Our 2020 Major Grants Process is now open! We are looking for organizations who bring an excitement and passion to their work, and who are working to break the cycle of poverty by addressing or removing the root causes of systemic barriers to health, safety, shelter and opportunity in the communities where we work and live: Frederick County, Baltimore County, Baltimore City, and Anne Arundel County.
After hearing from several grantseekers and current grant partners, we’ve made a few changes to our grants process this year. Most importantly, we are prioritizing general operating support grants over project- or program-specific grants, as we have heard repeatedly from organizations how difficult it is to come by unrestricted funding. As such, we’re looking for organizations whose overall mission and work aligns with the foundation’s stated mission, goals, and priorities, rather than funding one particular project or program.
Additionally, we are moving to one open grant cycle per year to reduce confusion around deadlines and submission requirements. LOIs for this cycle will be due by March 15th.
Leadership development grants will be offered again in 2020. The application for these grants will open in the coming weeks.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
All organizations seeking funding, regardless of amount requested, are required to meet the following criteria:
Provide services in one of our geographic areas of focus;
Provide evidence of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3);
Provide up-to-date contact details for regular communications;
Adhere to the principles of the Foundation.
Read more about The Helen J. Serini Foundation grant guidelines and types of grants made.
FUNDING PRIORITIES
Our support of direct service, emergency needs, or similar programs is rare, and usually occurs in instances where that service is used to inform systemic work, or if an organization can demonstrate that such a program, if implemented universally, would have systemic impact.
Individually, board and family members may support direct services and emergency needs organizations, but the foundation’s collective giving focuses on addressing root causes and systems change work.
The Foundation is seeking funding partnerships with non-profits who demonstrate the following characteristics:
A creative, innovative, entrepreneurial spirit
A spirit of collaboration, partnership, and alliance-building
A commitment to equity
A willingness to grow a relationship over time
Experienced, high-energy, talented management and demonstrated board governance
Models that are constituent-driven and informed by the communities they aim to serve
Services that are transformative in the lives of clients
Work that improves and/or restructures symptoms by changing the policies and practices that hold people in cycles of poverty
When considering whether or not to apply, consider the following questions:
Does this work improve or restructure systems of poverty by changing policies, practices, or beliefs that hold people in cycles of poverty?
If this is a request for direct service support, does this direct service inform or complement work to improve or restructure systems?
If not, do you believe that the universal implementation of this direct service work would result in an improved or restructured system?
TO APPLY
All organizations requesting funding must submit a two-page LOI via our online portal to be considered. LOIs submitted via email or snail mail (please, please don’t send us snail mail) will not be reviewed. Learn more about the full grants process, timing, and expectations here. Unsolicited LOIs are welcome and encouraged, provided the submitting organization meets all eligibility criteria. Full proposals will be reviewed by invitation only.
QUESTIONS?
Contact Kerry McHugh, Program Officer, at kmchugh@hjsfoundation.org.