The Application, Review and Award Process

 ~ The Foundation's Board of Directors meets in November of each year to consider grants for the following year. In order to reduce the number of inappropriate proposals received, and thus to increase the time available for review of applications which have met initial criteria, the Foundation has instituted specific application procedures described here.

 ~ The applicant should first determine, after careful study of the guidelines on this Web site, whether or not the proposed project falls within the stated guidelines and current priorities of the Foundation. Please check the annotated list of grants for the current year on this Web site for an idea of the dollar ranges of recent grants within grant categories.

Telephone inquires regarding program eligibility are not encouraged

1. Letter of Intent
~ Requests for grants are initiated by a brief Letter of Intent to apply for funding during the following calendar year. The Foundation will accept these Letters of Intent from January 15 to June 1. Letters must be received by June 1 for the applicant to be eligible for consideration for the following year's funding. The letter should describe the applying organization and the amount and purpose for which funds are sought. Information concerning the organization's income and expenses, and material outlining the experience and expertise of key personnel, should also be included. Mass-mailed, photocopied, or printed funding requests do not receive serious consideration.

 ~ When a Letter of Intent is received, the Foundation's staff determines whether the proposed project meets current guidelines and interests and advises the applicant whether a full proposal is invited.

2. Completed Proposal
~ All necessary documentation must be received before September 1 to be considered by the Directors at the November Board meeting.

 ~ It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all information requested by the Foundation staff is filed at the Foundation offices before the September 1 deadline.

 ~ The following information should be included in the full proposal packet which will be reviewed by the Board of Directors for its November meeting:

A. A general history and description of the applying organization;

B. The purpose for which the grant is to be made;

C. How specified goals and tasks will be accomplished;

D. The total amount requested from the Foundation, in addition to the total budget for the entire project, together with an explanation of the uses to which Foundation funds would be put;

E. A list of corporate, foundation and other sources which the applicant has approached, or intends to approach, and the amount solicited or received from each. The Foundation expects to be notified by applicants of grants received from other sources while the proposal is being reviewed, as such grants frequently cause changes in the overall program and budget of the organization;

F. A complete statement of the experience of the persons charged with the responsibility for the program;

G. A list of the applicant organization's Board of Trustees together with their professional affiliations; and

H. A copy of the IRS Determination Letter stating that the applying organization has a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and is not a private foundation.

Offices of the Foundation
1221 Broadway, 21st Floor
Oakland, California 94612-1837

C O N T A C T    U S