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.
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
- 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.
- 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 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.
- The foundation prioritizes vehicle purchases that transport participants.
- Insurance, gas, advertising on van (wrap-around printing), and warranties are not covered by grants.
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION
- 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.
EQUIPMENT & FURNISHINGS
- 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
- 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.
VEHICLES
- 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.
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.
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
number of grants
paid in 2022
grantee partners
in 2022
