Grant Requests

In deciding whether to make a grant, the Foundation's threshold considerations generally are: What is the charity's mission? How will the grant be used? And, where is the charity located? Of course, the requesting organization must be a public charity that has obtained IRC §501(c)(3) tax-exempt status or a qualifying government entity.
 
Any charity receiving a Foundation grant must provide the Foundation with a contemporaneous acknowledgement that conforms to IRC §170(f)(8). 

Types of Programs Typically Funded
Programs that provide development opportunities for children, or that protect children, will receive the highest priority. This could include special schools, special programs at schools (especially public schools and not private schools), music programs, scholarships, clinics, educational projects, and remedial programs.
 
Particular attention is given to programs for very young children (generally, ages birth through age five) and at-risk children that will prevent social and other problems or provide early remedial intervention.
 
The Foundation generally favors its grants to be used for the immediate and direct benefit of target populations (e.g., the children). The Foundation also tends to have a preference for smaller, innovative, East Bay charities that may have difficulty getting funding from other, more traditional sources.
 
On a selective basis, law-related education projects may be considered for funding.

Types of Programs Usually Not Funded
Because of the Foundation’s modest size, it must exclude many worthy programs and direct its limited funds to where they will have the greatest immediate impact on its mission. The following are examples of the types of grant requests that generally will be denied:
  • Capital campaigns.
  • Endowments and academic chairs.
  • The arts, except possibly programs that provide direct and immediate developmental and educational benefits for children.
  • Programs dealing with complex, overwhelming social problems, such as AIDS and the homeless, which typically require funding and coordinated agency resources beyond what the Foundation could provide. The Foundation favors grants to programs that support positive, permanent changes, as compared to those that may provide some relief, but do little to change the status quo.
  • Environmental programs or programs dealing with similar global issues, which require resources beyond what the Foundation could provide.
  • National and international charities that have major fundraising programs, such as the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and the American Cancer Society.
  • The Foundation never makes pledges.

Procedures for Considering a Grant Request
The Foundation’s procedures for handling grant requests generally are quite expeditious and informal. First, a charity should call or write to the Foundation to get a preliminary idea of whether it might come within the Foundation’s funding criteria.

If the charity then wants to apply for a new grant, it should provide the following information:
  1. Information about the organization’s mission, its structure, the executive director, the board of directors, number of paid staff, and its use of volunteers.
  2. A copy of the organization's last annual report, and a description of its charitable activities, who conducts these activities, and how the Foundation’s funding would be used.
  3. A summary financial statement either for the most recent fiscal year completed, or, for the current year budget. 
  4. How the organization does fundraising.
  5. Any other information that might assist the Foundation in evaluating the grant request, including who current major donors are.
  6. Arrange for an on-site inspection of the non-profit organization and personal meeting with representative(s) of the Foundation.​
  7. Copy of the IRS document granting the organization 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.

Renewed grant proposals require the submission of a short, written proposal and a summary revenue and expenditure statement for the charity. A short summary of how the previous year's funding was utilized should be included in the renewed proposal. 

Evaluation and Approval of Grant Requests
​The Foundation’s CEO or other officer will evaluate the charity’s grant request. The request may also be referred to the Grant Criteria and Procedures Committee if it presents special issues. Frequently, a Foundation representative will contact the charity for additional information.
 
If the request receives preliminary approval, it will be submitted to the Foundation’s Board, along with other grant requests, for final approval and authorization to distribute the grants. Approved grants are distributed each year in January, April, July, and October, following the Board’s quarterly meeting that approved the grants.

Thus, grant requests must be made:
  • Before November 1st of the prior year for funding in January.
  • Before March 1st for funding in April.
  • Before June 1st for funding in July.
  • Before September 1st for funding in October.

Charities that have received grants in the past may not require the investigation new grant requests do. However, they will not receive a grant for a subsequent year, unless they request it and provide their annual report and any new information, such as changes in the organization’s structure or management. The Foundation does not make pledges or multi-year grants.