We want our initial application process to be as straightforward as possible. If you have already prepared a proposal on your program, by all means send it to us. If not, a two or three page letter of intent is fine. We are also happy to accept initial applications that conform to the Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers [ABAG] Common Grant Application or any Common Application put out through your Regional Association of Grantmakers.

Your initial application should include the following:

Information about the programs(s) for which funding is requested

• Need, purpose, activities, and evaluation plan of the proposed program(s)
  
  
• Program budget (including sources of anticipated income as well as expenditures) and timeline
  
  
• Dollar amount of funding requested

Information about your organization

• History, mission, and key accomplishments
  
  
• Information on Board members and key staff
  
  
• Current institutional operating budget (including major sources of revenue as well as expenditures)
  
  
• Copy of your IRS tax status determination letter or information about your fiscal agent

Each of the foundations meets independently two or three times a year to consider proposals. You should address your letter of intent or proposal to the President of the foundation whose areas of interest most closely match your program (see Contact Us). If you need assistance in deciding where to apply, see Frequently Asked Questions.

Letters of intent and proposals are accepted on a rolling basis. Your application will be acknowledged within two weeks.

Because of the large volume of requests for support, we can only invite a small number of organizations to submit additional materials for consideration. If a staff member contacts you with a request for further information, please use our full proposal guidelines, or the Common Grant Application.

Restrictions
Regretfully, we do not provide support for:

• Grants or scholarships to individuals.
  
  
• Unsolicited proposals for academic, scientific, or medical research.
  
  
• Direct mail, annual giving, membership campaigns, fundraising and commemorative events.

The foundations rarely make capital grants unless there is a prior relationship with the applicant organization.

Geographic Limitations
Each foundation has a different set of geographic priorities. The information provided on each foundation describes its program areas, funding priorities, and geographic focus. To view this information in summary form, please refer to our Program Priorities Index.