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| 1. What is the Cricket Island Foundation? 2. What is the mission of the Cricket Island Foundation? 3. Who governs the Foundation? 4. What does the Cricket Island Foundation support? 5. Why does the Foundation support youth led social change? 6. What does the Foundation look for in grantees? 7. What type of support does the Foundation provide? 8. How can I apply for a grant? 9. What are the goals of the Foundation? 10. What organizations are not eligible for funding? 11. Does the Foundation have a regional focus for its grantmaking? 12. Does the Foundation fund internationally? 13. To whom should I address my letter of inquiry? 14. How competitive is the grantmaking program? 15. Can I submit a grant application as my first proposal? 16. Can my organization apply for more than one fund in the same year? 17. Is there an organizational budget size limitation? 18. What if I still have questions? |
| What is the Cricket Island Foundation? The Cricket Island Foundation is a family foundation established in 2001 by David and Georgia Welles. What is the mission of the Cricket Island Foundation? The mission of the Cricket Island Foundation is to develop the capacity and commitment of young people to improve their lives and communities, as well as the world around them. We support youth led social change organizations that effectively engage young people as leaders. We also support efforts to build the field of youth led social change, such that society embraces young people as change agents and as active decisions makers. Who governs the Foundation? The Foundation is governed by a family Board of Trustees. The trustees determine board policies, set grant and administrative budgets, approve grants, and review grantmaking strategies. What does the Cricket Island Foundation support? The Foundation supports organizations that are committed to youth led social change. We fund organizations that support, train, motivate, recognize and highlight young people directly impacting their communities and the world in the greatest possible way. Towards this end, we provide support to:
The Foundation values youth voice, and believes youth led social change programs and the methods they employ are effective strategies for achieving positive youth development. We believe that youth empowerment, engagement and societal change are possible when youth, particularly from disenfranchised and marginalized communities, actively implement solutions to improve their lives, communities and the world around them. What does the Foundation look for in grantees? The Cricket Island Foundation looks for organizations that value the following:
What type of support does the Foundation provide? The Foundation provides several types of support. We provide multi-year general operating support. Additionally, for current or former grantees, we provide support for capacity building, unanticipated events, and special opportunities. We also provide field learning grants to organizations that aim to build the field of youth led social change. How can I apply for a grant? The Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Instead, we extend invitations to youth led social change organizations to apply for grants based on our own research as well as recommendations we receive from grantees, grantmakers and field experts. What are the goals of the Foundation? The Foundation plans to strategically improve the perception of young people in society by supporting organizations that create opportunities for youth to contribute to positive social change. We consider ourselves a learning organization that aims to shift the current dynamic that exists between youth and adults, and grantees and funders. What organizations are not eligible for funding? We do not make grants to individuals, building construction or maintenance, schools, or government agencies. We do not support fundraising efforts, capital campaigns, or special events. We do not generally support leadership youth development, service-learning and volunteerism without opportunities for social change. Does the Foundation have a regional focus for its grantmaking? The Foundation recently began to focus on particular geographic regions. Although we continue to provide grants nationally, we funded seven organizations in Chicago in 2008. We learned that a geographic focus allows for greater communication and information-sharing among grantees, as well as concentrated field-building efforts among like-minded funders. Does the Foundation fund internationally? No. To whom should I address my letter of inquiry? Letters of inquiry should only be submitted at the request of the Foundation. How competitive is the grantmaking program? We have a highly competitive grantmaking program, in which we use a multi-step due diligence process that includes full proposals, site visits, and Executive Director interviews. Can I submit a grant application as my first proposal? No, the Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Can my organization apply for more than one fund in the same year? Yes, current and former grantees may apply for one Capacity Building grant and one Opportunity Fund grant each year. Is there an organizational budget size limitation? Organizations must have budgets that are $1M or less. What if I still have questions? Please contact our office at 212-782-3730. (back to top) |
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