Overall objective: To increase the health of underserved children through improved access to health and dental services, preventative services, and education.
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Subcategories:
•Youth dental and medical services.
•Health clinics focused on children (primarily operating and programming).
•Preventative services for children.
•Prenatal care.
•Health and dental education targeted at youth.
•Professional recruitment, training and retainment for children’s medical care professionals.

Priority given to: nonprofit organizations that can demonstrate how grant funding will create clear results and increased capacity, and those that show integration of an evidenced-based best practice.

Eligibility requirements: Click here.

Geography served: Rural communities with less than 30,000 in population not adjacent to or part of an urban or metropolitan area.

Population served: Children (prenatal - 10 years).

Types of funding/timing: Emphasis on prevention and education rather than technology and physical infrastructure. Primarily operating and programmatic funding, capital when appropriate. Should the request be approved, funds will be released in no less than 60 days and may take six months to a year, depending on the project scope and review process.

Percentage of applicant’s project budget: Funds requested may not exceed one third of the project’s total budget.

Typical grant size: $50K - $100K

Length: Primarily single year with occasional multi-year opportunities (with defined sunset provision).

Overall objective: To lessen the instances of physical, sexual and emotional abuse of children in our community through increased access to programs and services.
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Subcategories:
•Child abuse prevention and risk reduction: anger management; parenting programs; programs to create awareness about availability of preventive services and programs.
•Child abuse intervention: screening facilities; medical services, counseling; intervening agencies to stabilize and advocate for the child’s living environment.

Priority given to:

•Evidence-based programs that show a clear connection between the types of programming and the reduction in child abuse incidence
•Programs that emphasize screening, intervention and case management to reduce drivers of child abuse and work towards family preservation when best.

Eligibility requirements: Click here.

Geography served: Rural communities with less than 30,000 in population not adjacent to or part of an urban or metropolitan area. An emphasis on those areas with high rates of abuse and low access to services.

Population served: The most underserved children and youth (0 - 18 years).

Types of funds/timing: Primarily operating and programmatic funding, capital when appropriate. Should the request be approved, funds will be released in no less than 60 days and may take six months to a year, depending on the project scope and review process.

Percentage of applicant’s project budget: Funds requested may not exceed one third of the project’s total budget.

Typical grant size: $50K - $100K

Length: Primarily single year with occasional multi-year opportunities (with defined sunset provision).

Overall objective: To encourage civic participation and collaboration through the development of places that bring the community together, have substantial and broad multi uses, are open to the public, and serve multiple populations.
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Subcategories:
•Convening aspects of libraries; community and resource centers; amphitheaters; fairgrounds; arenas; pavilions and auditoriums.
•Both indoor and outdoor spaces that do not duplicate an existing space for similar purposes.
•Renovations or new construction.

Priority given to: Smaller communities with demonstrated needs.

(Applicants should be prepared to provide an inventory of public meeting spaces that currently exist in the community and a list of organizations that plan to use the proposed space for for what purposes.)

Priority not given to: Government projects (e.g. city halls) unless there is a specific component (e.g. conference room open for broad public use) that fits the Foundation’s objectives.

Eligibility requirements: Click here.

Geography served: Rural communities with less than 30,000 in population not adjacent to or part of an urban or metropolitan area.

Population served: All populations with priority on spaces that can be used across generations.

Types of funds/timing: Primarily capital and limited programmatic. Should the request be approved, funds will be released in no less than 60 days and may take six months to a year, depending on the project scope and review process.

Percentage of applicant’s project budget: Funds requested may not exceed one third of the project’s total budget.

Typical grant size: $50K - $250K

Length: Primarily single year.

Overall objective: To support programs that encourage the development of skills, instill values of a successful citizen and create structure for kids in free time.
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Priority given to:
•Structured out-of-school and youth leadership/citizenship programs.
•Evidenced-based programs that show a clear connection between the types of programming and development of successful citizen values and behaviors.
Priority not given to: Strictly academic prep programs or stand-alone athletics (e.g. soccer leagues).

Eligibility requirements: Click here.

Geography served: Rural communities with less than 30,000 in population not adjacent to or part of an urban or metropolitan area.

Population served: School-aged children (5-18 years).

Types of funds/timing: Programmatic, operational and capital. Should the request be approved, funds will be released in no less than 60 days and may take six months to a year, depending on the project scope and review process.

Percentage of applicant’s project budget: Funds requested may not exceed one third of the project’s total budget.

Typical grant size: $25K - $150K

Length: Primarily single year with occasional multi-year opportunities (with defined sunset provision).

Overall objective: To develop community leaders, effective organizations, and collaborations.
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Subcategories:
•Leadership development - supports leadership training for community groups, particularly youth groups.
•Effective organizations - supports technical assistance for non-profits to improve their performance.
•Community collaborations - supports collaborations by organizations or communities in addressing shared issues or opportunities.

Priority given to requests:
•Clearly linked to a broad, compelling community need.
•Coming from an established organization where there is evidence of past success.
•Built on existing investments of the Ford Institute which provide a more advanced level of training.
•Providing assistance to a network or cluster of people, organizations or communities.

Geography served: Rural communities with less than 30,000 in population not adjacent to or part of an urban or metropolitan area.

Types of funds/timing: Programmatic and operating funding. Should the request be approved, funds will be released in no less than 60 days.

