How We Give

The Small Grants Program (SGP)

Through the Small Grants Program (SGP), the Foundation supports nonprofits with a streamlined grant application and review process. Grants awarded under the SGP—operating, program, or capital—must still align with the Foundation’s strategic priorities in the areas of Housing, Health, Jobs, and Education. The maximum Small Grant amount is $50,000 over two years. Organizations are eligible to apply if they meet the Foundation’s eligibility criteria

Geographic Focus Areas

This program is available to organizations operating in Baltimore, Hawaiʻi, New York City, Northeastern Pennsylvania, and San Francisco, as well as rural areas near these priority communities.

Eligibility

To be considered for funding, an organization must meet several prerequisite requirements:

• Be a nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3), tax-exempt status.
• Provide direct services to low-income and vulnerable populations.
• Have two years of 990s.
• Have two years of audited financial statements or external financial reviews.
• Have at least one year of program outcomes.

The Foundation has an online application process for all capital, program, and operating grant requests, including Small Grants. To find out if you are eligible to apply, click here, and follow the instructions provided. You can save and return to your application at any time using the link that will be emailed to you upon accessing the application portal. This specific link will direct you to your account and saved application. If the Foundation determines that your organization is eligible for funding, you will be directed to submit a brief application. You may also be asked to submit additional materials to support your application.

Baltimore City Community Grants Program

This program was created to provide support to small nonprofits (with an annual operating budget of $500,000 or less) that serve low-income individuals and families in Baltimore City through direct services. Eligible organizations may apply for up to $20,000 to assist with general operating expenses, program, or capital costs, including equipment purchases, capacity building (e.g., evaluation and audit costs), and other eligible expenses. Nonprofits that receive a grant under this program may reapply each year, provided all eligibility and reporting requirements are met.

Geographic Focus Areas

The Baltimore City Community Grants program is only available to organizations in Baltimore City.

Eligibility

To be considered for funding, an organization must meet several prerequisite requirements:

1. An organization seeking funding may be engaged in advocacy but primarily must provide direct services. The Foundation’s charter prohibits funding advocacy work. (Please note that additional restrictions for Weinberg Foundation funding are listed here and should be reviewed. For example, the Foundation may not award grants to colleges or universities.)
2. An organization seeking funding may not be a current Foundation grantee through either the Small Grants program or the regular grants process. However, nonprofits funded through the Summer Funding Collaborative may be considered under the Community Grants program.
3. Organizations must also submit the following documents:
   • A letter from the organization’s professional leader on the organization’s letterhead outlining the specific request for funding along with a summary of the organization (not to exceed two pages). The letter should include the following specific information:
     • A copy of the organization’s mission statement demonstrating a commitment to providing direct services to low-income and vulnerable populations of Baltimore City.
     • Population served (and total estimated number of unique individuals served annually).
     • Specific purpose of grant request–how the grant funds will be used, including area of funding–Housing, Health, Jobs, Education, Community Services, or other (if other, please describe).
     • Any previous contact with the Weinberg Foundation.
     • Specific dollar amount requested (up to $20,000).
     • Total organizational budget (not including any in-kind funds).
     • Specific contact information for one person from the organization–name, title, phone, address, and email address.
   • Proof of 501(c)(3) status or a fiscal sponsor.
   • A copy of the organization’s most recent 990 filing. If the organization is only required to file a 990-N with the Internal Revenue Service, please submit the 990-N along with a completed and signed 990-EZ or 990. The Foundation will not accept a 990-N alone.
   • A copy of the organization’s current and previous year’s budgets, including confirmation that the annual operating budget is less than $500,000.
   • A list of the Board of Directors and organization’s staff.

The Baltimore City Community Grants Program does not have an online application. Instead, all grant applications for this program should be submitted by email, with pdf attachments (not word or other formats), to BaltimoreCityGrants@hjweinberg.org.

Leadership Grants Program

The Foundation is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion. Many studies highlight the persistent lack of racial diversity in leadership in the nonprofit sector and the more limited financial support for organizations led by people of color relative to their peers. To deliver effective programs and services, leadership in the nonprofit sector must reflect the diversity and experiences of the individuals it serves.

The Leadership Grants program supports the development of leaders of color at grantee organizations. With grants of up to $20,000, the Foundation aims to honor and invest in these individuals while also expanding the pipeline of candidates for nonprofit executive leadership opportunities.

Eligibility

For Participants

• Participants must self-identify as a person of color and be a full-time staff member at the grantee organization.
• Recognizing that leadership takes many forms, participants are not required to have any specific title or role. If they are not currently a member of the organization’s senior leadership team, they should possess the interest and potential to take on increasing levels of responsibility and leadership. While no minimum years of career experience are required for this grant, it is generally not intended for very junior professionals with fewer than two years of experience.
• While no minimum length of service at the grantee organization is required before or after receiving a grant, participants should not have a planned or tentative departure date from the organization (except in the case of grant-funded positions or time-limited fellowships).
• If the professional development opportunity a participant wishes to pursue involves a competitive selection process, the individual must be accepted prior to requesting a leadership grant.

For Their Organization

• The organization for which a participant works must have an active grant with the Weinberg Foundation or a grant that closed no more than one year ago.
• Organizations must be based and operating in the United States.
• Organizations may only have two active Leadership Grants at a time.

Use of the Grant Funding

Participants may use their grant for any leadership development opportunity such as training or certificate programs, executive coaching, fellowships, conferences, or retreats. The opportunity must meet these guidelines:

• Offered by an established third party with a history of providing such services (self-directed retreats or sabbaticals are not eligible).
• Time-limited with a specific start and end.
• Related to nonprofit management, social sector leadership, the specific issue area the grantee serves, or a related topic.
• Currently underway or expected to start no later than one year after receiving a grant.

If the Foundation approves a Leadership Grant request, it will make payment to the grantee organization, not the individual or the entity providing the professional development opportunity.

How to Apply

Grantee organizations should contact a member of the Foundation’s Program team or grantsintake@hjweinberg.org and provide the following information via email:

• Name and role of the individual who will participate in the professional development opportunity.
• Provider of the opportunity (name of the entity and relevant point of contact).
• Description of the opportunity and how it will help the individual develop as a leader.
• Anticipated dates of participation.
• Cost and amount of request.
• Approval of the organization’s executive director or chief executive officer (if the individual benefiting from the grant is not in that role).

The Foundation will give grants on a case-by-case basis. Applying for or receiving a Leadership Grant will not affect an organization’s current, pending, or future grants.