Category Archives: General/Multi-category

Michael & Susan Dell Foundation

The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation supports organizations working with or impacting children and youth from low-income, urban communities in the United States, India, and South Africa.

Applications are accepted on a continual basis for requests of $50,000 or more in Education (all), Health and Wellness (U.S.), and Family Economic Stability (India, South Africa, Central Texas, and Greater Boston).

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

Governments
Social enterprises
Nonprofit organizations
Charitable trusts
Community foundations
Private foundations
Schools
Educational organizations
Religious organizations

Focus Areas

Education

Projects submitted under Education should concentrate on:

Health and Wellness

Health and Wellness projects should concentrate on:

Healthy Communities
Healthy Food

Family Economic Stability

Projects under this focus area should concentrate on:

Allowable Expenses

Grant funds may not be spent on:

Computers, tablets, or other hardware
Endowments
Fundraisers or event sponsorships
Lobbying
Medical research
Infrastructure

Request

Requests must be for $50,000 or more. However, the Foundation typically does not fund more than 25% of a project or 10% of an organization’s total annual operating expenses.

Dr. Scholl Foundation

The Dr. Scholl Foundation has invested over $312 million since 1980 in organizations improving the world through Innovation, Practicality, Hard Work, and Compassion. These were core values for Dr. William M. Scholl, MD, founder of the foot care company, and they inspired him to establish his foundation.

Letters of Inquiry are accepted on a continual basis and applicants should expect a response within five business days. Full applications, for those invited to submit, are due by March 1, 2024 at 4:00 PM CT. There is no limit to the request amount, but the average award is $5,000 to $25,000.

Eligibility

This grant is open to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations who can provide at least three years of financial documents. Publicly supported government entities are rarely approved.

Applicants from outside the United States may be considered if a board member has direct knowledge of their activities.

Primary Focus Areas

The Foundation is primarily interested in funding projects in:

Education
Social service
Healthcare
Civic and Cultural
Environmental

This list should not, however, dissuade applicants from submitting worthwhile projects in other categories. Grant guidelines are intentionally broad to allow for flexibility.

Allowable Expenses

Use of grant funds is also flexible. However, they cannot be used for:

General support
Capital campaigns
Endowments
Loans
Event sponsorships
Political activities

Wells Fargo Foundation

The Wells Fargo Foundation awards grants as part of their commitment to building a more sustainable and inclusive world. They fund projects in four priority areas: Financial Health, Housing Affordability, Small Business Growth, and Sustainability and Environmental Justice.

Grant Interest Forms are accepted on an ongoing basis. Only if your form is approved will you receive a code to submit a full application. A grant amount is not specified, but the Interest Form question “Select the budget amount for the proposed project” has the options:

$0-$50k
$101-$500k
$51-$100k
Over $500k

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

Nonprofits with a 501(c)3 designation
Government agencies
Native American Tribes
Public schools or school systems

Applicants must also be able to demonstrate fiscal and administrative stability.

Priority Areas

Financial Health

Applicants under this heading should be working to increase access to financial systems for racially and ethnically diverse and low to moderate income Americans. This access will allow them to reduce debt, grow their savings, and build wealth. Secondary categories under this area are:

Youth/Young Adult Financial Health
Adult Education Counseling, Coaching and Education
Asset Building
Financial Research and Policy Advocacy
Technical Assistance and Practitioner Training
Innovation of Products and Services

Housing Affordability

Projects under this heading should focus on making it possible for all Americans to have a safe place to call home. This includes promoting racial equity in housing and home ownership. Secondary categories under this area are:

Affordable Home Supply
Expand Homeownership Opportunities
Housing Stability
Transformation and Innovation

Small Business Growth

Applicants under this heading should provide support such as training, technical assistance, and capital to small business. Secondary categories under this area are:

Capital and Product Innovation
Technology
Sustainability
Policy, Research and Advocacy

Sustainability and Environmental Justice

Projects under this heading should be working toward a low carbon future through innovative clean technology, developing local climate resiliency, and promoting environmental justice. Secondary categories under this area are:

Sustainable Finance
Adaptation/Resilience
Measuremen

The Tony Robbins Foundation

The Tony Robbins Foundation was founded in 1991 by author and motivational speaker Tony Robbins to help those whom society has left behind envision a happier life. This includes unhoused, food insecure, and imprisoned individuals, youth, and seniors.

