Grantee Eligibility
When preparing a proposal for funding from the Brainerd Foundation, we urge applicants to consider the following eligibility criteria.
Current Strategic Focus
Does it fit within the focus established in our new strategic plan?
Criteria for Funding
Please consider the following questions to determine whether your program is a good fit for the Brainerd Foundation. (Programs do not need to meet all of these criteria to receive funding, but a strong proposal will address many of them.)
- Would our resources, coupled with existing or pending support, be enough to meet the goals of the project? Why is our funding critical?
- What will we learn from this investment? How might we share what we learn?
- Will success build increased public support for the organization or for conservation more broadly?
- Do the issues addressed link to community-held values?
- Who are allies on this issue? How does your organization plan to engage them?
- Is there a communications/media plan associated with this issue or your organization?
- Is there sufficient grassroots capacity where it is needed on this issue?
- Why is your organization best suited to do this work?
- Is the strategy to win well-defined? Is there a strategic campaign plan associated with the issue?
- What is the urgency? What are the implications of inaction now?
- Does success on this issue help to build on or amplify existing momentum on this or other similar issues? What future victories could be built from the foundation of a victory on this issue?
Funding Region
To be considered for a Brainerd Foundation grant, applicants must be involved in programs that augment regional conservation efforts within the following geographic funding region:
- Washington
- Oregon
- Idaho
- Montana
- Alaska
- British Columbia
- Yukon Territory
Funding Areas
Brainerd Foundation grants are awarded from our six funding areas. When you know which area is a good fit for your program, then read about how to apply.
Grantmaking Limitations
Our grantmaking does have specific restrictions beyond our geographic and programmatic scope:
- The foundation makes grants to nonprofit organizations classified as 501(c)(3) public charities by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or to Canadian organizations deemed equivalent by the foundation. We do not make grants to individuals or for-profit organizations.
- The foundation cannot earmark any portion of its grants for use in influencing legislation (lobbying). The foundation's general support grants to Section 501(c)(3) public charities may, however, be used to support a grantee's overall operations, even if the grantee engages in lobbying as part of its programs. The foundation may consider funding projects that include both lobbying and nonlobbying activities if the applicant provides a detailed budget that identifies separately both lobbying and nonlobbying expenses, so long as the amount of a project grant requested does not exceed the nonlobbying expenses. Foundation funds may never be used to support or oppose candidates for political office. (Please see Restrictions on Lobbying Activities* for more information).
We do not fund projects related to:
- school education programs
- direct land purchases or easements
- structures, capital improvements or campaigns
- endowments or debt reduction
- basic research or fellowships
- books, videos, and television or film projects that are not components of a broader strategy.
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