Funding Opportunities
FUNDING PROCESS & TIMELINE
The Fall 2026 funding cycle opens August 17th.
For the Fall 2026 funding cycle, Letters of Intent (LOIs) will be accepted from August 17 - September 14, 2026. LOIs submitted outside of an open submission period will not be reviewed.
The Foundation reviews LOIs as they are received during the submission period. Organizations selected to advance may receive an invitation to submit a Full Proposal before the close of the review period. All applicants will be notified of their LOI status no later than approximately two weeks following the close of the LOI submission period.
During the review period, the Foundation may reach out with clarifying or follow-up questions to better understand the proposed work and its alignment with the Foundation's funding priorities. Submission of an LOI does not guarantee an invitation to submit a Full Proposal.
Organizations invited to submit a Full Proposal for the Fall 2026 funding cycle must submit their proposal by October 21, 2026, for consideration at the Foundation's November Board meeting.
Full Proposals are reviewed by staff and presented to the Board of Directors ("Board") for funding consideration. Final funding decisions are typically communicated within 1–2 weeks following the Board meeting.
For approved Grants, Grant Agreements are issued with the funding notification. Signed Grant Agreements should be returned within four weeks. Once the executed Grant Agreement is received, payment is processed. Grant funds are generally disbursed within approximately two months following the funding decision.
KEY DATES
Fall 2026 Funding Cycle
August 17 – September 14, 2026
Letter of Intent (LOI) Submission Period
By October 1, 2026
LOI Decisions Communicated
October 21, 2026
Full Proposal Submission Deadline
November 2026
Board Meeting
Early December 2026
Funding Decisions Communicated
Purpose
The Joel I. Ward Charitable Foundation supports nonprofit organizations whose work aligns with the Foundation’s mission and designated focus areas.
The Foundation’s grantmaking seeks to support effective, mission-aligned projects, programs, and initiatives that demonstrate organizational readiness, strong financial stewardship, and the potential to achieve meaningful, measurable, and lasting impact.
The Foundation uses a two-stage application process:
Stage 1
Eligibility Checklist and Letter of Intent (LOI) to assess eligibility, alignment, and readiness
Stage 2
Invited Full Proposal for selected organizations
Submission of an LOI does not guarantee an invitation to submit a Full Proposal. Submission of a Full Proposal does not guarantee funding.
Eligibility Requirements
Organizations must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible for funding consideration:
Be a nonprofit organization legally organized in the United States and recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or be fiscally sponsored by a United States-based organization recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
Have been in continuous operation for at least 12 months
Be able to provide basic financial documentation upon request (e.g., IRS Form 990, audited or unaudited financial statements)
Have the capacity to track and report on the use of Grant funds at a basic level
Organizations that do not meet these requirements will not be able to proceed beyond the eligibility confirmation step.
Activities Not Funded
The Foundation does not fund:
Seed funding for new organizations
Repayments on deficits, debts, or loans
Political campaigns or lobbying activities
Religious activities intended to promote a specific faith
Individuals
Sponsorships of fundraising events, including tickets, tables, advertising, auctions, dinners, or other one-time events
Funding Focus Areas
Applicants must select one primary Foundation focus area when submitting an LOI.
Alignment with a Foundation focus area is required for funding consideration. Final funding decisions are based on the review considerations described in these Funding Guidelines, including mission alignment, organizational capacity, anticipated outcomes and impact, financial stewardship, and the overall merit of the proposed work.
Focus areas include:
Child Development
Civil Rights
Democracy
Developmental Disabilities
Equitable Opportunity
Global Health
Healthy Environment
Indigenous Communities
Types of Requests Considered
The Foundation considers requests for:
New or early-stage projects or programs from established organizations
Existing projects or programs that seek to expand, strengthen, evaluate, replicate, or otherwise meaningfully advance an organization's work
Grant funds may be requested for a range of purposes, including but not limited to:
Personnel*
Project delivery costs
Equipment and supplies
Evaluation, learning, and data collection
*Salaries and benefits for existing or new staff whose time is directly allocated to the proposed Project. Compensation must be reasonable and proportionate to Project responsibilities. Grant funds may not be used for discretionary bonuses, incentive compensation, or salary increases unrelated to the proposed Project.
