How To Apply

Eligibility

The first step in applying for a grant from the Righteous Persons Foundation is to ensure your program's eligibility. Applications are only reviewed for organizations that have tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status. If your project does not have tax-exempt status, you may submit an application through a 501(c)(3) organization serving as your fiscal sponsor.

Letter of Inquiry

Once you have reviewed the Funding Priorities and believe that your program falls within the purview of the Righteous Persons Foundation, you are welcome to submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI). Letters of Inquiry are accepted during two time periods during the year. They must be received by June 1 for consideration in the Fall Docket and December 1 for consideration in the Spring Docket.

Please send ONE copy of your LOI via U.S. mail to:

Rachel Levin
Associate Director
Righteous Persons Foundation
2800 28th Street, Suite 105
Santa Monica, CA 90405

Your LOI should be between 2-3 pages and contain the following:

• A description of the proposed project including: clear and measurable objectives, the issues the project will address, and the target population(s);
• A brief description of the organization's mission, activities, and history;
• The total amount requested from the Foundation; and
• The name, mailing address, and telephone number of the responsible contact person.

In addition to the two to three page letter of inquiry, please attach:

• A detailed project budget along with the organization's budget; (A project specific budget is not required if seeking general support.)
• A list of secured and potential funding for the project;
• A copy of the organization's Board of Directors; and
• Documentation of the organization's 501 (c)(3) status.

Should you have a fiscal sponsor for your project, you must include a current copy of your sponsor's tax-exempt letter from the IRS as well as a letter from the sponsor acknowledging their agreement to serve as the project's sponsor.

Given the limits on what we can process, please do not send full proposals unless otherwise requested. Faxed and electronic submissions will not be accepted.

You should receive a postcard or letter acknowledging receipt of your LOI within six weeks of your mailing date. If you do not receive notification, please write or call Scott Minkow, the Foundation's Program Officer grants@righteouspersons.org. Applicants are strongly advised to keep one copy of the original submission.

Full Proposals

Full proposals are requested by invitation only. If the Foundation requires such a proposal based upon your initial submission of an LOI, you will be contacted by a staff member of the Foundation and supplied with an outline of what further information is required. In general, a full proposal should address the following topics:

• Detail regarding the goals, objectives, methods, and target audience of the program
• Marketing
• Evaluation methods
• A detailed timeline for the project
• Staffing
• Long-term plans for funding
• Detailed financial information, including the organizational budget for the last complete fiscal year, the current year's organizational budget, and the most recent financial audit or tax statement

Face-to-face meetings are limited to those organizations for which the Foundation has requested a full proposal.

Final Decisions

In general, final decisions on grants are reached within six months of the submission of Letters of Inquiry, although dates are subject to change.

For other questions regarding the grants process, please consult our list of Frequently Asked Questions.