Our 2021 grant process is now open and accepting LOIs through April 15th. As always, our mission-oriented funding supports innovative interventions that remove or address the root causes of systemic barriers to health, safety, shelter and opportunity in the communities where we work and live. We envision a world in which all individuals, regardless of means or identity, are treated equitably and provided opportunities to thrive.
In practice, this means we fund across issue areas; the common thread in our grantmaking relates to systems change. We fund:
Work that improves or restructures systems of poverty by changing policies, practices, and/or beliefs that hold people in cycles of poverty.
Direct service work only when that direct service work informs and/or complements work to improve or restructure systems.
We are particularly seeking organizations whose work:
Demonstrates a spirit of collaboration, partnership, and alliance building. We believe that no work happens in a vacuum, and relationships are crucial to effecting change.
Engages community and constituents in its decision making. Those closest to the problems are also those closest to the solutions.
Embodies principles of equity and inclusion in both work and governance. Equity is not a one-and-done program, but an ongoing commitment to examination, learning, unlearning, and willingness to change. We are especially seeking organizations led and/or founded by BIPOC individuals (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), and with diverse boards.
As a small funder, The Helen J. Serini Foundation aims to increase its impact beyond check-writing by serving as a convener and connecter of nonprofit partners; investing in capacity building, including leadership development; influencing systems change through public policy & advocacy work; and utilizing our resources beyond grantmaking to effect greater change.
As we look ahead into 2021, we want to acknowledge that the majority of our grantmaking budget for the year has already been committed in the form of multi-year grant awards from years past. While we remain committed to an open call for proposals each year as part of our commitment to equity and learning, we anticipate only inviting 2-5 proposals for new grants in 2021 out of the LOIs submitted in this grant cycle.
The Major Grants program is open to all grantseekers seeking funding in amounts of $5,000-$20,000 per year. Returning grant partners requesting a renewal may request multi-year funding; new grant partners will only be considered for one-year funding for a first commitment, but are eligible to submit a (shortened!) application in 2022 for renewed funding for the same purpose.
Priority will be given to organizations seeking general operating funds because the overarching mission and work of the organization is aligned with the foundation’s stated mission and funding priorities. In practice, this means that general operating funds for organizations with only one or two programs that align are unlikely to be funded.
Reporting will be adjusted to keep the paperwork burden on applicants to a minimum while allowing staff (and board members, where interested) to remain connected to the work.