Due to the unprecedented financial crisis affecting world economies and the resulting decline in investment values, the Foundation’s investment portfolio has also declined significantly. The Foundation is suspending the awarding of capital grants, except in very rare circumstances, until our portfolio has regained its value. Our emphasis will instead be on program operations grants in light of expected funding shortfalls that will affect many of our regularly funded grantees. Based on the current outlook, we expect this policy to be in effect for all of 2010 and perhaps beyond.Change in Policy Relating to Letters of Inquiry. Letters of Inquiry will only be accepted from 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that have become GuideStar Exchange Program Members, a free service of GuideStar www.guidestar.org . Additional information on this new requirement may be obtained from the Foundation’s office by calling 210-475-9000.
On July 20, 2010 the Foundation’s Distribution Committee approved $1,355,918 of grants to 18 organizations. These grants included $419,918 related to prevention of child abuse; $300,000 for programs serving the elderly; $241,000 related to illnesses; $125,000 related to disabilities; $110,000 related to arts activities; $60,000 for character development of youth; $50,000 for the Zoo and $50,000 for museums. The details on these and other grants by the Foundation may be found in the Awarded Grants section of this Website.
The Foundation's next Distribution Committee meeting is scheduled for September 21, 2010. All of the proposals have been requested for consideration at this meeting. Letters of Inquiry received on or before September 17, 2010 and accepted for submission of a full proposal will be considered at the November 2010 meeting of the Distribution Committee. Agencies submitting Letters of Inquiry for the November 2010 meeting and received in the two weeks prior to the deadline date may have less time to complete a proposal if a proposal is requested by the Foundation.
The Foundation publishes an Evaluation Summary prepared by Foundation staff based on evaluation reports and data submitted to the Foundation by Grantees. Each summary is prepared after all of the required evaluation reports are received in connection with each grant. The summaries, which are prepared for our Distribution Committee, are circulated to our grantees for comment before being published on this Website in the Evaluation section.
For many years, the Foundation has prepared Research briefs designed to provide background data and information in areas funded by the Foundation. The Research Briefs are published on this Website in the Research section. As new grant proposals are received in the areas covered by the Research Briefs, the Briefs are updated for use by our staff and Distribution Committee. We welcome comments and suggestions on the contents of the Research Briefs.