Program Overview

To help historically and systematically disadvantaged, underrepresented individuals and communities, we believe it is necessary to transform the human-services sector. Today’s social, economic and political challenges require it.

We want to see those in poverty able to move not just from peril to safety, but to circumstances where they have the opportunity to achieve well-being and lead self-sufficient, self-determined, productive lives.

We understand that organizational effectiveness, resilience and commitment to excellence affect the services provided to those attempting to escape poverty.

Our aim is to partner with other foundations and with the public, private and nonprofit sectors, and deploy our capital in innovative ways for the benefit of nonprofit organizations and the people they serve.

We use the full array of available grantmaking tools to foster change. Those tools include project grants, operating support, and program-related investments for organizations whose work directly corresponds with our funding priorities.

Our investments are concentrated in these focus areas:

Advancing the effectiveness and resilience of multiservice organizations

We look for opportunities to enhance the ability of high-performing, multiservice organizations to innovate and excel in their service-delivery and systems-change work.

Within this focus area, we are also interested in supporting applied research projects and activities to develop new understanding about variables that contribute to greater resilience and effectiveness of direct human-services organizations in improving the quality of life and economic security of low-income individuals and families.

Leveraging the effectiveness of networks

We support membership organizations and similar networks in efforts to provide technical assistance and build the capacity of direct-service providers.

We are also interested in supporting applied research projects and activities that create knowledge about the roles networks, membership organizations or umbrella organizations play within the sector, how they increase the collective impact of member organizations’ effectiveness in improving the quality of life and economic security of low-income individuals and families.

Funding Methods

We award grants and make program-related investments. Some grants are awarded for a single year, others are for multiple years. Taken together, our grantmaking and investing methods constitute our funding toolbox.

Our funding toolbox consists of:

• Operating support grants
• Project support grants
• Program-related investments

Our funding goal – through grants and investments – is to help organizations that are advancing our programmatic priorities fulfill their missions and become sustainable over time, often growing or developing in the process.

Eligibility

Who should apply?

• U.S. 501(c)(3) organizations with audited financial statements that are not classified as private foundations. Audits must be independently prepared following Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) or Government Auditing Standards (GAS).  Financial statements prepared on a cash, modified cash, compilation, or review basis do not qualify.
• Government entities.

Who should not apply?

• Individuals.
• Organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, sexual orientation or veteran status.
• Organizations that require membership in certain religions or advance a particular religious faith. (Faith-based organizations may be eligible if they welcome and serve all members of the community regardless of religious belief.)
• Programs operated to benefit for-profit organizations.

Application Process

We accept and review inquiries on an ongoing basis. Please review the applicable focus area’s Web page and the application process it recommends.