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Setting the Stage for Education
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Inspiring Youth through Participation in the Arts
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Support Services for Vulnerable Children and Youth
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Preparing Youth for Independent Futures

Funding Priorities
(updated 2/1/12)


  1. Setting the Stage for Education (March Docket)

    The Foundation funds infant, toddler and pre-school centers for children (birth to age 5) from low-income families that demonstrate a commitment to quality early childhood development through smart program design, excellent facilities, and qualified staff. The Foundation will fund professional development opportunities at these centers.
    - Application deadline is Thursday, December 15, 2011.
    Complete proposals must be received in our offices no later than noon of the due date.
    Decision expected in late March 2012.

      1. Participation in the Arts (May Docket)

        The Foundation funds programs that offer opportunities for young people (age 5-18) to actively participate in the arts and expose students to art outside of their immediate environments (eg., museums, theatres, studios and other venues). We fund programs that seek to open new dimensions for young people that motivate them to learn and to develop lifelong interest in the arts. Programs must offer participants a minimum of 10 hours of hands-on experience in any one summer or semester. We are especially interested in programs that cooperate closely with public schools and that are aligned with the California State Board of Education Standards for Visual and Performing Art. (        http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/vp). We are also particularly interested in programs that not only provide arts experiences but also advocate for arts in public schools.
        - Application deadline is Thursday, March 15, 2012.
        Complete proposals must be received in our offices no later than noon of the due date.
        Decision expected in late June 2012.

  2. Support Services for Homeless and Foster Care Children and Youth (September Docket)

    The Foundation funds support services provided directly to young persons (ages 5-19) who are homeless, in shelters, in transitional housing, or in foster care, to assist in bringing stability into their lives and to foster their development of trusting and healthy relationships.
    The Foundation does not make grants to organizations that are primarily focused on victims of domestic violence, to provide incidental funding to foster youth, to recreational summer camps, or to agencies that provide legal services to youth. The Foundation recognizes the importance of such programs, but because there is a limited amount of funds, the board has decided to focus its grantmaking.
    - Application deadline is Thursday, June 7, 2012.
    Complete proposals must be received in our offices no later than noon of the due date.
    Decision expected in late September 2012.

  3. Preparing Disadvantaged Youth for Independent Futures (December Docket)

    The Foundation funds programs that develop potential in young persons (age 15-24) by exposing them to meaningful experiences in the workplace and by assisting them in finding suitable work placements. We fund programs that teach soft skills that assist youth in getting and keeping employment, helping to insure their independent futures. We also support programs that target youth from low-income backgrounds, with a priority given to transition-age foster youth, and those at-risk of becoming homeless.
    - Application deadline is Thursday, September 15, 2011. (If you are reapplying, your grant letter may have requested the reapplication on August 29—please note the revised date above).
    Complete proposals must be received in our offices no later than noon of the due date.
    Decision expected in late December 2011.

 

General Guidelines

    1. Grants are geographically limited in California to organizations headquartered in and serving the five Bay Area counties of Alameda, West Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, and Northern San Mateo (extending south to Redwood City).

    2. Grants are not made to individuals, independent schools, endowments, for fund development, to cover deficits, or for conferences and events.

    3. The Foundation generally does not fund staff development, except for child care/preschool providers.

    4. Receipt of applications will be acknowledged.

    5. Although the Foundation appreciates the time and effort that each organization spends in applying, not all requests can be funded, and all decisions are made at the discretion of the Board.

    6. A few applicants may be invited to make 30 minute presentations to the Board.

    7. The Foundation may request to make a site visit to a program.

    8. Generally, multi-year grants are not made, but subsequent requests may be considered.

    9. The Foundation will occasionally consider capital requests.

    10. A Grant Report must be submitted at the end of your grant period, or if you are reapplying, a Grant Renewal Application should be submitted.

    11. Only one request from an organization will be processed in a 12 month period.

    12. Programs may re-apply but can only receive funding for three consecutive years. After three consecutive years of funding, there must be a one-year break before submitting a new application. This policy was implemented in 2009-2010; any grants awarded prior to that fiscal year do not count toward the three-year limit. Please note: Receiving one grant is not a multi-year funding commitment. The board reviews all grant applications and makes funding decisions on an annual basis.