GRANT GUIDELINES
What to know before you apply
The Gray Family Foundation supports programs and initiatives that strengthen connections to Oregon's natural and built environments.
Funding to achieve their missions
$1 million+
Grants awarded annually
$14,000
Average grant award
$5K - $50K
Grant award range
Who can apply for grants?
Eligibility Criteria
We seek to partner with entities that share our vision of an Oregon where, from childhood, everyone has the opportunity to experience the wonders of the natural world and learn to care for their place and community over a lifetime.
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be schools, school districts, colleges, government or recognized tribal agencies, 501(c)3 non-profit organizations, or non-501(c)3 groups with a designated 501(c)3 fiscal sponsor.
- Serve and/or benefit Oregon communities.
- Ensure any fiscally sponsored programs align with the applying organization’s mission and have written support from the fiscal sponsor.
- Agree to the Foundation’s reporting requirements and anti-discrimination policy described in the Award Terms.
Preference will be given to applicants that:
- Are community-led and directly accountable to the communities they serve.
- Align with Gray Family Foundation’s statement on justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
- Engage and benefit rural and frontier communities across Oregon.
- Are led by, informed by, and directly benefit Black, Indigenous, Latine, and other racial and ethnic communities facing disparities.
- Demonstrate expertise or lived experiences in content areas specific to the proposed project.
- Dedicate staff time toward the proposed project/program.
- Provide financial support to listed partners, especially when partners are essential to reaching youth or ensuring programming reflects the community.
- Secure additional contributed or earned support for the program or have a plan for identifying and securing additional funding.
Funding Areas
The Four Ways We Give Our funding opportunities are divided into four categories. Details for individual opportunities can be found in the Requests for Proposals (RFPs) on each program page.
Geography Education
Fostering a sense of place in local and global communities
Environmental Education
Experiential, outdoor learning opportunities
Camp Maintenance
Improvements to outdoor residential camps
Youth Leadership
Empowering our next environmental leaders
What don’t we fund?
To ensure the funds we have available can do the most good for the most people, we are unable to fund requests such as:
- Activities outside our priorities
- Capital campaigns
- Site improvements
- Land acquisitions
- Purchases prior to grant decision
- Deficit funding
- Elimination of operating deficits
- Annual fund appeals
- Endowment funds
- Religious activities
- Grants or loans to individuals
What to expect
Review process
While each of our funding opportunities will abide by the schedule outlined in the request for proposal (RFP) or invitation to apply, all follow the same 5-step process. Timing from opening to award is typically 4-6 months.
- RFP opens or invitation to apply is sent
Grant opportunities are shared via our newsletter and social media, and our staff is available throughout the submission process for support. For most of our grant programs we strongly encourage applicants to connect with a staff person before preparing an application. - Proposals due
Proposals are submitted through the OCF portal or submitted via email, depending on the Grant Program. Applicants may be contacted if additional information is needed. - Proposals reviewed
Each proposal is scored based on criteria outlined in the Request for Proposal or Invitation and shared with our Community Based Grant Review Committees for recommendations. - Board decision
Staff presents the committee’s recommendations to the Board of Directors for final approval. - Grants awarded
The selected grantees are contacted by email, and the celebrating begins! Applicants who are not awarded grants are encouraged to connect with a staff person for information on how to strengthen future proposals.
GRANT COMMITTEES
Who reviews the proposals?
All proposals for competitive grants are reviewed by community-based review committees. In alignment with our overall mission and statement on justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, these committees typically include a combination of the following:
- Direct practitioners in the field
- Non-profit leadership and staff
- Gray Family Foundation Board Members
- Oregon Community Foundation staff and donors
- Community thought leaders
Interested in participating as a grant reviewer or on an advisory committee?