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Grant types

Here is an overview of our most-common grant types. Specific initiatives or collaboratives may limit the types of support that they fund, so if you have questions, please connect with our program staff before applying. 

 

Operating Support

Operating support can be defined as investing in an organization's mission and organizational impact; that is, providing funding to support an organization's overall strategic goals.

What We Look For in Operating Support Proposals

  • The organization’s mission and programs have strong alignment with its selected funding priority's goals.
  • The organization demonstrates a strong commitment to equity through its statements, goals, actions and progress.
  • The organization plays a unique and important role in its ecosystem and has wider impact for the sector.
  • The organization is in reasonable financial condition.
  • The organization’s board and staff are engaged in fundraising, have a clear commitment to mission and demonstrate the capacity to carry out the work.
  • The work is guided by a strategic plan, and the organization’s programs align with its mission.

 

Capacity Building Grants

Designed to strengthen organizational ability and infrastructure, capacity building grants may fund such things as enhancing fundraising capabilities, increasing administrative staffing, improving technology, providing board development and training, or launching earned-income ventures.

What We Look For in Capacity Building Proposals

  • The organization identifies the importance and timeliness of increasing its capacity.
  • The project seeks to grow the organization’s capacity strategically, and often aims to amass significant support and resources.
  • The project is well planned, and its goals, objectives, activities, and outcomes are realistic and scaled to the problem it seeks to solve.
  • The organization’s board and staff are engaged in fundraising, have a clear commitment to the mission and demonstrate the capacity to carry out the work.
  • The work is guided by a strategic plan, and the organization’s programs align with its mission.
  • The organization has a plan for sustainability after the grant period ends.

 

Project Support

Meyer supports specific and discrete projects that are of high priority to an organization and its community or constituents.

What We Look For in Project Support Proposals

  • The project benefits one or more of the priority populations or other community experiencing disparities, within the selected funding priority.
  • Community voice is reflected in the project design.
  • The project includes and leverages the participation of constituents, relevant partners and collaborators, and/or other funders.
  • The project is well planned, and its goals, objectives, activities, and outcomes are realistic and scaled to the problem it seeks to solve.
  • The work is guided by a strategic plan, and the organization’s programs align with its mission.
  • The organization has a plan for sustainability after the grant period ends.

 

Technical Assistance Grants

Technical Assistance (TA) grants fund short-term interventions by an outside consultant who assists an organization with specific projects. TA grants seek to increase organizational effectiveness by helping organizations strengthen internal leadership, management and governance, and by developing strategies, systems, structures, and skills.

What We Look For in Technical Assistance Proposals

  • The request demonstrates an organizational investment — staff and board engagement and/or some form of financial support — towards the project.
  • The project will be led by a highly qualified consultant who has expertise in the field, and has experience working with organizations similar to the applicant’s.
  • The organization has a “scope of work” document in place that details project components, timelines, deliverables and itemized costs.

 

Here is a sample scope of work (courtesy of the Ford Family Foundation) to assist you and/or the consultant in defining your TA project.

 

Capital Support

Capital funds support the purchase or construction of capital assets expected to have a long, useful life, such as buildings. Capital grants may fund architect and engineering fees, new construction, renovation, expansion, repair, furnishings, equipment, and fundraising expenses. The majority of our capital grants support affordable housing. While some other funding opportunities will occasionally consider a modest number of capital grants, we strongly encourage applicants to contact Meyer staff before submitting an application. Note that our capital grants should generally not comprise more than 10–20% of the organization’s project budget.

What We Look For in Capital Support Proposals

  • The organization demonstrates a strong connection between the capital project and the advancement of equitable access to services or programs for priority populations.
  • There is evidence that the beneficiary community and the organization’s constituency value and support the project.
  • The organization has site control (ownership of the property, option to purchase, long-term lease, etc.).
  • The organization presents a credible project budget based on preliminary architectural drawings with allowances for contingencies and cost escalation.
  • Significant resources needed (cash and in-kind) have been raised or pledged, or are under consideration by promising funders. Resources preferably come from a number of sources and the organization has a viable plan to raise the remaining project funds.
  • The project is led by a strong project team.
  • The project includes meaningful goals for MWESB (Minority, Women, and/or Emerging Small Business) participation.
  • There is a plan in place to cover the ongoing operating cost of the facility or equipment (sustainability plan).
  • The organization’s board and staff are engaged in fundraising, have a clear commitment to the mission and demonstrate the capacity to carry out the work.
  • The work is guided by a strategic plan, and the organization’s programs align with its mission.

 

Advocacy and Policy Grants

In addition to our other grant support types, Meyer also welcomes grant requests for projects on policy and advocacy, our guidelines can be viewed, here.

 

Program Related Investments

Meyer still provides Program Related Investments (PRIs), but in a different and more specific way. We focus on PRIs to intermediaries that re-lend funds to others, and primarily for purposes of supporting housing and the environment. Currently, PRIs are initiated by Meyer and not available through our funding calls.