Private Foundation Funding Resources 2010

Foundation / Geo Focus / Giving Range / Deadline / Areas of interest / Notes / Contact
The Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation
6 East 39th Street
12th Floor
New York, NY
10016 -0112 / Nat’l / $10,000 to $50,000 / none / The Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation promotes a sustainable and just social and natural system by supporting grassroots organizations and movements committed to this goal. The Foundation's funding priorities are shaped by a view of the Earth as one community, an interconnected web of life in which human society is an integral part.
Protect the Health and Environment of Communities Threatened by Toxics Supporting organizations, primarily at the state and regional levels, that: bring together activists to work on toxics exposure and contamination; and, promote initiatives and public policies that reduce the use of toxins and hold corporations accountable for their impact on the environment.
Advance Environmental Justice
Supporting organizations, led by people most heavily affected, that work to counter environmental degradation in low-income communities and communities of color. / "For 2010, the Foundation will not consider new requests. Grants will be made to organizations that are already Noyes grantees. This policy only affects the 2010 grantmaking cycle. A decision about the 2011 grants budget will be made in mid-2010." (From the Foundation's website) / Phone: 212-684-6577
Fax: 212-689-6549
Email:
Url: http://www.noyes.org/
The Kresge Foundation
3215 West Big Beaver Road
Troy, MI
48084 / Nat’l / NA
(total giving $181,000,000) / none / The Foundation's six areas of interest include:
Health: The primary focus is improving access to health care for groups who have been marginalized, particularly low-income people, minorities, and women. Organizations with a predominant emphasis on improving the health status of these populations will receive priority attention.
Environment: The Foundation aims to assist society in mitigating the severity of climate change and proactively addressing its unavoidable impacts. Mitigation grantmaking focuses on reducing energy use through the adoption of efficiency measures and the conversion to clean energy sources. Adaptation grantmaking supports efforts to develop strategies and resources that promote resilience to climate change in both human and natural systems.
Arts and Culture The Foundation believes well-capitalized cultural organizations are better able to serve diverse populations with meaningful programming, that artists can more effectively engage audiences and contribute to community life if they have the skills and resources necessary for career success, and that integrating arts and culture into community building and revitalization efforts energizes localities both economically and culturally. Through the Institutional Capitalization grants program the Foundation provides support for facility investments and building reserves.
Education The Foundation's grantmaking is rooted in a desire to overcome systematic inequities in early childhood and higher education and to provide life-changing educational opportunities to those who have been excluded. Support is provided to organizations and institutions endeavoring to educate a workforce that can compete successfully in the global economy.
Human Services The Foundation focuses primarily on the capital needs of community-based human service organizations that offer opportunity and access to the most vulnerable, disadvantaged, and low-income people in order to improve their quality of life.
Community Development The Foundation supports organizations working in geographically-defined rural, urban, and aging suburban neighborhoods to enhance grassroots participation, resident empowerment, physical revitalization, neighborhood cohesion and, in some cases, youth opportunity. / Application guidelines are available on the Foundation's website.guidelines are available on the Foundation's website. / Phone: 248-643-9630
Fax: 248-643-0588
Url: http://www.kresge.org/
Acorn Foundation
c/o Common Counsel Foundation
678 13th Street
Suite 100
Oakland, CA
94612 / Nat’l Priority is given to the western United States, but a few grants may be made each year to organizations in the South and in Appalachia. / $5,000 - $10,000 / Letters of inquiry: January 15 and June 15, annually / The Acorn Foundation, a member of the Common Counsel consortium of foundations, is dedicated to advancing community-based organizations working for environmental conservation, sustainability, and environmental justice. The Foundation gives priority to the western United States, but may make a few grants each year to environmental organizations in the South and in Appalachia.
The Foundation is particularly interested in small and innovative community-based projects that engage in community organizing to:
preserve and restore habitats that support biological diversity and wildlife;
advocate for environmental justice, particularly in low-income and indigenous communities; and,
prevent or remedy toxic pollution.
General operating and project support are provided. / Phone: 510-834-2995
Fax: 510-834-2998
Email:
Url: http://www.commoncounsel.org/Acorn%20Foundation
Oak Foundation
511 Congress Street
Suite 800
Portland, ME
04101 / Nat’l / $25,000 - $10,000,000 / none / The Oak Foundation, an international philanthropy, commits its resources to address issues of global, social, and environmental concern, particularly those that have a major impact on the lives of the disadvantaged.
