The Foundation wishes to support programs that are in alignment with their core values. Areas include:

• Community outreach to improving the quality of life by helping organizations that aid the poor and disadvantaged;
• Education, with a particular emphasis on equal access, literacy, science, math, and technology;
• Environmental programs that seek to improve long-term quality of life and a healthy ecosystem through such activities as education and conservation;
• The Arts, as a way of preserving culture, intellectual stimulation, and improving the quality/enjoyment of life;

We make grant in California (Bay Area) and Oregon (Greater Portland area). We do not make grants to religiously affiliated organizations nor to organizations that have a religious curriculum.

Letters of Inquiry (LOI) Deadlines

• Spring grant cycle 2010 (grants made in May/June timeframe) - LOI must be received by January 15, 2010:

  Accepting LOIs from nonprofit's whose major field area is:

  • Arts & Culture: Programs that utilize technology, such as computers and software algorithms, to create a new generation of art forms. The program should emphasize math and science as a foundation for the art form. Examples: video art, electronic photographic art, digital printmaking, and interactive pieces. The foundation will consider program specific or general operating support grants that meet the above criteria.
or
• Education: Specific programs or general operating support grants for organizations focused on improving literacy in our communities. Examples: local reading programs for all age groups, lectures by prominent book authors, and library programs.

• Fall grant cycle 2010 (grants made in October/November timeframe) - LOI must be received by June 1st, 2010:

  Accepting LOIs from nonprofit's whose major field area is:

  • Environment: Grant applications only in the areas of "Stewardship focused on rivers & forests" and "Reducing toxins in the environment" will be considered.
  or
  • Health & Human Services: Grant applications only in the area of "Aging in place" will be considered.

Have questions about which grant cycle to apply for? Our foundation supports four areas of interest: Arts & Culture, Education, Environment, and Health & Human Services.

Each grant request is placed into two categories:

Category 1:	The nonprofit organization's major field area;
Category 2:	The area specific to your grant request;

Example: A social services agency requests a grant to support skill training for it's clients.

Category 1:	Health & Human Services;
Category 2:	Education;

Category 1 (Nonprofit's major field area) is used to determine which grant cycle an organization should apply for.

Still have questions? Email Michele.

LOIs should be mailed to the following address (hand deliveries not accepted at this location):

Michele Goodman
J.W. & H.M. Goodman Family Charitable Foundation
PO Box 5756
Portland, OR 97228-5756

Approximately one month following the LOI deadline, the Foundation will invite a select number of organizations to submit grant proposals. Invited organizations will have approximately 4-6 weeks to submit a grant proposal for review at the next board meeting.

Letter of Inquiry (LOI) Guidelines

1. A brief background on your organization, including an abbreviated mission statement, a history of its existence, the size of staff and board, the constituency and geographic region served, the type of service provided, and any religious affiliations.
2. A description of the project for which support is being requested. Include a discussion of the factors that contribute to the need or opportunity for the project, the importance of the project for your organization and your constituency, and the level and nature of commitment of staff and board to the project.
3. A proposed budget for the total cost of the project and for the amount you intend to request from the Foundation. If possible, identify the budget items for which you would be requesting Foundation support. Indicate potential or real sources of support for the project in addition to the Foundation.
4. A discussion as to why you are approaching the Foundation for the project. Indicate any past history with the Foundation. Add anything else you believe would help the Foundation understand your situation and request.
5. Help us categorize your grant request:

   Your nonprofit organization's major field area - Category 1 (Pick One):	Arts & Culture, Education, Environment, or Health & Human Services.
   The specific area of your grant request - Category 2 (Pick One):	Arts & Culture, Education, Environment, or Health & Human Services;

6. Your email address where we can send you notification that we received your LOI.

Grant Proposal Format Guidelines

1. Your grant categories:

   Your nonprofit organization's major field area - Category 1 (Pick One):	Arts & Culture, Education, Environment, or Health & Human Services.
   The specific area of your grant request - Category 2 (Pick One):	Arts & Culture, Education, Environment, or Health & Human Services;

2. Your email address where we can send you notification that we received your grant proposal;
3. Organizational background;
4. Description of project and funds requested;
5. Community impact and plans for evaluation at project completion;
6. List other organizations doing similar work in your area and describe how you partner or differentiate from them;
7. In response to the economic downturn, how is your organization prepared to complete this project if full funding isn't received. And what measures have been put in place to ensure the financial stability of your organization.
8. Please tell us if your organization has any religious affiliation or any required religious curriculum;
9. Attachment: List other foundations, corporations, or individuals supporting the project/program;
10. Attachment: Budget for project;
11. Attachment: Last year's audited financial statements (Statement of Activities, Statement of Cash Flow);
12. Attachment: Copy of IRS Determination Letter with EIN number;

The Foundation requests that the organization sends three copies of the Grant Proposal and any additional supporting materials (i.e. brochures, etc.). These copies will be distributed to our board members for their review.

Grant proposals should be mailed to the following address (hand deliveries not accepted at this location):

Michele Goodman
J.W. & H.M. Goodman Family Charitable Foundation
PO Box 5756
Portland, OR 97228-5756

Funding Schedule and Grantee Notification

The Board of Directors meets twice per year to consider grant proposals and to conduct other business. Typical times for such meetings fall in May and October. Grant proposals should be in the hands of the Executive Director at least one month before the Board meeting. Our grant process is starting to go electronic so it is important that you provide us with a valid email address for communication purposes. Applicants will be notified by email when a grant is accepted or declined. Grant agreements and any other documents will be sent to the email address that you provided in your Letter of Inquiry and/or Grant Proposal.

Evaluation and Status Report Form

The Foundation requires grantees to submit a grant progress report nine months after receiving the grant award. The Foundation will not make future grants to an organization unless grant evaluation forms have been received. Grantees may download a copy of the evaluation/progress report form here: Download Evaluation and Status Report Form