(Page last updated June 18, 2010)

Annual Grant Reports	IRS Form 990-PF Returns
2008 | 2007 [ PDF format]
*for previous years, please contact the office

Grantmaking Guidelines

Incorporated in 1991, the purpose of The Michelson Family Foundation is to promote healthy and successful outcomes for low-income, underserved children, youth, and adults. The Foundation supports public charities that serve Santa Clara, San Mateo, and San Francisco counties, and the Twin Cities metropolitan area of Minnesota. The Foundation’s focus areas include:

• Educational Programs that provide scholarships and/or services to middle and high school students that encourage their academic achievement and position them to be able to go to college.

• Theater Education Programs that expose children and youth to live theater and link theater-based education with academic achievement.

• Early Literacy Programs for children 0-5 years old that support the healthy development of a child as well as healthy attachment with parents/caregivers. (Grants are not made to individual child development or childcare centers.)

• Adult Residential Mental Health Programs that provide services to help clients regain independent living.

The board holds three distribution meetings per year, and all requests are answered with a written notice within a reasonable period of time.

General Guidelines

1. Grants are not made to individuals, annual appeals, sectarian religious purposes, to cover deficits, or for conferences and events.
2. Funding for endowments, capital campaigns, arts institutions, and other grants are made at the discretion of the board; proposals are not accepted for these purposes.
3. Applications must be submitted within the periods listed. Receipt of applications will be acknowledged.
4. Although the Foundation appreciates the time and effort that each organization spends in applying, not all requests can be funded, and all decisions are made at the discretion of the board.
5. The Foundation may request to make a site visit to a program.
6. Generally, multi-year grants are not made, but subsequent requests may be considered.
7. If your organization is not seeking consecutive year funding, a Grant Report Form must be submitted at the end of your grant period (one year from receipt of grant).
8. Only one grant will be made to the same organization in a 12 month period.

Submission Deadlines and Application Review Dates

Applications must be received in the foundation’s office by 3:00 pm on the last date of the submission period.

Board Meeting Date	Proposal/Renewal Submission Dates
November 2010	Monday, August 2, 2010 – Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Application Procedure

The foundation does not generally make multi-year grants, but subsequent requests may be considered. (See Grant Renewal Requests for information regarding renewal/reporting requirements.)

The Michelson Family Foundation does not have an application form. Applicants should submit a brief proposal for a specific amount.

Submit by email (as much as possible):
Please send us a proposal that provides the following information (10-12 point font size only).

• Cover letter, on organization letterhead with contact information, that briefly summarizes the request for funding (including the amount) and lists the required attachments (not to exceed one page)

• Proposal Narrative, with a header on each page identifying your organization, that addresses the following information (not to exceed five pages):
  1. Concise description of the organization including history, mission, geography and population(s) served, and type(s) of programs and/or services provided.
  2. Concise description of the program/project (if applicable) including target population, need, purpose, specific goals/objectives, timeline, evaluation, and lead staff qualifications.

• Attachments, please also submit the following documents (these documents are not part of the five page narrative limit.)

  1. Organization budget detailing all proposed expenditures and projected sources of funding.
  2. Program/project budget (if applicable) detailing all proposed expenditures and projected sources of funding.
  3. A list of other funders (including amounts, whether single or multi-year, and whether pending or committed) for the program/project and for the organization as a whole.
  4. Financial statement showing actual revenue and expenses for the agency’s most recently completed fiscal year.
  5. A list of the members of the board of directors, if it does not already appear in your other materials (such as on your letterhead).
  6. Copy of the agency’s IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt determination letter.

For environmental and economic reasons, please do not use binders, folders, or other binding for proposals, audits or supporting attachments, and please do not send audio-visual materials unless requested. Thank you.

Proposals should be sent to Hector Melendez at hmelendez@pfs-llc.net, however if you don’t have the capability to send your signed cover letter or financial statements via email, please send hard copies by regular mail to the address listed below.

Grant Renewal Requests

If your organization is reapplying for a subsequent grant from the foundation, a Grant Renewal Form is required and should be submitted in lieu of a final Grant Report Form. (Please note: Grant Renewal Requests follow the same application deadlines listed above.)

Grant Report Requirements

If your organization is not seeking consecutive year funding, a Grant Report Form must be submitted at the end of your grant period (one year from receipt of grant).

Board of Directors

Ellen A. Michelson - President
Michael W. Michelson - Vice-President
Laura Merriam - Secretary