Grant Application Process

Step 1: Determine your eligibility

We support organizations whose work qualifies as charitable, according to the IRS definition. This includes organizations with a 501(c)3 status, public agencies and projects sponsored by public charities. We do not make grants to individuals or contribute to capital campaigns.

Step 2: Determine your project’s fit with our goals

Review our strategy, key elements, and list of previous grants to determine whether your efforts advance one or more of the Foundation’s goals and objectives. If you determine that your project/program aligns well with our strategy, please proceed to Step 3.

Step 3: Submit a Letter of Inquiry

A Letter of Inquiry (LOI) provides our staff more detailed information about your organization, program, and overall alignment with the Stuart Foundation. You can submit your LOI electronically by downloading the forms and emailing them to us. Please review the LOI instructions carefully to ensure that your submittal includes all of the required information. There are no deadlines for LOIs; the Foundation accepts them on a rolling basis.  The Foundation responds to all LOIs within 60 days.

Download LOI Application Packet WORD
Download LOI Budget Form EXCEL

Step 4: Submit a Proposal (by invitation only)

Following review of your LOI, program staff will contact you if you have been selected to submit a proposal. At this point, staff will share specific proposal guidelines, provide a list of required documents, and assign a due date for submittal.

Please note that it can take an additional 5 to 10 months for Program staff to conduct the necessary due diligence (which may include but is not limited to a site visit, follow-up meetings, reference checks and program and financial assessment) to bring funding recommendations to our Board of Directors. During the review process, staff will be in touch to keep you informed of the status of your submittal.

Step 5: Proposal review and funding determination

Program staff will notify you if your proposal will be presented to the Board of Directors and when to expect a decision. The Board meets three times each year to make final funding decisions.