The Virginia Foundation for Community College Education
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VFCCE Partner, Laughing Gull Foundation, Announces $2.1 Million Funding for Prisons

01.17.2025

Laughing Gull Foundation Announces $2.1 Million in Funding for Higher Education in Prisons Organizations in U.S. South

Laughing Gull Foundation (LGF) is pleased to announce the approval of $2,060,000 in grants awarded in 2024 to 40 organizations advancing higher education opportunities for incarcerated people in the US South. LGF’s Higher Education in Prisons grantmaking seeks to reverse the trend of mass incarceration and to affirm the humanity, capacity, and potential of currently incarcerated people.

“We are committed to expanding access to high-quality education in prisons and strengthening support for BIPOC-led initiatives. Our grantees are dedicated to breaking down barriers and ensuring equitable access to transformative educational opportunities within prison walls. Together, we’re building a future where incarcerated people can improve their lives, open new doors and pathways post-release, and remain free and thriving.”
– Dr. LaTonya Penny, LGF Chief Executive

Through its grantmaking, Laughing Gull Foundation is dedicated to improving access to accredited college courses for incarcerated students and addressing systemic inequities, with a particular focus on BIPOC communities disproportionately affected by incarceration. These grant awards reflect a strategic focus on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and BIPOC-led organizations and programs that emphasize holistic approaches that include practical skills such as expungement assistance and career planning. Through this grantmaking, we are also fostering strong collaborations between educational institutions and expanding access across a broader geographic area, bringing additional Southern states into our portfolio.

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