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Core Support |
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The following information is taken directly from the Foundation’s Grant Guidelines. While we are providing this condensed information on core support for your convenience, it is important that you read the entire guidelines to ensure proper context.
Our grantmaking program is designed to respond to the needs identified by nonprofit organizations in the areas of our funding interests. In recent months, nonprofit organizations have stressed the need for unrestricted operating support to underwrite administrative infrastructure and maintain core programs and essential staff. In response, the Weingart Foundation has added core support to its funding menu.
Definition and Purpose: For an undetermined period of time, core support grants will be available for organizations that have been impacted by the financial crisis and economic recession, which began in 2008. Core support is unrestricted funding that enables an organization to carry out its mission. It can be used to underwrite an organization’s administrative and infrastructure costs, and/or maintain core programs and essential staff.
Eligibility Criteria: In addition to meeting the Foundation’s general eligibility criteria, core support requests will be considered for established and well-managed human service and health organizations whose primary mission is the delivery of safety net services (food, shelter, clothing, health and employment) to the poor and underserved.
Priority will be given to organizations that:- Have eliminated core staff positions and reduced core program services due to funding reductions; and
- Are financially viable, evidence strong management and resource development capacity, and operate effective programs; and
- Have the ability to significantly impact populations that have been most affected by the economic downturn.
On a case by case basis, consideration will also be given to organizations that face a significant and imminent threat of having to eliminate core staff positions and core services due to funding reductions.
Grant Duration: Core support grants are limited to one year in duration.
Grant Amounts: Applicants seeking core support are advised that grant amounts will not generally exceed 10% of an agency’s annual operating budget or $150,000, whichever is less.
How to Apply: A letter of inquiry must first be submitted by the requesting agency. We strongly recommend that you use the on-line core support letter of inquiry form. Please click here for additional information on the letter of inquiry process.
Frequently Asked Questions for Core Support Requests:
1. Your guidelines state that core support funding is for “established and well-managed organizations whose primary mission is the delivery of safety net services to the poor and underserved.” Does this mean that only those nonprofits that provide these services will be eligible to apply, or will they just be given preference?
At this time, we are only considering core support requests from designated organizations facing circumstances described in our core support grant guidelines. We will continue to monitor the impact of the financial crisis and the needs of the nonprofit organizations within our service area. If changes or modifications are made to the core support criteria, we will immediately update our public guidelines and notify our grantees.
2. What can I use core support funds for?
Core support is 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.
3. I understand that Weingart is prioritizing its core support funding for a particular set of agencies. Does this also apply to capital and capacity building requests or the Small Grant Program?
Due to an overwhelming response to our Small Grant Program, effective immediately, and for an undetermined period of time, we will be unable to accept any new requests or applications through our Small Grant Program. We ask that you periodically check back on our website for future updates to the Small Grant Program.
4. My organization has not yet been impacted by the economic crisis, but I believe that we may experience a reduction in funding for the next fiscal year. Can I apply now for core support?
Due to an unprecedented response to our core support funding opportunity, priority will be given to organizations that have already been forced to eliminate core staff positions and have reduced core programs and services due to funding reductions. On a case by case basis, consideration will also be given to organizations that face a significant and imminent threat of having to eliminate core staff positions and/or core services due to funding reductions.
5. I am a current grantee with an active grant. Can I now apply for core support?
Weingart Foundation will maintain its policy of allowing an agency to have only one active grant at a time (an active grant is one in which the final report has not yet been submitted). Therefore, if you are making progress and moving forward with your existing grant, you must wait until your grant ends before applying for a new funding request. If, however, you are experiencing challenges with your existing grant and believe you cannot achieve the originally proposed activities and outcomes, please contact your current Program Officer to discuss the situation. Requests will be considered on a case by case basis.
6. I have an active grant with the Weingart Foundation but I am experiencing significant challenges with my project and do not believe I will be able to achieve my original goals. Can I convert the grant to core support?
You should contact your Program Officer. If you are making progress but just need more time in meeting your original goals and objectives, we will likely provide a “no-cost” extension to allow you to move forward with the original project. If, however, you are experiencing challenges with your existing grant and believe you can not achieve the originally proposed activities and outcomes, please contact your current Program Officer to discuss the situation. Requests to convert existing program or capacity building grants to core support will be considered on a case by case basis.
7. I submitted a letter of inquiry (LOI) and was recently invited to apply. I have not yet submitted the full application. Can I change my request and now ask for core support?
If you fit the Foundation’s core support guidelines, it is possible to convert your original request to core support. You would need to withdraw the original application and resubmit the core support request, beginning with a new letter of inquiry (LOI). Please contact Priscilla Savage, Grants Administrator at (213) 688-6311 for additional information.
8. I heard that Weingart Foundation is now providing “emergency” grants through an expedited process. Is this true?
Core support is not intended as emergency funding to keep organizations from going out of business. Agencies seeking core support will apply and follow our regular grant process and timeline, which begins with the submission of a letter of inquiry (LOI), followed by an invitation to submit a full application. Because of the current and pressing needs of the nonprofit sector, priority will be given to core support requests in our review process. The goal of core support is to help underwrite key administrative infrastructure and/or maintain core programs and essential staff.
9. I noticed that the multi-year general operating support funding no longer appears in your guidelines. Does this mean you are no longer accepting requests for general operating support?
Weingart Foundation will not be funding multi-year general operating support requests, except in exceptional circumstances. General operating support was designed as a very competitive grant process that required an agency to make a compelling case for unrestricted funding that would lead to greater organizational strength and stability. Given the current economic realities faced by nonprofit organizations, the Foundation believes that the new core support funding is more relevant and responsive to the needs to the nonprofit sector.
10. Will Weingart Foundation no longer be funding new program development or expansion requests?
As noted in our revised grant guidelines, for an undetermined period of time and in response to the financial crisis and economic recession, the Foundation is prioritizing core support grants. New or expansion projects will only be considered on an exception basis and must evidence a viable fundraising and sustainability plan.
11. Is Weingart Foundation still funding capital projects?
Yes, Weingart Foundation will continue to fund a broad range of capital needs (equipment, renovation, major capital campaigns). However, for large capital campaigns during the current economic recession, applications will only be invited for projects that have raised a substantial amount of their fundraising goal, and are either in construction or have a firm construction start date.
12. Is Weingart Foundation still funding capacity building activities?
During the current economic downturn, the Foundation will consider capacity building requests that involve discrete, one-time activities that do not add ongoing expenses to the agency’s operating budget.
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