The Foundation accepts requests for funding on a continuous basis. They don’t have a specific focus area, but are looking to work with organizations that align with their mission. They also do not specify a certain amount for requests.

Eligibility

This grant is open to organizations with:

501(c)3 nonprofit status in the United States
Nonprofit status in another country and documentation of that status
Tax documentation of at least one year of operations
A mission that aligns with the Tony Robbins Foundation

The Foundation does not fund individuals or for-profit businesses. They also do not fund start up costs for new nonprofits.

Application Process

Submit a Letter of Intent through an online form on the website. (Scroll down about halfway to find the form.)
The grants committee will review your LOI and invite you to submit a formal application with a deadline.
Applicants not asked to submit a formal application may reapply in the next fiscal year.

The Awesome Foundation

The Awesome Foundation has been “forwarding the interest of awesome in the universe” since 2009. They do this through 77 chapters in 11 countries, each of which grants a $1,000 award every month.

The funds for these no strings attached grants come from donations from the chapter’s members. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Eligibility

Anyone can apply for an Awesome Foundation grant.

Allowable Activities

Any type of project is eligible, as long as it’s ‘Awesome.’ Each chapter defines the term ‘awesome’ differently, but it can be interpreted to mean innovative, experimental, and inspirational.

Recently funded projects include a picture book to help kids navigate cancer, a theater performance about women who contributed to astronomy, and an accessible playground.

How to Apply

The Foundation suggests you apply to the chapter closest to you, but you can also mark ‘Any’ on the application. A few of the chapters are based around specific issues, but the majority are geographic and tend to fund projects in their area. There is also an Awesome Without Borders.

You can also apply to more than one chapter if you think they’d be interested. Most chapters meet monthly to select the recipient, but if you’re not chosen, they often keep applications for a while to review again.

The Pollination Project

Since January 1, 2013, The Pollination Project has awarded a $1,000 grant to a different project every day. This is how they do their part to create a more just and compassionate world. TPP supports projects at the community level to build a more sustainable society from the grassroots up.

They accept applications on a continual basis from anywhere in the world, but submissions must be in English. Applications are reviewed during the month following the one in which the last of the application materials is received. For example, if you submit your application in full in February, it will be reviewed in March and you will receive notification in early April.

Eligibility

Grants from TPP are open to individuals, groups and startup not-for-profit organizations based anywhere in the world. Applicants must have:

An annual budget of less than $50,000
No paid staff
The ability to receive wire transfers or PayPal payments
A project already under way
No one involved with the project, including the organization, representatives of the group, and partners, who has received a TPP grant before or has a proposal under review.

Applicants are limited in the type of work they can do in general, not just what grant funds will be used for. Based on TPP’s strict code of ethics, grantees cannot:

Do any work on political campaigns
In any way attempt to affect the outcome of an election
Evangelize or pressure individuals to engage in any religious practice
Promote animal agriculture

Allowable Activities

TPP’s objective is to support projects that build a kinder, more sustainable world for everyone. That is, of course, a rather broad goal so they prefer to be led by their applicants rather than restrict their grant to specific issues. However, they do specify what types of projects they don’t fund. These include:

The purchase of animal products such as meat, honey, milk, and leather
Beekeeping projects where the honey will be used for human consumption
Health and nutrition programs that do not promote reducing meat consumption in favor of a plant based diet.
Gardening and farming activities that use synthetic fertilizers or pesticides of any kind
Research projects

TPP recognizes that food banks may have limited or no options regarding the purchase of animal products. They cannot fund the purchase of those products but can pay for shelving or other logistical costs.

