• About
    • Our History
    • Trustees
    • Staff
  • Grants
    • Grants Overview
    • Successful Applications
    • Funding Priorities
    • Grantmaking Guidelines
    • By the Numbers
    • Search Our Grants
  • Apply
    • How to Apply
    • How to Report
  • Contact
Bothin Foundation Bothin Foundation
  • About
    • Our History
    • Trustees
    • Staff
  • Grants
    • Grants Overview
    • Successful Applications
    • Funding Priorities
    • Grantmaking Guidelines
    • By the Numbers
    • Search Our Grants
  • Apply
    • How to Apply
    • How to Report
  • Contact
Bothin Foundation

Grants Overview

We help build the capacity of nonprofits primarily serving San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma, and San Mateo counties with grants for durable capital investments. These capital grants go to social service, academic enrichment, youth development, arts, and environmental nonprofit organizations that provide direct services to at least 50% disadvantaged children and youth (ages 0 to 24), low-income families with children, and/or people with disabilities. The foundation also considers durable capital requests from K-12 schools exclusively serving children with learning differences, with priority consideration given to those serving a significant percentage from low-income backgrounds. Examples of eligible capital grant uses include building improvements, vehicle requests, program equipment, and technology needs. Only one grant may be received within a 3-year period.

HOW TO APPLY
SEARCH OUR GRANTS
HOW TO APPLY
SEARCH OUR GRANTS
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Successful Applications

Completed within 12 months

We fund durable capital projects that can be completed within 12 months of receiving a grant (Please keep this timeline in mind when considering the best time to apply for a grant).

Durable capital investments

Durable capital refers to things that last a long time before needing to purchase again. This could include things like purchasing vehicles, appliances, and computers, or painting buildings and renovating a bathroom.

Discrete and Focused Request

Applications that are focused on a single, specific need are more competitive. Requests that have a long list of unrelated needs are typically not funded.

Direct service organization

We fund direct service organizations that serve at least 50% disadvantaged children and youth, low-income families with children, and/or people with disabilities. When considering funding programs that exclusively serve those with disabilities, disability status and low-income status are given equal weight.

$5,000 – $50,000

We fund grants in the range of $5,000 – $50,000, based on need. $50,000 is our maximum grant size.

Funding Priorities

    BUILDING CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION
    bothin_grants_funding_reno-grants
    • The foundation will fund any contracted labor directly associated with the project. This could include labor for removal or installation of materials or the hiring of expertise needed to complete the project, such as engineers or contractors.
    • The foundation does not fund planning or needs assessments for capital projects.
    • The foundation does not fund staff time for project management.
    • The foundation only supports building renovations for buildings located in San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma, and/or San Mateo counties.
    HOW TO APPLY
    EQUIPMENT & FURNISHINGS
    • The foundation considers funding furniture, program equipment, and medical equipment purchases.
    • The foundation prioritizes requests to purchase equipment that will be used by or mostly benefit program participants.
    • The foundation does not fund planning or needs assessments for capital projects.
    HOW TO APPLY
    bothin_grants_funding_equipment
    TECHNOLOGY
    bothin_grants_funding_tech-grants
    • The foundation considers funding furniture, program equipment, and medical equipment purchases.
    • The foundation prioritizes requests to purchase equipment that will be used by or mostly benefit program participants.
    • The foundation does not fund planning or needs assessments for capital projects.
    • The foundation does not fund software or consultants to build out software projects.
    HOW TO APPLY
    VEHICLES
    • The foundation prioritizes vehicle purchases that transport participants.
    • Insurance, gas, advertising on van (wrap-around printing), and warranties are not covered by grants.
    HOW TO APPLY
    bothin_grants_funding_vehicle-grants

    BUILDING CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION

    Man doing residential wiring
    • The foundation will fund any contracted labor directly associated with the project. This could include labor for removal or installation of materials or the hiring of expertise needed to complete the project, such as engineers or contractors.
    • The foundation does not fund planning, needs assessments, or design costs for capital projects.
    • The foundation does not fund staff time for project management.
    • The foundation only supports building renovations for buildings located in San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma, and/or San Mateo counties.
    HOW TO APPLY

    EQUIPMENT & FURNISHINGS

    bothin_grants_funding_equipment
    • The foundation considers funding furniture and program equipment.
    • The foundation occasionally considers medical equipment purchases for small public and county hospitals and community clinics.
    • The foundation prioritizes requests to purchase equipment that will be used by or mostly benefit program participants.
    • The foundation does not fund planning, needs assessments, or design costs for capital projects.
    • The foundation does not fund staff time for project management.

    TECHNOLOGY

    Teen student using tablet computer
    • The foundation considers funding furniture, program equipment, and medical equipment purchases.
    • The foundation prioritizes requests to purchase equipment that will be used by or mostly benefit program participants.
    • The foundation does not fund planning or needs assessments for capital projects.
    • The foundation does not fund software or consultants to build out software projects. This includes online software plans and account memberships.
    • The foundation does not fund staff time for project management.
    HOW TO APPLY

    VEHICLES

    Forklift with palette
    • The foundation prioritizes vehicle purchases that transport participants.
    • Insurance, gas, advertising on van (wrap-around printing), and warranties are not covered by grants.
    • The foundation does not fund staff time for project management.
    HOW TO APPLY

    Grantmaking Guidelines

    Eligibility

    In order to be eligible for a grant from the Bothin Foundation, applicants must meet ALL of the following criteria:

    • Be a public charity operating under an IRS 501(c)(3) status or be fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) organization;
    • Serve significant numbers of the residents of San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma, and/or San Mateo counties;
    • Request durable capital that will be located in San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma, and/or San Mateo counties;
    • Provide direct service to population of at least 50% disadvantaged children and youth, low-income families with children, and/or people with disabilities; and
    • Have not received a grant from the foundation in the last three full years.
    HOW TO APPLY

    Limitations

    • Grants are not made to individuals, religious organizations (except for non-sectarian programs), or K-12 schools that do not exclusively serve children with learning differences and developmental disabilities.
    • The foundation generally does not fund hospitals. Occasionally, it will make exceptions for public and county hospitals and community clinics.
    • The foundation does not fund endowment drives, events, program expenses, general operating expenses, annual appeals, videos, software or consultants to build out software projects, medical research, or scholarships.
    • The foundation does not fund planning, needs assessments, or design costs for capital projects.

    By The Numbers

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    0

    number of grants
    paid in 2022

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    0

    grantee partners
    in 2022

    bothin_grants_history_paid_icon
    $0

    million in grants
    paid in 2022

    Search Our Grants

    YEAR

    PROGRAMS

    AMOUNTS

    bothin_logo_color_180x60
    About
    Our History
    Trustees
    Staff
    grants
    Grants Overview
    Successful Applications
    Funding Priorities
    Grantmaking Guidelines
    By the Numbers
    Search Our Grants
    apply
    How to Apply
    How to Report
    contact
    (415) 561-6540

    Bothin Foundation
    1660 Bush Street
    San Francisco, CA 94109

    © 2023 Bothin Foundation. All Rights Reserved. Managed by Pacific Foundation Services, LLC.

    © 2023 Bothin Foundation. All Rights Reserved. Managed by Pacific Foundation Services, LLC.

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