General operating support provides unrestricted funding to help support and maintain an organization as it pursues its mission. This type of grant is flexible and gives the grantee the ability to use the funds where they are most appropriate.
Common Good Funds grants are available to support an organization’s ongoing administrative and infrastructure costs and/or to maintain existing, effective programs that fit the general grant focus of the Foundation. Characteristics of successful applicants include that they will have a clear vision of the organization’s role in making a difference in the community, demonstrate effectiveness through the investment of time and personnel in measuring and planning for success, and have written strategic plans that cover three or more years, include goals and methods to measure effectiveness, and are used to form an annual work plan.
These grants will be very competitive. Grants will range from $10,000 to $75,000 for each 12 month period and may be awarded for 12 or 24 months. Each grantee will be asked to co-design an evaluative process and to report on progress and challenges in either six or 12 month intervals.