Application Guidelines

We fund nonprofit organizations working on projects that are well informed, have clearly defined objectives, demonstrate strong community ties, and promote values such as compassion, inclusiveness, patience, and positive development both in the program and in its implementation.

Our emphasis is on grassroots organizations that have the ability to engage local groups, positively impact their communities, and focus most of their resources on useful and positive actions.

We focus on organizations whose missions support:

• Environmental restoration and conservation
• Sustainable food and agriculture
• People's health
• Youth 

Restrictions

We do not fund:

• Deficit financing
• Loans or grants to individuals
• Capital construction
• Research projects, conferences, seminars, media events or workshops, unless they are an integral part of a broader program
• State agencies
• Religious groups
• Individual Sponsorships
• We fund programs not fundraising events for your organization such as fun runs, bike rides, etc.
• If you are a local/regional branch of a national organization we will not fund grants to local chapters if we fund the national organization.  We only take into consideration local offices in Northern California.
• We do not accept applications that require funding in less then 12 weeks.