Applying for a Grant
While the San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation continues to flourish as a center for charitable giving, we are not immune to the effects of an unstable economy. Our prosperity depends on the generosity of our donors, and we hasten to report that has not declined. In the meantime, an overall reduction in our earnings may affect this year’s grant programs. Please know that the Foundation’s Board of Directors is actively working to restore the General Grants program.
The San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation makes grants to support programs that provide significant benefits to the community within and across these funding areas:
- Arts & Culture - supporting appreciation of new and traditional forms of visual and performing arts through education and experiencing the diverse world of arts;
- Education - supporting programs which enhance learning and impact knowledge, skills and attitudes;
- Health - improving the quality of life through preventive health and overcoming barriers to physical health and mental health care;
- Human Services - improving the quality of life through providing for basic needs and social service programs, addressing the needs of seniors and people with disabilities, programs supporting people attempting to help themselves;
- Community Enhancement - providing an enduring impact through the environmental, historical, and civic aspects of community life.
Our goal is to distribute these funds to a variety of non-profit organizations throughout San Luis Obispo County. Organizations that conduct the majority of their public charitable operations in San Luis Obispo County are eligible to apply.
In general, the San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation does not make grants to/for:
- Organizations that discriminate on the basis of age, disability, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, race or religion;
- Individuals;
- Fraternal Organizations, unless in support of a specific program open to or benefiting the entire community;
- Governmental Organizations;
- Indirect Administrative costs greater than 15% of the awarded funds;
- Fundraising events such as annual campaigns, walk-a-thons, tournaments, fashion shows, auctions or dinners;
- Organizations with religious affiliations unless the program is open to the entire community without regard to religious beliefs;
- Organizations and programs designed to elect candidates to public office;
- Organizations located outside San Luis Obispo County unless for a specific program benefiting residents of, and conducted within, San Luis Obispo County;
- Pay off past debts or existing obligations;
- Endowment funds;
- Scholarships, fellowships, travel grants and technical or specialized research.
In addition to our General Grants Program, the Community Foundation implements a number of strategic funding initiatives across broad fields of interest, including Equity & Inclusive Communities, Youth Development, Helping Neighbors in Need, School Readiness & Childhood Health.
Please note, the Foundation does not accept proposals or applications outside of the scheduled grant cycle. The applications for each grant program will be posted on the Foundation’s website. The releases of various application guidelines will be announced throughout the year via the Executive Directors List-Serv, administered by KCBXnet. Nonprofit organizations are highly encouraged to subscribe to the Executive Directors List-Serv in order to be notified of grant opportunities in a timely manner. To subscribe to this free service, visit http://mailman.userservices.net/mailman/listinfo/exec-directors or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to exec-directors-request@list.kcbx.net.
A number of annual scholarships and awards are distributed through the Foundation.
For more information about grants and programs, contact Janice Fong Wolf, Director of Grants and Programs, at (805) 543-2323.
