Apply for a Grant

How to Apply

Step 1:

• Begin your Letter of Interest here.  All fields with a red star are required fields.
• In the first field under "Organization Name," enter your Organization Name. Then enter your address information.
• Fill out general contact information about your organization (primary contact).
  Time estimate: 4 minutes

Step 2:

• Share information regarding your organization in the Organization Background section, including the date the organization was established and the mission statement.
• Enter your financial information, including your organization’s operating budget and Employer Identification Number.
• If your organization or project is under fiscal sponsorship, enter the fiscal sponsor’s name, Employer Identification Number, operating budget, address and upload a copy of your fiscal sponsorship agreement.
  Time estimate: 4 minutes

Step 3:

• What do you need? (Enter the requested amount and grant duration.)
• Share a 25-word description of your funding request in the Brief Summary of Request box.
  Time estimate: 15 minutes

Step 4:

• Choose which portfolio best fits your funding request: Community Well-being, Equity in Access, Economic Security and Dignity, or Leading for Power and Change.
• Select the goal under the portfolio that best aligns with your request, then answer the questions related to how your request aligns with that goal.  You may still continue to submit a letter of interest if your request does not align well, although your request is less likely to be competitive.
• Select whether the grant request is for core operating support or project support.
• Select the geographic focus of your grant.
  Time estimate: 10 minutes

Step 5:

• Upload your Request Narrative. (A two-page document that shares what issues your project addresses. You may use a narrative you developed for another funder if it answers the questions below.) The Request Narrative should describe the following:
  1. The issue(s) the organization or project will address.
  2. What geographic area(s) and population(s) will be served or targeted and why.
  3. How Cal Wellness funds will be utilized to address the identified issue(s) listed (please
  include specific strategies, approaches and activities).
  4. How the proposed work aligns with our grantmaking program, Advancing Wellness.
  5. Two key accomplishments of the organization.
  Time estimate: 6 minutes, not including drafting time of Request Narrative.

Step 6:

Enter your demographic information. We collect demographic information to better understand who is leading the organizations Cal Wellness funds.

Since our inception, we have been committed to funding organizations that strive to improve the health and wellness of traditionally underserved communities. Diversity, equity and inclusion is a core foundation value and an important component of our efforts to advance health equity. We believe that when organizations have leaders in decision-making roles who mirror the identities, values and interests of the communities they serve, there is greater likelihood of the organization more effectively contributing to improved health outcomes.

We collect and report demographic data on Cal Wellness board and staff via GuideStar as part of our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and transparency. (If your organization or project is part of an umbrella organization, then give information for your organization/project’s advisory board or equivalent.)

• Please enter race and ethnicity information for your nonprofit’s board, or equivalent. (If you do not collect this or the below information, select “don’t collect.”)
• Select the gender expression and gender identity demographics for your nonprofit’s board or equivalent.
• Provide board demographics around disability.
• Enter sexual orientation demographics for your board.
  Time estimate: 10 minutes

Step 7:

• Please enter demographics for executive staff (defined as CEO/Executive Director AND other leadership staff). As with the step above, this step also includes demographics regarding race/ethnicity, gender expression/identity, disability and sexual orientation. (If you do not collect this or the below information, select “don’t collect.”)
• Answer the question regarding your organization’s work around addressing diversity, equity and inclusion in leadership at both board and staff levels.
• If your organization is not currently addressing diversity, equity and inclusion at the board and staff levels, please explain the barriers, such as knowledge, financial investment, capacity, etc., that are preventing you from doing so.
  Time estimate: 15 minutes

Step 8:

• Please enter your feedback for suggestions to improve the Letter of Interest application.
  Time estimate: 5 minutes

Please make sure to carefully review your application before applying.

Please note that you won’t be able to edit or change your application once you submit. You will receive a copy of your completed request via email to the address you provided.

Seriously, review One. Last. Time.

  Press "Submit"—you did it!