The Foundation is not currently able to act on new requests for funding. We regret any inconvenience. Per our guidelines below, we are glad to continue to receive initial inquiries by way of beginning a dialogue with those interested in our work or in seeking funding from us in the future; however our funding activities in the near term must be limited to our existing commitments and grantees.
As a general matter, our grants are limited to initiatives that are highly focused on reducing inequities in the areas of early childhood\family literacy education; after school learning; workforce development; and asset building. We do not make grants to individuals or for-profit organizations, nor do we provide grants that are primarily for endowments, capital campaigns, ongoing operating expenses, existing deficits, direct support of individuals, or lobbying of any kind.
While we are a U.S. based foundation, we award grants for projects both within and outside the United States; however, grants outside the United States are considered only at the invitation of the Foundation. For U.S. based applicants, we make grants only to organizations classified as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, and which are not private foundations as defined in Section 509(a) of the Code. For applicants based outside the United States that are not recognized by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, we will make grants when we can make a good faith determination that the organization is the "equivalent" of a U.S. public charity, or when we can exercise appropriate "expenditure responsibility" in connection with the award of the grant.
Please review carefully our philosophy of giving, our grant guidelines, and examples of organizations we have funded. You should then be in a position to determine whether your organization fits with our guiding principles and values. It is unlikely that we will consider funding your request unless there is a clear and compelling fit.
If, after reviewing our philosophy of giving and the other information, you feel that there is potential for a match, you should submit a one-page summary of your project to us via regular mail or email (preferred) at info@silvertonfoundation.org.
We do not conduct pre-grant conferences or meetings prior to an initial submission either via telephone or in person.
If we determine that your summary falls within our goals and objectives, we will ask you for a full proposal. As part of your proposal we may ask you for a variety of items, including expanded descriptions of your organization and the constituency it serves; details of the project for which you seek support, including specific goals and measurable objectives; a detailed project budget; information about your organization's sources of financial support; and other related materials including IRS determination letters if you are a U.S. based organization, or an "equivalency determination" affidavit if you are a non U.S. based organization. Should additional information be required during our review process we will notify you accordingly.
We do not have application forms or deadlines governing the submission or review of proposals. Proposals are accepted year round and are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Our board of directors meets periodically throughout the year to review appropriate proposals. If your proposal is approved for funding, you will be notified after the board meeting at which the proposal was considered. Unfortunately, it is not possible for us to fund all qualified projects, and from time to time we are forced to decline otherwise worthy proposals, whether or not they meet our guidelines.