Grants are made to organizations in the U.S. and internationally. The geographic emphasis varies by priority area.
The Oak Foundation’s priorities include:
Environment The Foundation addresses global climate change by advocating for renewable energy and energy efficiency in the power and transport sectors through education, research, and policy change. Program areas include:
North American Climate and Energy;
European Climate Change;
India Climate Grants; and,
Conservation of Marine Environment, including Europe, the Mesoamerican Reef Eco-Region, and the Bering Sea and North Pacific. / Application guidelines are available on the Foundation's website. / Phone: 617-542-5565
Fax: 617-542-5570
Email:
Url: http://www.oakfnd.org
Lannan Foundation
Santa Fe, NM / Nat’l / NA / none / Indigenous Communities Funding for projects in indigenous communities supports the resolve of Native people to renew their communities through their own institutions and traditions. Funding priority is given to rural community projects that are consistent with traditional values in the areas of environmental protection and advocacy, legal rights, language revitalization, traditional culture, and education. Grant awards are made to organizations that are Native-led and benefit a significant portion of the community.
The Foundation will consider multi-year requests for funding of project costs, operating costs, technical assistance, and collaborative activities that build organizational strength and community capacity. / http://www.lannan.org
Elihu Foundation
Chicago, IL / ALASKA / $10,000 - $11,000 / Applications are accepted between February 1 and June 1, annually. / Areas of Interest:
The Elihu Foundation supports nonprofit and community organizations in Alaska. Grants are made to empower women, minorities, and Alaska Natives.
The Foundation focuses its grant program in the following areas: Community-scale economic development that maintains levels of growth at a small scale and supports alternative models of business enterprise (micro-enterprises, cooperatives, etc.). These enterprises should plan on becoming self-sustaining, but not necessarily profit-making.
Organizations promoting community concern for environmental quality, better living or working conditions, affordable housing, and housing assistance.
Community-based social relief and human services organizations providing health care, family planning, vocational training, drug and alcohol counseling, food pantry services, shelter and support for the homeless and abused, and nutritional education.
Two types of grants are available:
One-year grants to organizations facing short-term challenges.
Awards of $1,000 to individuals who have made significant impacts in their communities. Nominations are accepted from any Alaskan citizen and should indicate what impact the individual has had upon their community, particularly as it has addressed critical challenges.
Types of support include: project support; general support; and, seed money. / Phone: 312-558-3900
Email:
Seva Foundation
Berkeley, CA / Nat’l / Grant Range:$2,000 - $5,000
Average Grant:$3,500 / Eligibility Requirements:
Nonprofit organizations, Indigenous Nations, and public agencies
Areas of Interest:
The Seva Foundation serves people around the world who are struggling for health, cultural survival, and sustainable communities.
Seva's Native American Grants Program provides support to Native American-led organizations working to devise solutions to the challenges that face their communities.
The focus is on the following priority areas: spiritual and cultural renewal; health and wellness; protecting Mother Earth; economic development; educational development; and, indigenous youth. / http://www.seva.org/
Primary Contact:
Ms. Bonney Hartley
Native American Program Research Associate
Email:
Seventh Generation
Arcata, CA / Nat’l / $100- $10,000 / Range: $100- $10,000
Environmental Health and Justice Support is provided for small grants and technical assistance to Indigenous peoples involved in frontline grassroots action, advocacy for environmental and social justice, and community organizing. Projects include support for groups impacted by invasive or extractive industries or by companies or practices that pollute or deplete natural resources.
Sacred Earth Support is provided for community-based efforts to revitalize traditional spiritual practices and life ways and protect and preserve traditional sacred sites – these include geographical areas of historical spiritual significance to Indigenous peoples, threatened by encroachment of interests harmful to these special places.
Sustainable Communities This program provides seed money, organizational support, and technical training to Native grassroots community-based projects striving for holistic community health and renewal. Support if provided for traditional agricultural methods, renewable forms of energy, and sustainable strategies for development that preserve or restore traditional life-ways for future generations. / http://www.7genfund.org/
Ford Foundation
320 East 43rd Street
New York, NY
10017 / Nat’l / TOTAL ANNUAL: $582,257,000 / None / Areas of Interest:
The Ford Foundation is a resource for innovative people and institutions worldwide. The mission of the Foundation is to:
strengthen democratic values;
reduce poverty and injustice;
promote international cooperation; and,
advance human achievement.
