Grant Guidelines
Funding Priorities
Recognizing that there are many
areas of need, we focus our giving strategy on children whose
families have limited resources and who are vulnerable to
poor outcomes. Our approach emphasizes the integration of
services that focus on family strengthening and youth development
in order to maximize the benefit to children and their families.
Grants will be made for direct service projects, general
operating support, capacity building, public awareness, planning
and capital projects. The Foundation will consider requests
for support within the following funding priorities:
The Early Years - Birth to Six Years Old
Through our grantmaking, we help to promote the healthy development
of young children and prevent the serious problems of abuse and
neglect. The Foundation supports programs that focus their efforts
on prevention and early intervention by providing comprehensive,
intensive, long-term support to parents and children.
We believe: Parenting education, home visiting programs
and mental health services assist overburdened parents in developing
the skills to support the development of their children and help
to prevent child abuse and neglect. In addition, quality, affordable
early childhood development programs that provide a wide range of
social services and parent education activities offer a unique opportunity
to strengthen families and ensure that children enter school ready
to learn.
Outcomes anticipated from grants awarded:
- Increased numbers of parents who demonstrate one or more of
the following: positive parenting skills, stable living environments
and the ability to support the healthy development of their children.
- Developmental growth in children living in homes where families
are susceptible to poor outcomes.
In addition to the above outcomes, early childhood education
programs also must meet the following outcome:
- Increased numbers of children meeting age-appropriate learning
goals as defined by agreed-upon early childhood education curriculum.
Elementary School Years - Six to 12 Years
Old
Research on resilient children and youth suggests that several
factors contribute to a child's healthy development including: 1)
a strong relationship with a caring adult, 2) high expectations
for academic performance, and 3) opportunities for meaningful participation
in their communities. For children in the elementary grades, our
grantmaking focuses on out-of-school programs that increase children's
knowledge and skills, incorporating the above factors. More specifically,
the Foundation targets programs that provide learning environments
outside of school that will equip children to perform better in
school.
In addition to academic achievement, it is important to begin at
an early age to help children learn to make responsible decisions.
For this reason, the Foundation targets programs that support children
in making good decisions including attending school regularly, refraining
from behaviors that may result in suspension or expulsion, avoiding
substance abuse, delaying parenthood and respecting the law.
We believe: Tutoring and mentoring programs help
build the confidence and motivation necessary for children to achieve
academically and make responsible decisions, as well as gain critical
thinking, communications and social skills.
Outcomes anticipated from grants awarded:
- Increased numbers of children who demonstrate improved academic
achievement.
- Increased numbers of children who make responsible decisions.
Junior High and High School Years - 12 to
18 Years Old
Success in school and the ability to develop positive relationships
continue to be critical as young people grow into adolescence. For
youth in junior high and high school, our grantmaking focuses on
out-of-school programs that increase a young person's knowledge
and skills and incorporate: 1) a strong relationship with a caring
adult, 2) high expectations for academic performance and 3) opportunities
for meaningful participation in their communities. More specifically,
the Foundation targets programs that provide learning environments
outside of school that will equip youth to perform better in school.
We believe: Tutoring and mentoring, as well as
other youth oriented programming, remain important strategies for
the healthy development of young people as they grow into adulthood.
They help build the confidence and motivation necessary for youth
to achieve academically, as well as gain critical thinking, communications
and social skills.
Outcome anticipated from grants awarded:
- Increased numbers of youth who demonstrate improved academic
achievement.
Youth also need an understanding of the importance of setting goals,
a knowledge of what it takes to reach their dreams and guidance
in exploring career opportunities. For junior high and high school
students, our grantmaking supports programs that prepare students
for college, as well as those that offer career exploration and
work experience.
We believe: College prep programs, career development
activities, mentoring and internship experiences help young people
gain the functional and organizational skills necessary for college
and employment, as well as helping them to develop an understanding
of the steps necessary to achieve their career goals.
Outcome anticipated from grants awarded:
- Increased numbers of young people who enter institutions of
higher education, career-training programs or have obtained jobs
with strong advancement possibilities.
Having the necessary skills to navigate the transition to adulthood
is critical to the healthy development of young people. The Foundation
supports programs that prepare youth to make responsible decisions.
Examples of responsible decision-making include attending school
regularly, delaying parenthood, avoiding substance abuse and respecting
the law.
We believe: Mentoring, pregnancy prevention programs,
life skills training and other youth oriented programs assist young
people as they transition to adulthood. Programs that provide comprehensive
support services for youth are better able to address the variety
of challenges young people face.
Outcomes anticipated from grants awarded:
- Increased numbers of young people who make responsible decisions.
- Increased numbers of young people who have the necessary skills
to successfully
transition to adulthood.
Children and Families in Crisis
Stabilizing families in crisis and moving them to self-sufficiency
are critical to developing homes that can nurture and support children
to their fullest potential. Finding stable housing is a primary
condition of gaining family stability. Due to the challenges these
families face, a wide array of support services is necessary to
help them achieve lasting stability.
We believe: Service-enriched housing programs
help families in crisis – as a result of domestic violence,
homelessness and other issues – reach stability.
Outcome anticipated from grants awarded:
- Increased numbers of families in crisis who achieve stability
and/or transition to stable housing.
Because some families in crisis are unable to adequately care for
their children for a variety of reasons, our grantmaking supports
children in the foster care system. The Foundation works to reduce
the time children spend in foster care through reunification, kinship
care or adoption.
We believe: Programs that work intensively to
reunify families; recruit foster and adoptive parents; and place
special needs children in adoptive homes are key to finding permanent
homes for foster children. At the same time, foster and adoptive
parent training and support services; respite care; and general
retention programs for foster and adoptive parents are important
strategies to maintain permanent homes for foster children. In addition,
child welfare advocacy and the training and development of child
welfare professionals is central to creating positive outcomes for
children in foster care.
Outcome anticipated from grants awarded:
- Increased numbers of foster children growing up in permanent,
stable and loving families.
Older children aging out of the foster care system face even more
difficult challenges in making the transition to adulthood. In addition
to success in school, having a good job, and demonstrating the ability
to make responsible choices, young people aging out of foster care
must immediately become self-sufficient and acquire stable housing.
We believe: In addition to the supports that all
young people need, the acquisition of stable housing is key to a
foster child's successful transition to independence.
Outcome anticipated from grants awarded:
- Increased numbers of foster youth who have the life skills required
to live independently and obtain stable housing.
Public Awareness/Education
The Foundation provides limited support for efforts that build
public awareness about issues facing vulnerable children, youth
and families. Funding for these efforts is by invitation only.
Outcomes anticipated from grants awarded:
- Vulnerable children, youth and/or their families take action
to improve their circumstances based on information or the persuasion
of others.
- Key decision makers on public policy, resource allocation, and/or
the performance of public systems become more knowledgeable about
the issues related to vulnerable children and their families and
the most effective strategies to address them.
- Individuals and groups use their increased awareness of issues
related to vulnerable children and their families to advocate
for and bring about improved results for children and their families.
Conferences and Events
The Foundation provides limited support for events and conferences
that are related to our grantmaking priorities. You must apply online.
Applications are accepted throughout the year.
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