The Holloway Family Foundation’s Annual Relay Grant is a streamlined, trust-based approach to grantmaking that places funding decisions in the hands of women nonprofit leaders of color. In 2020, several reports highlighted persistent disparities in philanthropic giving to women and girls of color, as well as inequities in funding for organizations led by people of color compared with their White counterparts. Motivated by these findings, the foundation adapted the concept of a relay grant—an idea they learned from another funder earlier that year—and applied a racial equity lens to the approach.

How the Relay Grant Model Works

The Holloway Family Foundation’s board of directors began by selecting a nonprofit leader from its existing grantee pool who identified as a woman of color to receive a $3,000 unrestricted grant, no application or reporting required. She was then invited to nominate another woman of color leading a nonprofit in her community to receive the next grant. The process continued until all allotted funds were distributed, creating a “relay” effect that empowered those closest to the work to make funding decisions.

Building Relationships Through Trust

Since 2021, the Holloway Family Foundation has continued the relay grant initiative as a key part of its equity-centered grantmaking. Executive Director Jenny LaForest shared that these grants not only expand the foundation’s network beyond its usual circles but also reinforce its commitment to trust-based partnerships.

“While there aren’t any reporting requirements for our relay grants, many grantees choose to tell us how they used the funds,” she explains. “More often than not, relay grant recipients later return to apply for our traditional grants, allowing us to build longer-term relationships with them.”

Sharing Power and Expanding Reach

By shifting decision-making power, the Holloway Family Foundation enables nonprofit leaders to recognize and support peers who may not have equal access to institutional philanthropy. Removing barriers like applications and reporting requirements allows the relay grant program to reach new organizations while deepening relationships with community leaders.

Relay Grants: A Model for Equity in Action

The Holloway Family Foundation’s relay grants show how small shifts in power can create more inclusive, effective philanthropy. By trusting those closest to the work, the foundation builds deeper relationships and a stronger understanding of community needs. For funders seeking to advance equity and simplify their processes, the relay grant offers a simple, proven model—one that embodies Catalytic Leadership in Philanthropy, trust-based giving, and community-centered decision-making.

Read the full article about the benefits of relay grants for equity at Exponent Philanthropy.