Deadline: 1-Jul-21
The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation is seeking applications for its Grant Program to improve the quality of life for all Washington, DC metropolitan area residents.
The Foundation responds to community needs and opportunities in the areas of Arts and Humanities, Community Services, Education, the Environment and Health.
As the largest private, independent foundation focused exclusively on the DC region, the Foundation is proud to have supported hundreds of organizations since its founding in 1948.
Funding Priorities
The Foundation works to improve the lives of DC-area residents, with an emphasis on creating a more equitable region. Grants are made in five program areas:
- Arts and Humanities: The Foundation recognizes the intrinsic value of the Arts and Humanities, as well as their power to innovate and create social change. The funds distributed support an array of artistic disciplines, as well as organizations that promote the humanities.
- Community Services: The Community Services portfolio includes, but is not limited to:
- Children, Youth and Families: Grants in this area help young people improve their academic performance, gain employment, develop relationships with trusted adults and make connections to the larger community. The Foundation prioritizes programs that promote youth voice, empowering young people to advocate for change within their schools and communities.
- Community Development: The Foundation seeks to ensure access to safe housing and economic development across the region. These awards support affordable housing production and preservation, services for people experiencing homelessness or housing instability, programs to address wealth disparities, as well as civic engagement and volunteerism.
- Justice: The Foundation seeks to ensure access to justice for all individuals in order to create a more equitable region. These grants support civil legal aid, services to survivors of violence, efforts to help people stay out of the criminal justice system and advocacy for system reform.
- Workforce Development: The Foundation supports organizations that focus on specific fields and career pathways as well as those that concentrate on broader job- and career-readiness.
- Capacity Building: The Foundation supports capacity building organizations that improve the sustainability, quality and impact of nonprofits in the region.
- Education: The Foundation recognizes that a high-quality and equitable education system can reduce barriers to opportunity and transform lives. These grants aim to ensure that from the first day children enter an early childhood setting, to the day they receive a technical certificate or a degree, they are receiving an education that is founded in strong relationships, responds to their unique needs, and equips them with the skills they need to thrive and succeed in life.
- Environment: The Foundation strives to restore and protect their region’s natural resources so that all individuals can have equal access to a clean water, air and land. These grants focus on the restoration and protection of local parks, the Anacostia and Potomac rivers, and the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
- Health and Wellness: The Foundation takes a holistic view of health and wellness to ensure that across the region people of all ages can live healthier lives, regardless of income or zip code. These grants include healthcare provision and supportive services, food and nutrition, as well as coalition building and advocacy.
Eligibility Criteria
- The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation supports IRS-registered, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organizations with a public charity status of 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2) only. These organizations must serve residents in the District of Columbia, Prince George’s or Montgomery Counties in Maryland, Arlington or Fairfax Counties, or the cities of Alexandria or Falls Church in Virginia.
- Please also note, the Foundation does not fund:
- Organizations that do not have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status with the IRS
- Private Foundations
- Public charities with a non-private foundation status of 509(a)(3)
- Individuals
- Organizations that have missions outside their Funding Priorities
- Organizations that do not serve residents of their geographic area which includes the District of Columbia, Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties in Maryland, Arlington or Fairfax Counties, or the cities of Alexandria and Falls Church in Virginia.
For more information, visit https://www.cafritzfoundation.org/apply/application-process/