Democratic and Accountable Government
The Foundation supports efforts that help people become participants in the decisions that have an impact on their lives, with emphasis on robust and inclusive civic organizations that bring diverse people together and give them a voice in the democratic process.
The focus is on:
strengthening civil society;
increasing civic and political participation;
promoting transparent, effective, and accountable government;
promoting electoral reform and democratic participation; and,
reforming global financial governance.
Sustainable Development
The Foundation supports the development of natural resource policies and programs that give poor communities more control over these resources and a stronger voice in decision making on land use and development.
The focus is on:
expanding community rights over natural resources; and,
climate change responses that strengthen rural communities.
Freedom of Expression
Worldwide the Foundation's work focuses on promoting public policies that ensure equal access to all media platforms and strengthening public service media. The Foundation also invests in the creative capital of underserved communities by supporting arts spaces that embrace marginalized voices and diverse audiences. In the United States, the Foundation supports religious leaders and institutions that engage in public efforts to promote justice and equity as well as efforts through the media to promote informed, diverse, and necessary dialogue on the public role of religion.
The focus is on:
supporting diverse arts spaces;
advancing public service media;
advancing media rights and access; and,
religion in the public sphere / Application guidelines are available on the Foundation's website. Eligible entities: Nonprofit organizations and government agencies / Phone: 212-573-5000
Fax: 212-351-3677
Email:
Url: http://www.fordfound.org/
Primary Contact:
Mr. Luis A. Ubiñas
President
Kongsgaard-Goldman Foundation
1932 First Avenue
Suite 602
Seattle, WA
98101 / Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington / Grant Range:$500 - $50,000
Average Grant:$1,000 - $15,000 / The Foundation is on hiatus and is not currently accepting applications. / Areas of Interest:
The Kongsgaard-Goldman Foundation provides support to a wide range of nonprofit organizations in the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, Montana), including British Columbia, Canada.
Within the program areas of human rights, civic development, environmental protection, and the arts and humanities, the Foundation favors projects reflecting a deep and broad level of citizen participation and leadership. The priority is to help fund the building of grassroots organizations with the power to change their communities and improve their lives.
While grants are awarded within the areas mentioned above, the Foundation is particularly interested in proposals reflecting the following general program categories listed in order of priority:
Environmental Protection and Conservation Support is provided for public policy, litigation, citizen involvement, public education, restoration, sustainable land use, and environmental justice. Grants are awarded for both general operating expenses and special projects.
Human Rights/Civic Development Support is provided for advocacy, public policy, civil liberties, and community capacity building. Particular attention is paid to community-supported projects which mobilize people to create progressive social change. The Foundation is also interested in helping groups achieve internal organizational change through small, as needed, technical assistance grants and by funding projects that help these groups gain the skills necessary to guarantee their place at the table where the broader community conversations and policy decisions take place. Grants are awarded for both general operating expenses and special projects. / Phone: 206-448-1874
Fax: 206-448-1973
Email:
Url: http://www.kongsgaard-goldman.org/
Primary Contact:
Ms. Martha Kongsgaard
Presiden
Nathan Cummings Foundation
475 Tenth Avenue
14th Floor
New York, NY
10018 / National / Grant Range:$1,000 - $950,000
Ave. Grant:$5,000 - $100,000 / Letters of Inquiry: none
Full Proposals: January 15 and August 15, annually / Arts and Culture Program The goal of this program is to create a stronger and more socially just society by building the field of art and social justice and amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities. The objectives of this program are:
to support community-based artistic and cultural projects that illuminate social and economic justice issues;
to support convenings and training programs for artists, cultural workers, and community members that impart information and skills that can be used to achieve social change;
to support diverse media and innovative delivery systems that document and disseminate the work of the field; and,
to support public policies that strengthen artistic and cultural communities and enable creators and their collaborators to create broad alliances in pursuit of common goals.
Priority will be given to initiatives that:
have national or regional impact;
address issues that are timely and relevant;
involve participating artists or cultural institutions that demonstrate effective practices; and,