$100,000 Impact Grant Eligibility Criteria
Applicants for the $100,000 Impact Grant must meet the following eligibility criteria
- Legally operate as one of the following
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- Tax-exempt under IRS section 501(c)(3) and registered with the Registry of Charitable Trusts, State of California Department of Justice
- Under the formal fiscal sponsorship of another organization’s 501(c)(3) status
- A program of a local government entity or an unendowed foundation that was developed to support a public entity. (For example, a public school foundation)
- In operation for at least 36 months before applying for the Impact Grant and be in sound financial condition
- Non-discriminatory based on race, gender, sexual identification or orientation, spiritual beliefs, national origin, or immigration status
- Operate within the geographical area of Sonoma County
- Operate projects that fall within one of Impact 100 Redwood Circle’s four Focus Areas:
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- Arts & Culture
- Environment/Parks/Sustainability/Recreation
- Education
- Health/Community Betterment
The following organizations are ineligible for the Impact Grant
- Organizations operating exclusively in Sonoma Valley and serving Sonoma Valley residents.
- Organizations whose proposed project exclusively serves religious purposes and requires religious adherence or activity as a condition of receiving services.
- Private foundations or endowments
- Politically partisan organizations
Impact Grant funds may be used for
- Continuing or expanding an existing project
- Launching a new project
- Acquisition of technology, both software, and hardware, that is integral to the proposed project
- Capital expenditures* that are specific to the proposed project
- General operating expenses and overhead costs that are specific to the proposed project
*A capital expenditure is for an asset that the organization intends to hold and derive benefit from for a period of one year or more and is depreciated or amortized over the asset’s expected life.
Impact Grant funds may not be used for
- Projects that serve and benefit the residents of Sonoma Valley (an area served by Impact 100 Sonoma Valley)
- Projects that require religious activity or adherence
- General operating expenses not directly tied to the proposed project.
- Debt reduction or operational deficits
- Grants or scholarships to individuals
- Endowment funding
- International projects
- Interim or bridge funding
- Partisan, legislative, or political activity
- Fees paid to a grant writer or for fundraising activities
- Annual appeals or fundraising drives, activities, or events
- General capital campaigns unrelated to the proposed project
Impact Grant Guidelines
- The final proposal must include a time-bound budget with measurable goals and expected outcomes, as described in the application.
- Impact Grant funds must be used within a 24-month period. The organization has up to three years to demonstrate the impact of the grant. The monies will be distributed based on the project’s needs, with the organization determining the appropriate disbursal intervals.
- Grant recipients must submit periodic progress reports and work with the Liaison Committee for the grant period’s duration.
- Awardees of an Impact Grant may not apply for another Impact Grant for three years but may apply thereafter. Awardees can apply for a Community Grant at any time.
- An organization may submit only one application each year.
- Incomplete applications or missed deadlines will disqualify the application.
- Impact 100 Redwood Circle reserves the right to change eligibility criteria at any time without prior notice.