Grant Size and Project Budget
Applicants should consider the following:
Grant periods typically range from 1–3 years.
Grant amounts vary based on the scope, complexity, and anticipated impact of the proposed work. The Foundation does not prescribe minimum or maximum grant amounts and seeks requests that are reasonable and well justified in relation to the proposed activities.
Grant requests may include a maximum of 10% indirect costs, inclusive of the total amount requested.
Renewal funding may be considered following Board review of a final report.
The Foundation seeks proposals where the requested amount is reasonable in relation to the proposed activities, organizational capacity, and overall budget.
Data Collection, Evaluation, and Human Subjects Research
The Foundation values thoughtful data collection and evaluation as tools for understanding impact and informing continuous learning.
From time to time, the Foundation may support Projects that include the collection of data from individuals. For Projects that meet the definition of human subjects research, Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval is required.
Applicants do not need to have IRB approval at the time that the Full Proposal is submitted. However, if a proposed Project involves human subjects research, IRB approval must be in place prior to the start of the Grant period. The Foundation will release payment once documentation of IRB approval has been submitted.
If required IRB approval is not secured by the proposed start date, the Foundation may delay the start of the Grant or adjust the award accordingly.
Applicants are responsible for:
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Determining whether their proposed activities require IRB review
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Obtaining approval from an appropriate IRB
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Conducting all research activities in accordance with approved protocols and ethical standards
Projects that involve routine program evaluation, internal learning activities, or the use of de-identified or publicly available data may not require IRB approval. Applicants with questions are encouraged to consult their institution or a qualified IRB professional.
Considerations for Funding
During the Full Proposal review, the Foundation assesses:
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Clear connection between the proposed Project and the Foundation’s mission and focus area(s)
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Defined target population(s) and geographic focus
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A clearly articulated challenge or need
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A thoughtful, innovative, and feasible approach to addressing that challenge or need
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Clearly defined goals, measurable outcomes, anticipated impact, and a practical plan for assessing progress
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The potential for the proposed work to produce meaningful and measurable improvements for the populations or communities served
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Evidence that staff, leadership, and/or partnerships are sufficient to carry out the proposed work
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Organizational experience implementing similar work
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Financial stability and transparency
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Clear and appropriate proposed use of Grant funds
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Awareness of other funding sources (secured or pending)
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A realistic timeframe for implementation
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Clearly defined outcomes that are appropriate to the scale and stage of the proposed work
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A thoughtful plan for measuring progress using specific, measurable outcomes and appropriate indicators of success
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The organization's ability to collect, analyze, and report meaningful outcome data
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APPLICATION PROCESS
The Foundation uses a two-stage application process.
Stage 1
Applicants must successfully complete an online eligibility checklist before accessing the Letter of Intent.
The LOI includes:
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Basic organizational information
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A brief description of the proposed Project or Program
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Organizational capacity overview
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Funding request and Project budget
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Proposed timeline, outcomes, and target population
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Description of alignment with the Foundation’s mission and focus area
LOIs are evaluated for eligibility, alignment with the Foundation's mission and funding priorities, and overall competitiveness. Not all applicants will be invited to submit a Full Proposal.
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Stage 2
Selected organizations will receive an invitation to submit a Full Proposal with more detailed programmatic, financial, and organizational information.
Reporting and Accountability
If awarded a Grant, organizations will be expected to:
Use funds as described in the approved proposal
Track expenditures and Project activities at a basic level
Submit annual (for multi-year Grants) and final narrative and financial reports, as outlined in the Grant Agreement
Additional Information
During the review process, the Foundation may:
Request additional information during the review process
Modify funding priorities or timelines
Decline proposals that do not align with its mission or funding strategy
Questions regarding eligibility or the application process may be directed to the Foundation via email: info@joelwardfoundation.org.
