Helping organizations meet their mission while managing an unbudgeted, unforeseen, and time-sensitive emergency.
When other funding sources are not available, the Special and Urgent Needs Fund provides rapid response support when an unexpected unbudgeted need critical to operations would prevent an organization from fulfilling their mission.
One-time grants of up to $5,000 are provided to help organizations respond to an urgent need that could not have been anticipated, allowing them to take advantage of an unforeseen opportunity.
Special and Urgent Needs Funding is closed at this time. The funds allocated for Special and Urgent Needs Funding in 2022 have been expended and no additional grants can be awarded this year. The process will be reopened in 2023 at the start of the first quarter.
Grant applications may be submitted and you are welcome to contact Gavin Nichols directly, but the application will not be considered until January 2023.
To be eligible for funding applicant organizations must:
The Special and Urgent Needs Fund (SUNF) will support organizations that meet the overall grantmaking criteria of the foundation. Preference is given to applications where the organization has made its own commitment to the project through an allocation of some of its funds.
Funds are intended to support the replacement or purchase of critical equipment or resources that could not have been anticipated or budgeted. Examples of projects and proposals allowed include:
Special and Urgent Needs Funding does not support the following:
Applications for the SUNF are accepted and reviewed on an on-going basis. We strive to notify applicants of decisions within ten business days after receipt of an application.
Organizations wishing to apply must complete an online application which includes the following documentation:
See a list of frequently asked questions about our Special and Urgent Needs Funding grant-making process.