GRANTS IN EDUCATION

   Application Guidelines

Eligibility

General Interest Areas

Program Categories

Application Procedure

   2009 Grants

   2008 Grants

   Application Form

GRANTS IN EDUCATION
Application Guidelines

Due to economic uncertainties, at the current time the Foundation plans to make more limited grants for core programs and will not be accepting applications for new programs or expansion activities. In addition, the Foundation will not be funding Arts Education or Facilities Projects, in order to concentrate on its main Education Grant priorities: Improving Students’ Learning Skills, and Teacher Professional Development.

ELIGIBILITY

The Fleishhacker Foundation funds Precollegiate Education (grades K-12), with an emphasis on the K-8 level. Grants are only made to institutions within the San Francisco Bay Area. Organizations may not apply more than once a year.

Eligible Applicants:

• independent schools
• nonprofit organizations that offer school-based support services to schools
• other special projects which fall under the funding program categories listed on the following page
• public schools or districts which meet all the review criteria in the grantmaking guidelines (the Foundation rarely considers requests from individual public schools due to the limitations of its funding, and prefers to support one-time needs, projects serving multiple sites, or activities that can be replicated at other sites).
  

Not Eligible for Funding:

• deficit financing
• annual funds
• endowment campaigns
• capital campaigns over $10 million
• youth who have dropped out of school
• adult education
• fundraising events
• travel

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GENERAL INTEREST AREAS

The Foundation is interested in programs and projects which:

• take place at the school site, preferably during the school day;
• are innovative;
• involve coordination of programs and services which support the educational process;
• connect in-school learning to the student’s home, community, and cultural life;
• are cost effective;
• and which show potential for longevity.

It is the Foundation's preference not to fund regional branches of national organizations.

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PROGRAM CATEGORIES

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS - Through this grant category the Foundation supports programs that help teachers become more effective through professional growth and renewal activities. The Foundation emphasizes programs for teachers new to the profession.

IMPROVING STUDENTS’ LEARNING SKILLS - This category supports programs taking place at the school site with the goals of fostering students’ critical thinking, problem solving, and active learning. Such programs may include innovative curricula, academic support for core subjects, enrichment programs, programs that encourage parental involvement in a child’s education, linking families and schools, and involving schools in the local community. A clear description of the goals and benefits is crucial to successful review. The Foundation also looks for cost-effective programs and those with potential to be replicated or adapted at other sites.

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APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Submit the Application Form, and a proposal narrative of no more than 1 page describing the grant request and attach:

• a project budget showing income as well as expenses (break out foundation, corporate, board and then other individual contributions on separate lines);
• the organization’s budget for the current year;
• the organization’s financial statement for last year;
• a Board of Directors list with affiliations;
• a one page overview of the organization (e.g. brief history and other programs);
• evidence of nonprofit status.

Grants normally range between $5,000 and $10,000, and are for a one year period. The Foundation expects that if a multi-year grant award is made, the grantee will wait at least that long after the grant’s conclusion before re-applying.

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Deadlines for grant proposals are January 15 deadline for May decisions, and July 15 for November decisions.
Note: these are postmark deadlines. Send materials via US Post Office. Do not staple or bind, just use paper clips. Use only 12 point type and 8 1/2 x 11 paper.

Fleishhacker Foundation
P.O. Box 29918
San Francisco CA 94129-0918
415/561-5350