Funding Considerations

All applications will be evaluated on multiple factors, such as:

Applicant’s connection to the community and the issue being addressed
Community support for the project
Clarity of the application
Applicant’s alignment with Heartivism
Project alignment with TPP’s mission
Project’s potential to expand and endure

Application Requirements

All applicants are required to provide a reference with a professional or organizational email address. Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc. will not be accepted. TPP will send a request to fill out an online reference form, which must be completed within 3 weeks of your submission.

Park Foundation

The Park Foundation is a family-run foundation established in 1966 by Roy H. Park. They are dedicated to creating a more just and sustainable society across the United States and in their hometown of Ithaca, NY.

The Foundation offers grants in 8 priority areas: Democracy, Civic Participation, Media, Environment, Animal Welfare, Sustainable Ithaca, Community Needs, and School Food and Nutrition. Eligibility varies by funding area.

Letters of interest are not required, but are highly recommended. After submitting your LOI, do not submit a full proposal until you hear from a Foundation staff member. LOI’s can be submitted at any time. Proposals are reviewed on a quarterly basis. Upcoming due dates are: September 22, 2023, and January 5, 2024.

Funding Priorities

Democracy

Eligibility

Grants under this category are open to nonprofit organizations across the United States.

Prioritized Activities

Expanding voting access
Advocating for reform at the local, state, and federal levels
Ending partisan gerrymandering
Eliminating dark money in elections
Holding government officials accountable
Overturning Citizen’s United
Supporting a field of diverse, young leaders
Promoting progressive agendas

Civic Participation

Eligibility

Grants under this category are open to nonprofit organizations across the United States.

Prioritized Activities

Working to stop voter suppression
State-based groups educating, motivating, and mobilizing voters
National and state groups protecting voters’ rights and election integrity

Media

Eligibility

Grants under this category are open to nonprofit organizations across the United States.

Prioritized Activities

Public broadcasting
Investigative journalism
Media policy

Environment

Eligibility

Grants under this category are open to nonprofit organizations working on a national level or in New York State.

Clean Water: Prioritized Activities

Investment in publicly owned and operated water utilities
Reduced bottled water consumption
Strong, enforced policies
Empowering people to defend their right to clean water

Energy

Grants under this category are open to state-level organizations in New York for:

Advocacy
Policy development
Organizing
Corporate responsibility

Animal Welfare

Eligibility

Grants under this category are open to nonprofit organizations across the United States working on projects of national significance.

Focus Areas

Indigenous wildlife management
Organizing, educating, and advocating on behalf of endangered species and ecosystems
National and regional efforts to preserve birds, pollinators, whales, and wolves

Sustainable Ithaca

Eligibility

Grants under this category are open to nonprofit organizations in Ithaca and Tompkins County, NY.

Program Priorities

Ecosystem conservation
Energy and climate change
Environmental education
Smart growth

Community Needs

Eligibility

Grants under this category are open to nonprofit organizations in Tompkins County, NY.

Program Priorities

Developing interventions in partnership with low income residents
Identifying barriers to success and implementing programs to overcome them
Tailoring programs using data about subpopulations to ensure needs are being met

School Food and Nutrition

Eligibility

Grants under this category are open to nonprofit organizations in Tompkins County, NY.

Goal

Breaking the self-reinforcing cycle of poverty, hunger, poor health, negative social and academic impacts, and limited future opportunities.

Sarah Scaife Foundation

The Sarah Scaife Foundation awards grants to public policy programs addressing critical national and international issues.

First time applicants must submit their application as a hard copy. Submissions are accepted at any time, but the Foundation meets four times a year to make awards.

Eligibility

This grant is open to publicly-supported non-profit charitable organizations.

Organizations that primarily rely on government funds are typically declined.

