What are the funding priorities for the Foundation? Are there specific geographic boundaries?
The Foundation supports IRS-registered, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organizations in four program areas: the Arts and Humanities, Community Services, Education and Health. Geographic boundaries include the District of Columbia, Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties in Maryland, and Arlington and Fairfax Counties and the cities of Falls Church and Alexandria in Virginia. See Applicant Guidelines for more details.

What types of public charities are eligible to apply to the Foundation?
The Foundation will consider proposals from a 501(c)(3) organization with a non-private foundation status of 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2). If you are unsure of your 509(a) status, please consult your tax adviser. The Foundation does not make grants to private foundations.

What is the average grant size and how much should I request?
While there is no steadfast rule as to how much an applicant should request, you can view the breakdown of grants in our Annual Report to determine the Foundation’s average grant size.

Does the Foundation award general operating grants?
Yes, grants are awarded for general operating as well as program or special project support.

Does the Foundation provide continuous funding?
In an effort to ensure the broadest response to the needs of our community, the Foundation's policy requires organizations to submit proposals annually regardless of prior funding.

Does the Foundation provide multi-year grants?
The Foundation generally awards one-year grants only.

Does the Foundation award grants for Capital Campaigns, Endowment Funds, Special Events or to Individuals?
The Foundation does not generally fund capital campaigns, endowment funds, special events or individuals.

Does the Foundation provide emergency grants?
No.

How do I apply for a grant?
See Applicant Guidelines.

Are there proposal deadlines?
The Foundation has three funding cycles per year. Application deadlines are at 4:00pm on March 1, July 1 and November 1. You may submit a proposal for only one deadline within a 12-month period. For example, if you submit a proposal for the November 1 deadline and do not receive funding, you must wait until the following November 1 to submit another proposal. If you are awarded a grant, you may not submit another proposal until the same grant deadline the following year.

Please note: Should the deadline date fall on a Saturday or Sunday, proposals will be accepted the following Monday.

Does the Foundation use the Washington Grantmakers’ Common Grant Application?
Yes. See Applicant Guidelines for more details.

To whom should my grant application be addressed?
One unbound copy of your proposal and attachments, using the Washington Grantmakers’ Common Grant Application, should be sent to:

Ms. Rose Ann Cleveland, Executive Director
The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation
1825 K Street, NW, Suite 1400
Washington, DC 20006

Do I need to submit a Letter of Inquiry?
The Foundation does not require a Letter of Inquiry prior to submitting a full proposal for consideration. Please review our Applicant Guidelines for details.

How many copies of a proposal must I submit?
One unbound copy.

May I apply for a grant via e-mail or fax?
No, the Foundation does not accept proposals via e-mail or fax. Proposals may be hand delivered or sent by mail. All proposals must be received in the Foundation office on or before the deadline date. Postmark dates do not apply. For a street address or directions to the Foundation, see Contact Us.

If we have sent a copy of our 501(c)(3) letter with proposals submitted in the past, do we need to submit another copy?
Yes. Each proposal submitted must contain all the required information listed on the Washington Grantmakers’ Common Grant Application.

May we send a copy of our DC Tax Exemption Certificate as proof of our tax-exempt status?
No. We only accept FEDERAL tax-exempt letters (your “501(c)(3) letter”). If you need a copy of your 501(c)(3) letter, contact the IRS at (877) 829-5500.

May I submit an application if I am missing information requested (e.g. financial audit), and submit the missing information once received?
It is preferable that all attachments requested in the Washington Grantmakers’ Common Grant Application be included in your proposal at the time of application. Exceptions may be made on an individual basis, however every proposal must include the organization’s 501(c)(3) determination letter, project and organization budget, and financial audit, and Form 990 or budgets for three previous years.

If my organization is small and does not have an audit, what kind of financial information should be submitted?
In place of an audit, your organization’s Form 990 filed with the Internal Revenue Service and budgets for the past three years may be submitted.

Once a proposal has been submitted, when will I be notified of the funding decision?
All organizations will receive written notification verifying receipt of their proposal. To ensure each application is given fair consideration, the review and funding decision process generally takes six to nine months from the deadline date for which the proposal was submitted. See Applicant Guidelines for more details.

May I reapply if my organization was turned down in the past? If so, when?
Yes. However, you may submit a proposal for only one deadline within a 12-month period. Therefore, if you submit a proposal for the November 1 deadline and do not receive funding, you must wait until the following November 1 to submit another proposal.

If I am awarded a grant, are there specific guidelines for submitting interim grant reports?
Yes, please refer to the Washington Grantmakers’ Common Report Format.

Where may I obtain a copy of The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation’s most recent IRS Form 990?
You may find a copy of our IRS Form 990 on www.guidestar.org.

How may I contact the Foundation?
See Contact Us.