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Grassroots Fund
Rose Foundation  •   6008 College Ave. Suite 10  •   Oakland, CA  •   94618   •   (510) 658-0702
Northern California Environmental Grassroots Fund


About the Grassroots Fund

Hints for Applicants

Grantees

Grantee Convenings

Training Scholarships

Training Resources

Downloads:

Application Form

Evaluation Form

Training Application

 

Participating Funders

Alfred C. and Ersa S. Arbogast Foundation

As You Sow Foundation

The California Wellness Foundation

Compton Foundation

Environmental Law Foundation

Firedoll Foundation

Fledgling Fund

Gaia Fund

The David B. Gold Foundation

John & Marcia Goldman Foundation

Lisa and Douglas Goldman Fund

Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund

David L. Klein Jr. Foundation

LEF Foundation

Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation

Penney Family Fund

Potrero Nuevo Fund of Tides Foundation

The Purple Lady /Barbara J. Meislin Fund

The Jane Rogers and Michael Fischer Fund of the San Francisco Foundation

Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment

The San Francisco Foundation

The Sandler Family Supporting Foundation

 

 

How to Apply

About the Northern California Environmental Grassroots Fund
The Fund was established in 2003 by a consortium of foundations to support community-based grassroots environmental efforts throughout Northern California. The Fund's goal is to award small grants ($5000 or less) to small organizations that are currently underserved by most funding strategies.

The Fund will have four grant cycles per year, one every three months. Currently the Fund is giving away an average of $50,000 per quarter.

Eligible Projects and Organizations
Geographic Scope: Project impact must be in Northern California (Includes the entire Sierra Nevada Mountains, Bay Area, Central Valley, Central Coast, and North Coast)

Organizational Size: Annual income or expenses of $100,000 or less (for exceptions, see application)

Issues: Include, but are not limited to: Environmental health and justice, land management and urban sprawl, habitat and wilderness protection, sustainable forestry, water resources, agriculture, sustainability, and pollution.

Strategies: General support for organizations with an environmental mission, or project support for strategies such as community-based advocacy, technical assistance, litigation, restoration projects, organizing expenses, grassroots campaigns, and environmental education.

Tax status: Applicants may be a nonprofit, be fiscally sponsored by another nonprofit, or ask for fiscal sponsorship from the fund.

Frequency: Organizations whose proposals are rejected may re-apply after one year. Organizations that are funded may re-apply after one year if their evaluation form has been submitted and accepted. For an evaluation form: Word form, or fill-in PDF version.

Duration: Since a goal of the Grassroots Fund is to support the development and creation of small, new nonprofit groups, we don't anticipate funding projects for more than three consecutive years.

Excluded
Capital campaigns, annual fundraising appeals, government agencies, colleges or universities and individuals.

If you are uncertain if your organization is eligible, please call or e-mail us before applying: (510) 658-0702 or grassroots@rosefdn.org

Application Process
1) Download PDF version of application materials, or download Word version of application materials, or request by e-mail from grassroots@rosefdn.org or call (510) 658-0702. (Please make sure to save the application to your computer's hard drive, in a folder that you will be able to find later.)

2) Complete the application

3) Add required attachments:

a. Project or organizational budget for current fiscal year (Use the worksheet provided at the end of the application packet, or attach your own spreadsheet.)  For applicant organization, not fiscal sponsor.

b. Organizational financial statement from most recent completed fiscal year (profit/loss statement which shows the income and expenses) For applicant organization, not fiscal sponsor.

c. List of board of directors, advisory board or steering committee members with affiliations - For applicant organization, not fiscal sponsor.

d. List of key staff and/or volunteers - For applicant organization, not fiscal sponsor.

e. 501(c)(3) determination letter, or that of the organization’s fiscal sponsor (not necessary if seeking fiscal sponsorship from the Fund)

4) Optional attachments

a. Letters of support (maximum of 2 letters, maximum 2 pages each - highly recommended)

b. Press clippings

c. Newsletters or other publications

5) Please submit 3 copies of your entire application and all attachments. Please copy it double-sided and on recycled paper, if possible. Do not put in a folder.

6) DEADLINES: Submit applications and attachments by US mail, postmarked by the deadline: May 1, 2008, August 1, 2008, November 1, 2008. Deadlines in 2009 will be the first day of February, May, August and November. If the deadline falls on a Sunday or postal holiday, applications must be postmarked on (or before) the following the day that post office is open.

E-mailed or faxed applications will not be accepted.

Important Considerations:

• Page Limit: If you download and fill this form out on your computer, please keep answers as brief as possible; most questions can be answered in 1 - 3 sentences. Overall the application should be 5 pages or less (not including checklist, budget or attachments).

• Font Size: Please use a minimum font size of 11 points.

• Handwritten applications are accepted, but please write legibly.

• Do not put in a folder.