COMMUNITY GRANTS FUND
Grant Application Deadline:
Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.
The application period is now closed.
Funded with support from
In 2016, The San Bruno Community Foundation created the Community Grants Fund. This responsive grantmaking program allows local community groups to apply for grants of up to $25,000 to support new or existing programs that benefit the San Bruno community.
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Funded by a portion of the restitution funds resulting from the City of San Bruno's settlement with Pacific Gas & Electric Company following the 2010 gas pipeline explosion that devastated San Bruno's Crestmoor neighborhood, the Community Grants Fund invests in the many local organizations that form the lifeblood of the San Bruno community.
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The Community Grants Fund operates annually. With a $100,000 grant from YouTube and Google.org, the Foundation plans to award multiple grants totaling $300,000 at the end of 2024 for programs taking place in 2025.
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Community Grants Fund Program Guidelines are outlined below.
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QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY GRANTS FUND?
Email grants@sbcf.org
GRANT WORKSHOPS
To learn about the Community Grants Fund, eligibility requirements, program guidelines, and application process, attend an optional workshop to be held via Zoom.
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Thursday, August 15, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, September 3, 12:00 p.m.
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Click HERE to register for a workshop
RESOURCES TO DOWNLOAD
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* One-Page Information Sheet
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Step-by-step instructions for completing the Grant Application.
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Printable version of the Grant Application checklist and questions. NOTE: The Grant Application must be submitted through the online form. Paper submissions will not be accepted.
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* Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
FAQs include questions from both Grant Workshops.
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Presentation slides from the 2024 Grant Workshops.
GRANT AWARDS
Grant Size: The Foundation has the discretion to determine the amount of each grant in connection with the Community Grants Fund. Grants to an organization will not exceed $25,000 in a grant cycle. Requested grant amounts must be substantiated by a program budget.
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A single Applicant Organization may apply for funding for more than one program, but must complete a separate Application for each program for which it is seeking a grant. Please note that a single Applicant Organization is unlikely to receive funding for more than one program in a given grant cycle.
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For the 2024-2025 grant cycle, with support from YouTube and Google.org, the Foundation intends to award, in connection with the Community Grants Fund, multiple grants totaling $300,000 that benefit a diverse cross-section of the San Bruno community. The number of grants provided will depend on a number of factors, including the number and quality of Applications received. The Foundation may elect to fund proposals at less than the requested amount.
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Duration and Frequency of Grant Awards: Grant awards are to be used within a one-year period (the 2025 calendar year for this cycle of grants). Grantees are able to apply for funding for the same program for up to three consecutive years. After three years of consecutive funding for a particular program, the grantee is required to wait at least one year before reapplying for funding for that program. The grantee would be able to apply for funding in the fourth year for a different program.
The Community Grants Fund is generally open to the following types of organizations that engage in activities to benefit the San Bruno community:
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501(c)(3)* public charities
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501(c)(4), 501(c)(5), and 501(c)(6) organizations that meet the public support tests described in 509(a)(2)
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Governmental units that are described in 170(b)(1)(A)
* All numerical references are to specific sections of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC).
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Notwithstanding the list above, entities not eligible for Foundation funding include 509(a)(3) supporting organizations, 509(a)(4) organizations organized and operated exclusively for testing for public safety, political organizations, organizations that the Foundation is prohibited by law from funding with public funds such as religious institutions and private schools, and organizations that unlawfully discriminate in violation of state or federal law, including on the basis of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or religion.
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Individuals are not eligible to apply for grants in connection with the Community Grants Fund.
The Foundation recommends that any organization with questions about eligibility for a grant in connection with the Community Grants Fund, particularly 501(c)(4), 501(c)(5), and 501(c)(6) organizations, contact Foundation staff prior to completing an application. Applicant Organizations serving as a fiscal sponsor for a program seeking funding must contact SBCF at grants@sbcf.org for detailed guidance on completing the Application.
ACTIVITIES ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING
The Foundation offers two types of grant funding:
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Programmatic Support (including one-time projects, ongoing programs, or capital projects)
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Capacity-Building Support (to assist Applicant Organization in carrying out its mission more effectively)
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The Foundation anticipates that most proposed activities will fall under “Programmatic Support.”
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Applicant Organizations applying for Capacity-Building Support are required to contact SBCF at grants@sbcf.org prior to completing the application.
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The Foundation will not directly fund the following: (1) existing deficits, (2) direct contributions to restricted endowments, (3) lobbying or political activity, and (4) religious activity that government agencies are legally prohibited from funding.
FUNDING PRIORITIES
Applications must be for programs that (1) benefit the San Bruno community and (2) fall within one of the Foundation’s focus areas:
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Publicly owned community facilities
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Community health and safety
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Sports and recreation
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Education
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Youth activities
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Public spaces, parks, and open space
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Community building
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Human and social services for all
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Economic vitality
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Intra-San Bruno transit
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Healthy, stable, and affordable housing
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The Foundation has embraced an inclusive definition of “community” to include those who live, work, attend school, and utilize community and commercial resources in San Bruno.
CRITERIA
Grant Applications will be evaluated on a variety of factors, including but not limited to:
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Benefits of the proposed program to the San Bruno community
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Proposal’s alignment with one of the Foundation’s focus areas
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Program methodology and budget
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Requested grant amount in relation to the anticipated community benefit
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Organization’s track record, stability, and financial health
CONDITIONS
Prior to receipt of a grant, grantees will be required to sign a Grant Agreement and agree to comply with certain terms and conditions set forth by the Foundation, including but not limited to the following:
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Within 60 days of the conclusion of the applicable grant period, provide the Foundation with a year-end report documenting the use of the grant funds and describing programmatic accomplishments.
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Acknowledge The San Bruno Community Foundation on all printed materials and all publicity related to activities supported by Foundation grants.
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Immediately notify the Foundation of: (1) any changes in grantee’s tax-exempt status; (2) grantee’s inability to expend the grant for the specified grant purposes; and (3) any expenditures of grant funds made for any purpose other than the intended grant purposes.
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Provide requested documentation, including financials or evidence of tax-exempt status.
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Within 60 days, report to the Foundation regarding any major changes in personnel or volunteers that would affect the grantee’s ability to carry out the funded program.
TIMELINE
July 2024
Community Grant Application Period Opens
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August 15 and September 3, 2024
Grant Workshops
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​September 18, 2024, 5:00 p.m.
Community Grant Application Deadline
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December 2024
Notification of Community Grant Awards
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2025
Funding Period
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