About the Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation
Established in 2007, the Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation is dedicated to advancing the arts, education, and innovative initiatives that enrich lives through nature and the sciences. Founded by Mrs. Cornelia T. Bailey during her lifetime, the Foundation stands as a tribute to her philanthropic spirit and enduring legacy.
Mrs. Bailey was deeply committed to supporting organizations that promote the arts, in all forms, expanding educational opportunities, serving veterans, and driving progress in medical research. Today, we proudly continue her vision—investing in programs that seek to inspire, heal, and uplift communities.
The Foundation is committed to equal opportunity. We do not make grant decisions on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, disability, religion, or sexual orientation. We ensure that our grantees comply with all applicable federal, state, and local equal opportunity laws.
When evaluating grant applications, we prioritize programs with the potential to make a meaningful and measurable impact—especially those that improve lives on a broad scale.
Our Mission
We empower organizations that promote the arts and develop programs designed to inspire, educate, and engage. Our vision is a world where the arts are not viewed as a luxury or elective, but as a vital part of every individual’s development and well-being.
Through strong community partnerships, we harness the transformative power of the arts to elevate educational outcomes, foster creativity, and enhance quality of life.
We believe in the synergy that arises when artists, educators, advocates, and creatives from all disciplines—musicians, museum professionals, actors, writers, and teachers—come together and collaborate. Science shows that the arts play a fundamental role in youth development, nurturing healthy brain function, social growth, and emotional resilience.
Aligned with our mission, we also support initiatives that protect and utilize nature as a source of enrichment and healing. Conservation and beautification efforts are not only essential to environmental health but also to individual and community well-being. Research consistently shows that time spent in nature supports both physical and mental health, especially for children. We are committed to partnering with organizations that recognize the vital connection between a thriving natural environment and a thriving population.
Equally important is our dedication to supporting veterans. We recognize the sacrifices made by servicemen and women and believe they deserve meaningful pathways to recovery, healing, and renewed purpose. That’s why we invest in programs that provide therapeutic support, service animals, respite opportunities, and community-centered initiatives that help veterans and their families thrive. Veterans’ well-being is not only a moral imperative but also a cornerstone of a strong, resilient community.
As a charitable foundation, we remain committed to supporting initiatives that drive progress, improve lives, and create lasting, positive impact across the arts, the environment, education, and veteran support.
Our Programs
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Philanthropic Arts (P/Arts)
P/Arts, launched in 2019, supports organizations that are integrating the arts and education into daily student curricula and early childhood education. Our program will also provide funding and ongoing professional development and training for educators who are interested in integrating the arts and education into their classrooms.
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Eager to Learn
The Eager to Learn program provides college test prep and, since 2022, supports access to trade schools. We fund partners that offer robust SAT/ACT test prep or trade-career mentoring for students interested in entering the skilled workforce. Grants support higher test scores, more scholarships, more admission opportunities, and advanced skilled workforce assistance.
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New Era Writers
The New Era program strengthens writing and communication skills by funding programs with organizations focused on professional writing career pathways or therapeutic writing. We fund programs that teach clear, persuasive writing to promote expression and individuality. Grants provide training and encourage advanced writing education for professional impact.
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Veterans Support
Our Veterans Support program funds organizations that support veterans through programs focused on mental health, animal assistance, housing, recreation, and reintegration into civilian life. We believe service animals provide invaluable emotional and physical support, and we have funded numerous veterans' service animal programs.
General Grants
Whether you are a first-time grantee or a returning grantee, getting started is simple—the Eligibility Quiz below is the first step in the general grant process (one of two grant pathways). If your answers show a good fit, you will be redirected to our Letter of Inquiry (LOI) form. We use the LOI to find projects and programs that fall outside of our four program grant initiatives while still adhering to our Mission. Please visit our program grant pages if you intend to submit a program grant application capped at $25,000, which does not require an LOI. Please keep in mind that the timeline from LOI to Grant Application to Grant Determination is approximately 16 weeks, while the timeline from Program Application to Grant Determination is roughly 8 weeks. Only about 35% of LOIs are approved and invited to submit a full grant application; many others are directed back to a program application.
