Strategic Initiative Grants support organizations and programs that align with the Foundation’s strategic priorities - economic security, educational success, and healthy lives.

We make Strategic Initiative Grants for program support, organizational development and capacity building efforts, and advocacy or systems reform initiatives. We provide general operating support to organizations that are central to progress in one or more of the three strategic priorities described above. We rarely commit to multi-year grant awards.

Grants are awarded for charitable purposes primarily to nonprofit organizations or on occasion to public entities.

The Foundation does not fund individuals, event sponsorships, or capital projects.

Grants will not be made to organizations that owe the Foundation a grant report.

Alignment
Your proposal aligns well with our strategic priorities and the specific outcomes and strategies we’re focusing on.

Potential impact
You have articulated measurable outcomes and demonstrated an organizational commitment to learning.

Implementation plan
You have presented a convincing workplan, timeline, budget, and evaluation plan for implementation.

Organizational strength
We seek grantees who have a strong programmatic track record, good business model, strong leadership, sound financials, and solid evaluative and planning practices. We recognize that organizations may be in different phases of maturity, but we want to see evidence that you are mindful of your organizational health.

We recognize there are meaningful efforts and entities without a 501(c)(3) IRS designation that align with our funding priorities. In these cases, we will consider grant applications from groups utilizing a fiscal sponsor that does have a 501(c)(3) IRS designation. As part of our review of applications from organizations that are using a fiscal sponsor we will:

Assess the financial and organizational health of the sponsor as the potential (legally recognized) grantee.
Review a signed agreement developed by the two groups outlining the terms and conditions of the sponsorship. Please include this agreement as part of your application.