Frequently Asked Questions —
Feb. 15, 2008 Grants Program Extension

Silicon Valley Community Foundation has extended our interim community grants program through early 2008, providing community organizations additional opportunities to apply for funding while we develop a new regional grantmaking strategy for San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.

The deadline for nonprofits to apply for funding under this program – which uses the guidelines established by our parent foundations – is 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 15, 2008.

Comprehensive information about the grants programs, details on how to submit a letter of inquiry and grant applications are available on our website in the Apply for a Grant section.  In addition to those guidelines and three grant information meetings being held in January, we have compiled a list of commonly asked questions and answers to provide additional information for organizations interested in applying.  If you have any other questions, please contact us at grants@siliconvalleycf.org or call us at 650.450.5400.

Q:  My organization submitted a Community Investment grant application for the Feb. 1, 2007 deadline and received a grant that covers the period of April 1, 2007 through March 31, 2008.  Is my organization eligible to apply for a grant in the Feb. 15, 2008 cycle? 

A:  Organizations currently in a grant cycle with the community foundation under the Community Investment, Organizational Effectiveness or the Community Endowment guidelines are not eligible for this upcoming grant application round.  Applicants to the Community Investment, Organizational Effectiveness or Community Endowment program must complete any prior grant cycle with the community foundation, including submitting any required grant reports by Feb. 15, 2008.  Organizations that received an Advancing the Arts grant in 2007 may apply using the Community Investment guidelines by Feb. 15, 2008.

Q:  What are the geographic restrictions of the two main grant programs?

A:  The Community Endowment guidelines are for organizations offering programs or services in the Daly City through Mountain View region, which includes all of San Mateo County.  To be eligible for consideration, an organization must submit a letter of inquiry by Feb. 15, 2008. 

The Community Investment and Organizational Effectiveness guidelines are for those organizations offering programs in the Redwood City through Gilroy region, which includes all of Santa Clara County.  To be eligible for consideration, the organization must submit a Community Investment application by Feb. 15, 2008 and have an office or address physically located in the Redwood City to Gilroy region.
 
Q: Our program serves both geographic regions. Can we apply to both grants programs?

A: Organizations that are eligible for both grants programs should review both sets of guidelines and apply to only one – whichever is the highest priority for the organization.  The letter of inquiry or the application should mention the organization’s geographic reach so the community foundation can consider that as we review requests.  Keep in mind that in most cases, more funding is requested than is available, so this is a competitive process.

Q: Can an organization submit multiple applications within the same geographic area?

A:  Only applicants applying to the Community Endowment grant program for the Daly City to Mountain View region may possibly submit multiple applications, and only after consulting with the grantmaking staff.  Organizations may not submit multiple applications to either the Community Investment or Organizational Effectiveness grant programs.  Please keep in mind that in most cases, more funding is requested than is available, so this is a competitive process.

Q: Is it possible that my organization may be awarded less money than we applied for? 

A: Yes, it is possible that your organization will be awarded a smaller grant than what was requested.

Q: May an organization apply for a multiple-year grant?

A: No.  This round of grants is for a one-year period.  If you are seeking one-year funding for a multi-year program, your request should demonstrate that you have prospective funding that will cover the program beyond the single-year funds you are requesting from the community foundation.

Q: I represent a small organization that does not have all of the infrastructure that seems to be required by the Community Investment guidelines.  Can a small organization with limited infrastructure apply anyway?

A:  Yes, a small organization may apply.  In addition, an organization that is not as formal or established could consider applying for an Organizational Effectiveness grant which has a cap of $5,000.  These grants have a rolling deadline so please contact grants@siliconvalleycf.org prior to beginning the application to confirm if funding is still available. 

Q: If my organization’s request is approved, what will the grant period be?

A: The grant period will extend 12 months from the approval date of the grant.  While we are committed to reviewing and providing funding for important programs as quickly as possible, the timing of grant decisions will depend on the number of applications received by the deadline.

Q: Is there a way for an organization to apply for donor advised funding?

A: Organizations may not apply directly to donor advised funds established by individuals or families.

Q: Are processes for corporate fund applications separate from the Community Endowment, Community Investment and Organizational Effectiveness processes?

A: Yes, they are separate.  It is possible that an applicant will receive funding through a corporate application process but not from the community foundation, or vice versa. However, criteria and decisions vary, depending on the particular corporate fund. For more information, please refer to the list of Corporate Partners and click on the company logos to be directly linked to their corporate funding website.