Allowable Expenses

Although eligible expenses aren’t specified, the Foundation does frequently decline requests for:

Capital projects
Event sponsorships
Endowments

Application Requirements

All applications should include:

IRS Letter of Determination
Most recent audited financial statements
Current Form 990
Most recent Annual Report
List of officers and directors
List of key supporters

Submission

Hard copies should be sent to:

Michael W. Gleba
Chairman and CEO
Sarah Scaife Foundation
One Oxford Centre
301 Grant Street, Suite 3900
Pittsburgh, PA 15219-6402

Hearst Foundations

Since their founding in 1946, the Hearst Foundations have awarded over $1.4 billion in grant funding to 6,300 organizations in the United States. Their focus areas are Culture, Education, Health, and Social Service.

Applications are accepted on a continual basis for awards of $100,000 or more. The Board meets to approve grants in March, June, September, and December

Eligibility

This grant is open to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations with annual operating expenses of more than $2 million.

Allowable Expenses

Allowable expenses vary by focus area. However, grant funds may not be used for:

Seed money or pilot programs
Advocacy or public policy research
Established programs without proven long-term impact
Festivals, tours, conferences, workshops, or seminars
Radio, film, or television production
Special events, tickets, tables, or advertising for fundraising events

Focus Areas

Culture

Supported organizations under Culture include arts schools, ballets, museums, operas, performing arts centers, symphonies and theaters. Grant funding may be used for programming, capital expenses, and general and endowment support, on a limited basis.

Preferred projects include:

Arts education that fills the gaps in K-12 arts programming
Artist development and training
Projects that advance learning in science, technology, engineering, environment, arts, and math

Education

Support under Education is primarily directed to higher education, but exceptional projects in early childhood and K-12, as well as professional development, will also be considered. Grant funds may be spent on programming, scholarships, capital expenses, and general and endowment support, on a limited basis.

Preferred projects include:

College access and college success programming
Higher education programs and scholarships
Programs for the next generation of health professionals
Programs that develop career pathways in STEM
Professional development for educators

Health

Supported organizations under Health include top regional hospitals, medical centers, and specialized institutions serving high-needs communities. Programs that increase the number of healthcare educators, practitioners, and researchers are also eligibile. Grant funds may be used for programming, capital expenses, and endowment support, on a limited basis.

Preferred projects include:

Increasing healthcare access for low income and/or rural populations and veterans
Providing mental health care
Scaling more efficient healthcare delivery methods
Developing and providing specialized care for the elderly

Social Service

Supported organizations under Social Service are directly addressing the roots of chronic poverty. Priority will be given to programs that have proven effective at increasing economic independence and strengthening families and that can be scaled. Grant funds may be used for programming, capital expenses, and general operating costs.

Preferred projects include:

Affordable housing
Youth development
Job creation and training
Legal aid
Assistance to domestic violence survivors

Evaluation Process

Step 1 – Program staff will review each proposal and discuss which will be forwarded to the Board. This generally takes 4-6 weeks.
Step 2 – An in-person or virtual site visit will be conducted and relevant experts will be consulted.
Step 3 – The Board meets in March, June, September, and December for final approval
Step 4 – Grants are awarded

Applicants should expect the entire process to take approximately 6 months.

The Frederick A. Deluca Foundation

The Frederick A. Deluca Foundation supports projects that allow families and communities to thrive. They award grants in three focus areas: Economic Mobility, Health, and Youth & Families.

Interesed organizations may submit an idea at any time.

Eligibility

This grant is open to organizations throughout the United States. The Foundation also funds local level projects in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties in Florida.

Focus Areas

Economic Mobility – projects that create educational, professional, and financial opportunities for individuals to improve their lives and the lives of their families
Health – projects that increase access to physical and mental health services as well as innovative ways to address health problems
Youth & Families – projects that support youth development and family strengthening

Investments Types

The Foundation prioritizes:

Piloting new projects
Unlocking potential
Catalyzing impact
Scaling proven programs