Percentage of applicant’s project budget: Funds requested may not exceed 80 percent of the total project budget, and a minimum of 20 percent cash match toward the project is required.

Typical grant size: $1K - $5K

Length: Primarily less than one year.

Overall objective: To provide small grants to organizations in response to critical needs or emergencies. These grants are highly competitive and limited.
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Priority given to: Short-term grant requests to address unforeseen emergencies that interrupt programming and/or services (e.g. a boiler breaks, an ambulance breaks down).

Priority not given to:
•Requests supporting programs that do not have enough funding.
•Requests for general capacity building.
•Requests for small critical needs that fall into the other categories (Positive Youth Development, Access to Health and Dental Services for Children, Child Abuse Prevention and Intervention, Public Convening Spaces, Technical Assistance).

Eligibility requirements: Click here.

Geography served: Rural communities with less than 30,000 in population not adjacent to or part of an urban or metropolitan area.

Population served: All.

Types of funds/timing: Programmatic and capital. Should the request be approved, funds will be released in no less than 60 days.

Typical grant size: $1K - $10K.

Length: Single year.

Eligibility 

Grant requests must meet all of the following requirements before consideration will be given:

• Applicant organizations must have current 501(c)(3) Public Charity status from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), or be a governmental entity, or be an IRS-recognized tribe. It may not be a private foundation as defined in Section 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.
• Geographical focus of project must be predominately (60% or more) for the benefit of residents of rural Oregon and Siskiyou County, California. We define rural as communities with populations of 30,000 or less and not adjacent to or part of an urban or metropolitan area.
• Must include significant collaboration and community buy-in (as evidenced by in-kind and cash contributions from local and regional sources).
• Must have at least 50% of funding (may include in-kind) for the total project budget committed before applying.
• Organization must not be delinquent in filing final reports for previous grants from the Foundation.
• Organization may not be currently receiving other responsive grant funds from the Foundation.

Exclusions

The Foundation generally will not consider funding requests for:

• Projects or programs that are indirectly funded through a fiscal agent.
• Endowments or reserve funds.
• General fund drives, such as United Way.
• Debt retirement or operating deficits.
• Indirect or overhead expenses.
• Sponsorship of fundraising events.
• Propagandizing or influencing elections or legislation.

Q: What are the deadlines for applying?
A:  For our responsive and technical assistance grants, the application process is always open. We accept grant requests daily through our on-line application process. 
 
Q: How soon will I hear from you after I apply?
A: You will receive a response from us within 3-4 weeks after applying. Each request is reviewed by a grant committee to determine if it meets our Mission and guidelines. Every request will receive a written response, ranging from an approval or an invitation to submit a full application, to a respectful declination.
 
Q: What is the process for submitting a full proposal?
A: Initially you will submit the online application. If the review committee determines that your request fits our Mission and guidelines, you will be invited to complete Stage 2 of the application process. At this time you will be asked to submit additional financial and project information. Full proposals go to our Board for final review and approval; this process can take as long as 12 months.
 
Q: What is an appropriate request amount? Is there a maximum grant size?
A: The amount that you request from the Foundation should be proportionate to your organizational budget, project budget, and expected income from other sources. The Foundation generally funds no more than 30% of a project’s full budget, see guidelines for specific details on each grant category. For Assistance Grants, the maximum grant size is $5,000 and requires a minimum of a 20% cash match. 
 
Q: How do you calculate in-kind donations?
A: In-kind contributions are goods (wholesale value) or services provided instead of cash for one of your project budget line-items. Both the revenue and the expense projections should reflect the in-kind contribution in your budget. Labor donated for fundraising activities does not count towards in-kind.  [Read More]

Q: If our request is approved, how soon before we can receive funding?
A: This will depend on the type of grant you are applying for and the amount. For technical assistance grants, generally you will be able to receive funds within two-three months of applying. For responsive grants, this will depend on the project size and grant amount; the program officer assigned to your grant will work with you on the payment release schedule.
 
Q: Does the Foundation offer challenge grants?
A: Yes, the Foundation recognizes challenge grants as effective tools for leveraging additional financial support for certain projects.   For example, a 1:1 challenge grant means The Ford Family Foundation will match $50,000 of community contributions with an additional $50,000 once the challenge to your community and constituents has been met.
 
Q: Does the Foundation fund operating expenses?
A: Yes, the Foundation does support general operating expenses, usually with a defined sunset provision; review our guidelines for specifics on funding types by grant category. 
 
Q: Do you make site visits?
A: Yes, generally a program officer will visit your location if your request is going to our Board for review. At the site visit we like to meet with your board members, executive staff and if appropriate, tour your facility/site. Site visit details are worked out prior to the visit.
 
Q: When can we reapply?
A: We process applications on a continuous basis. However, if you currently have an active grant with the Foundation, we generally will not consider additional funding until the current grant is closed. If your request has been declined, we ask that you wait a year to reapply for the same project or program.
 
Q: Does the Foundation offer multi-year grants?
A: Yes, but on a limited basis and generally only through our proactive grants (Foundation driven). These grants are generally offered through RFPs and are limited to our areas of focus.   
 
Q: Can I contact the Foundation if I have specific questions about whether my project or program meets your Mission and guidelines?
A: Yes, you can contact the Foundation at  (541) 957-5574 .