Funding Process
When to Apply
The Foundation conducts three funding cycles per calendar year. To begin the application process, you should first determine which cycle is the best fit for both your organization and your proposal.
Cycle 1
Apply if: your organization is applying for general operating support and has a fiscal year end date of 12/31
Award Notification: March
Cycle 2
Apply if: your organization is applying for general operating support and has a fiscal year end date of 6/30
Award Notification:
July
Cycle 3
Apply if: your organization is applying for general operating support and has a fiscal year end date that falls between 6/30 and 11/30
Award Notification: December
Project Support Requests
Choose a cycle that would deliver funding prior to the start date of the proposed project. Projects are not funded retroactively.
Visit the Dates & Deadlines page to find out when the next cycle begins.
New or Current?
NEW APPLICANT.
CURRENT GRANTEE.
New Applicants
Letter of Inquiry
Submit a Letter of Inquiry form via our Online Application Platform. You can preview the Letter of Inquiry form here.
Current Grantees
Intent to Apply
Submit an Intent to Apply form via our Online Application Platform. You can preview the Intent to Apply form here.
Staff Review and Application Invitations
The Foundation staff will read and discuss all submitted Letters of Inquiry and Intent to Apply forms.
Approved organizations will be sent an invitation to complete a full application via email. Declinations will also be sent via email.
Application
If invited, your next step is to submit an Application via our Online Application Platform. You can preview the Application form for New Applicants here and for Current Grantees here.
Staff Review
This is our time to get to know you, your team, and your important work. In addition to reading your submitted Application, a staff member will conduct a site visit to meet with organizational leadership and will attend a performance or rehearsal to see your organization’s work in action.
Staff Review
This is our time to catch up with current grantees. In addition to reading your submitted Application, a staff member will conduct a site visit to meet with your organization’s leadership. The staff strives to send a minimum of one staff person to a performance-related activity per calendar year. This visit may happen outside of the review process.
Staff Recommendations, Board Approval, and Funding Decisions
Working together, staff comes to a consensus on all grant recommendations, which are then reviewed by and voted on by the Board of Trustees. Grant decision notifications are sent via email. Upon completion of the Foundation’s online grant contract, funded organizations receive their awards via standard mail.
Reporting
If awarded funding, grantees will be required to report on that funding as part of their next Application, via the Online Application Platform. See the “Reporting” section of the Current Grantees Application here.
Grantees awarded multi-year funding will be required to submit an Interim Report and will be notified about deadlines for interim reporting via email. You can preview the Interim Report form here.
