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Small Grant Program |
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Weingart Foundation is known for supporting nonprofit organizations addressing a wide range of needs in Southern California. Our grantees include small community-based organizations focused on a single neighborhood as well as large institutions serving the entire region.
Definition and Purpose
The primary purpose of the Small Grant Program is to increase access to funding and strengthen the capacity of small, community based, and developing organizations. Therefore, priority is given to organizations with operating budgets under $1.5 million. The program also supports small capital projects for organizations of any size. The program is a good opportunity for organizations to introduce themselves to the Foundation, and allows us to expand the availability of our resources to nonprofits and geographical areas we might not otherwise reach. We believe that these grants provide important support for much needed services to diverse communities throughout Southern California.
General Grant Focus
The Weingart Foundation considers applications from organizations working in the areas of health, human services and education. Highest priority is given to organizations or programs that provide greater access for people who are economically disadvantaged and underserved. Of particular interest to the Foundation are applications that specifically address the needs of low-income children and youth, older adults, and people affected by disabilities and homelessness.
Geographic Area of Grant Focus
Priority is given to organizations providing services in the following six Southern California counties: Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, and Ventura.
Eligibility Criteria
An organization that is certified as tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and is not a private foundation as defined in section 509(a) of that Code is eligible for consideration. The Foundation does not fund Section 509(a)(3) Type III non-functionally integrated supporting organizations. For a complete list of activities and organization types not supported by the Foundation, please click here.
Audited financial statements for the most recently completed fiscal year are required of all organizations in existence for more than five years and with operating income of $500,000 or more. Organizations with annual income under $500,000 or agencies founded within the last five years must submit an independent review of their financial statements, completed by a CPA. Small Grant applicants that cannot meet the financial documentation requirements may be eligible for a one-time exemption on a case by case basis upon review of the full application.
Types of Support
Funding through the Small Grant Program supports a wide range of needs which include:- Capacity Building – For specific activities or projects aimed at strengthening an organization’s programmatic or administrative capacity. Organizations must demonstrate a strong plan for sustaining new costs. Some examples of allowable capacity building activities include: organizational assessment, an agency’s first audit, strategic and board planning, executive coaching and consulting and staff participation in professional development.
- General Operating Support - Unrestricted funding that enables an organization to carry out its mission. It can be used to underwrite administrative infrastructure and/or to maintain core programs and essential staff.
- Program Development - Support for program development, expansion or enhancement. Organizations must demonstrate a strong plan for program sustainability.
- Capital/Equipment Projects - For small projects that involve one-time capital or equipment expenditures.
Generally, requests for start-up support from organizations with limited operating history will not be considered at this time.
Funding Amounts and Grant Duration
Maximum grant award is $25,000 for a 12-month period. However, it should be noted that average grant awards range between $10,000 and $15,000. In addition, the Foundation will not generally fund an entire project budget. Applicants for Program Development, Capacity Building or Capital should apply for amounts that will generally not exceed 50% of the total project budget and should have already secured funding for a substantial portion of the project budget.
Generally, after a second consecutive small grant, agencies must wait one year after the close of that grant to re-apply.
Application Process
There is no letter of inquiry for the Small Grant Program. After reviewing the guidelines, if the Foundation’s funding priorities and interests appear to be compatible with the needs of the organization seeking support, then an application should be submitted. Applying for a small grant is a more streamlined process than the typical application process. In order to expedite the review process, site visits are generally not conducted.
Applications must be postmarked by one of the deadlines below for the Small Grant Program. In cases where a request falls outside of Foundation guidelines, notice may be given prior to the stated notification date.
| Grant Submission Deadline | Notification Date | | August 20, 2010 | December 3, 2010 | | December 15, 2010 | March 30, 2011 |
Please review the application instructions thoroughly before beginning the application process.
If you have additional questions related to the Small Grant Program, please review our FAQs or contact Program Director Joanna Jackson (213) 688-6312 or Program Associate Vy Nguyen (213) 688-6319.
For more information on the Foundation’s past grants, we suggest that you review the listing of recent grants and our most recent Annual Report available on our website.
Downloadable Application and Instructions
Small Grant Application - PDF
Small Grant Application - DOC
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