WEINGART FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES CORE SUPPORT PROGRAM

Funders and nonprofit organizations are facing unprecedented times. The financial crisis has resulted in billions of dollars of lost foundation resources, and significant financial concerns for nonprofit organizations. Many non-profit organizations have reported that they are making or planning reductions to core programs due to lost public funding and declining private giving. This comes at a time when the demands for safety net services are increasing on a daily basis.

As you know, the Weingart Foundation is a responsive grant maker. Our grantmaking program is designed to respond to the needs identified by non-profit organizations in the areas of our funding interest. In recent months, non-profit organizations have stressed the need for unrestricted operating support to underwrite administrative infrastructure and maintain core programs and essential staff.

In response, and for an undetermined period of time, the Weingart Foundation is announcing the following:

Realizing the needs of non-profits are great and growing, the Foundation will expand its current general operating support to include a new program component called Core Support;

While more detailed Core Support guidelines will be published sometime in January 2009, highlights of the new program component include:

- Grants to established and well managed organizations providing: essential health and human services to disadvantaged and underserved communities and individuals; infant, child, and youth development services for at-risk and economically disadvantaged individuals;

- Unrestricted operating support that can be used to underwrite administrative infrastructure and sustain specific programs elements that enable the organization to achieve its mission;

- Grants limited to one year in duration, with grant awards up to $150,000, not to exceed 10% of agency's annual operating budget.

In consideration of the current financial crisis, special consideration will be given to safety net programs that provide people with the basic necessities of life - food, shelter, health care, and clothing.

As outlined in our current grant guidelines, the Foundation will continue to consider capacity building activities that present a well-thought out strategy focused on sustaining and strengthening the organization during this economic downturn.

Applicants should note that during this time of financial stress, and with few exceptions:

- The Foundation will not make grants to support new services and programs, or for expansion of existing services and programs; except through our Small Grant Program;

- Capital applications will only be invited for projects that have raised a substantial amount of their fundraising goal, and are either in construction or have a firm construction start date.

Existing program and capacity building grantees that are experiencing problems meeting grant requirements due to financial and/or programmatic difficulties, should contact the Foundation. Capital grantees that are experiencing difficulties meeting conditional grant requirements may, as always, contact the Foundation to discuss time extensions. Requests will be considered on a case by case basis;

In January 2009, the Foundation will also announce enhancements to its Small Grant Program that will focus on increasing access and building the capacity of community based and grass roots organizations.

For additional information, please visit http://weingartfnd.org/default.asp?PID=4