she so enjoyed supporting philanthropic organizations centered on education, veteran outreach, medical research, and, most significantly, the arts in all forms. We are proud to continue her legacy.
Our Foundation promotes equal opportunity for all and does not consider gender, race, ethnicity, disability, religion, or sexual orientation as a basis for issuing grants. We comply with all applicable federal, state, and local equal opportunity laws. When assessing grant applications, we focus on the program’s potential to make a difference in as many lives as possible.
Our Mission
Our mission is to assist organizations seeking to promote the arts or create programs that inspire, engage, and teach.
We dream that someday, the arts will no longer be considered a school elective or an interest for the few but necessary for living an entire and healthy life.
Through our partnerships in the community, we are utilizing the arts’ extraordinary power to inspire, raise educational outcomes for students, and enrich the overall quality of life in marginalized communities.
We believe that combining the talents of musicians, museum educators, nonprofit arts advocates, actors, teachers, and writers creates excellent synergy. In all forms, the arts have significant intrinsic societal value and can play multiple roles in youth education for healthy brain and social development.
In keeping with our mission, the Foundation values and will support organizations that protect and utilize nature to enrich peoples’ lives through conservation and beautification. We believe that a healthy environment means a healthier population overall.
Studies have shown that children benefit mentally and physically from outdoor activity and clean air. We seek to continue working with organizations that understand the value of our human connection with and reliance on a thriving and accessible green infrastructure.
As a charitable organization, we are also interested in supporting health science and medical research. We understand that supporting cutting-edge technology and research is paramount in gaining important ground on treating and hopefully curing all forms of cancer and diseases. We are specifically interested in supporting research on treating and curing pancreatic and other high-mortality illnesses that have lagged in funding and medical advancement.
Programs
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Philanthropic Arts Program (P/Arts)
P/Arts, launched in 2019, supports non-profits, accredited schools, universities, and public agencies in enhancing programs that integrate art education into curricula and early childhood education and support disadvantaged students. Grants, capped at $10,000, aim to catalyze arts initiatives. Applications for amounts exceeding $10,000 will be returned.
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Eager to Learn Program
The Eager to Learn program offers college test prep assistance and, since 2022, has expanded to promote access to trade schools. We partner with organizations providing SAT/ACT prep or trade career mentoring, ensuring students from all backgrounds can access quality resources. Grants, capped at $25,000, aim to boost test scores and scholarship opportunities for college and trade school admission.
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New Era Writers Program
The New Era Writers Program inspires individuals to improve their writing and communication skills. We support programs that teach effective writing, helping individuals express themselves and craft persuasive arguments for change and equality. Grants, capped at $25,000, aim to provide knowledge and skills for clear communication and encourage higher levels of writing training for personal and societal impact.
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Veterans Assistance Program
Starting in late 2024, our Foundation will allocate funding for veteran-focused programs. We aim to honor veterans' sacrifices and provide resources to help them thrive in civilian life. We address their unique challenges through comprehensive and flexible programming, ensuring they have the opportunities and support needed to achieve their full potential.
General Grants
Our Eligibility Form is the first step in the general grant process. The eligibility form will redirect applicants to the Letter of Inquiry form if successfully answered. The letter of inquiry should be used for projects outside our three programs' scope. Some additional areas of focus for our Foundation include:
Environmental Ingenuity:
We are working with organizations to reduce human environmental impact and increase fresh and saltwater quality.
Medical Research:
Focusing on funding initiatives involving high-mortality, under-funded diseases, specifically, but not exclusively, pancreatic and colon cancer.
Visual and Performing Arts:
We fund projects that provide students and children in the regions we serve with opportunities to experience quality arts programming, both visual and performing.
Veterans Initiatives:
We work with several veterans organizations to provide respite locations, therapeutic programming, and service animals for our wounded, recovering, and returning servicemen, women, and members.
