scope & type of grants

Areas of Focus

The Foundation’s focus areas are: Arts & Culture, Community & Environment, Education, Health & Human Services, and Youth. The Foundation’s Youth Fund is a separate grant fund that distributes funds to selected youth-oriented organizations primarily in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties in Central California. Nonprofit organizations can submit one grant application per twelve-month period to either the Monterey Peninsula Foundation or the Youth Fund. The exception if for colleges and universities in the Foundation’s geographic funding areas, which may apply both to the Monterey Peninsula Foundation and the Youth Fund. Separate Grant Guidelines for the Youth Fund are available.

Types of Grants

The Foundation will consider grant applications for capital projects, programs, and operating support. Grants range from $10,000 – $100,000, and higher for major or capital projects. The Foundation occasionally makes multi-year grants. Grant applications should show strong and realistic financial planning. The Foundation may make matching or challenge grants to help organizations attract wider support.

The Foundation does not fund:

• Organizations without 501(c)(3) status, except schools or public agencies
• Organizations classified as private foundations
• Organizations that have been in operation less than 3 years
• Organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, culture, gender, sexual orientation, religion or age
• Individuals
• Political parties, candidates, or partisan political organizations or activities
• Organizations whose activities are located outside of the United States
• Emergency operating funds or requests to reduce debt or past operating deficits
• Annual meetings, annual fund appeals, advertising, contests, fundraising events, ceremonies, conferences, travel, memorials or testimonials
• Endowments, academic or science research
• Development or production of books, films or video projects
• Organizations with a limited constituency, such as labor organizations, fraternal organizations
• Nonprofit organizations that spend more than 25% of their revenue on management overhead and fundraising costs

Geographical Considerations
Priority is given to organizations located in Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties in Central California, with limited grants to organizations in Northern California.

Timing

The Foundation will consider one grant application per organization, in a twelve-month period to either the Foundation or Youth Fund. The exception if for colleges and universities in the Foundation’s geographic funding areas, which may apply both to the Monterey Peninsula Foundation and the Youth Fund. There are currently no deadlines; the Foundation accepts grant applications throughout the year. We review grant applications on an ongoing schedule as the Foundation’s Grant Committee meets four-five times/year from April – December, so you may submit your application whenever it is ready. Please note that grant funding decisions are not made from January – March due to coordination of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am golf tournament. Applicants may submit an application during that time period and it may be reviewed for completeness and eligibility, but determination of any funding will be deferred until after the tournament.