Standard Grants Overview

Our Standard Grant program was established to provide resources for projects and programs that make visible impacts in communities throughout California. Since 2006, these funds have helped construct music facilities, restore historical buildings, preserve and acquire open spaces, protect endangered species, and facilitate the implementation of hundreds of other projects that fit within our areas of funding:

• Ecosystem Conservation               
• Historical Landmark Restoration
• Music & Visual Arts           
• Plant & Wildlife Protection
• Land Conservation

Standard Grants make up the majority of the funds that Hind Foundation grants to community-based projects and programs every year, and are approved on the merit of the project and justification of the requested funds.

Want to learn more?

You can discover more about our Standard Grants by reviewing our funding history, and determine whether your project or program is a good fit for a Standard Grant by reviewing our Eligibility Requirements below.

Eligibility Requirements

ALL APPLICATIONS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED ONLINE ONLY

If you can check all of these boxes, then you may be eligible for a Standard Grant.

In regards to your organization:

• We are a nonprofit organization with a California 501(c)3 designation.
• We receive the majority of our funding support from our local community.
• We have a board of directors that meets on a regular basis.
• We hold or sponsor at least one fundraising event annually.
• We have been a California 501(c)3 for more than three years based on the ruling date of our IRS Determination Letter and as confirmed in GuideStar.
• Our organization has not received a Hind Foundation Standard Grant in the past two years, nor have we applied for or been denied a Standard Grant in the past year.

In regards to your project or program:

• The project or program we’re requesting funding for is based in California.
• The success of our project will provide a lasting benefit to its community.
• Our project or program falls within the Hind Foundation’s Areas of Funding.
• Our organization has raised a substantial amount of the funds needed to complete our project-proof of deposited funds required.
• The amount of the grant, coupled with our existing or pending support, will be enough to meet our project goals.

If you check any of these boxes below, then your project is not eligible for a Standard Grant. 

• We have received a Hind Foundation Standard Grant within the past two years.
• We have applied for a Hind Foundation Standard Grant within the past year.
• We’re seeking funding for educational programs, capital campaigns, debt reduction, or basic research; or books, videos, donor cultivation events, food, beverages, travel expenses, mobile apps, and television or film projects/ festivals.
• We’re seeking sustaining funds, multi-year grants, or funding for administrative/organizational costs or soft costs (i.e. architectural, engineering, and permitting fees, drawings or studies, including digital records, etc.).
• We’re seeking a grant for a/an individual, endowment, fellowship national organization, community foundation, private foundation, nationally-based organization, nonprofit or booster club for public schools, or one of the three of the Internal Revenue Code or organizations based outside the United States.
• We’re an advocacy organization that engages in lawsuits, protests, or other forms of dissent. 
• We’re primarily supported by endowment funds or by government grants.
• We are seeking funds for improvements, construction or restoration on privately held land.
• We are seeking funds for transportation costs.

Reasons Grants are Denied

1. The request is not eligible under the Areas of Funding and Types of Funding.
2. The applicant does not demonstrate that they have carefully read carefully all the information that is provided under the Application Process outlined below.
3. The application is incomplete.
4. The LOI/application is left in draft form (not yet submitted) for over four weeks with no or little action or without the budget schedule completed.
5. The information provided does not support the amount of requested.
6. The applicant applies for the wrong type of grant – Standard vs. Supplemental.
7. The applicant has not demonstrated sufficiently the project’s or program’s purpose, need, and impact.

Please note: once a grant is denied applicant must wait one year before reapplying. 

Application Process

Step 1. Determine Eligibility

Be sure you have read the Standard Grant Overview and Eligibility Requirements sections (outlined above) and the Areas of Funding section of the website before submitting an application. If you have any questions, uncertainties, or concerns, contact the Hind Foundation.

Step 2: Create New Account or Log In

To begin the application process, click the Apply Now button (on the right navigation or found throughout the site), and Create a New Account or Log In if you already have an account previously.

Step 3: Submit A Letter of Inquiry

Once you have registered on the site, you can submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI), providing detailed information about your organization and your proposed project or program. You may log in at any time to work on your LOI. If you do not make significant updates to your draft LOI for more than four weeks, your LOI will be considered inactive and the grant will be denied.

Once you complete and submit your LOI, the Hind Foundation will review it and will update its status online to “Assigned” if approved or “Denied” if denied. You may log in to your account at any time to check on its status.

Step 4: Submit A Formal Application

If your LOI is approved, you will be invited to complete the final phase of the application process, a Formal Application. You may log in at any time to work on your application. If you do not make significant updates to it for more than 4 weeks, your Formal Application will be considered inactive and a grant will be denied.

Once you complete and submit the Formal Application, the Hind Foundation will begin the final review process. You may log in to your account at any time to check on its status.

Step 5: Obtain Award Status

After your Formal Application has been thoroughly evaluated by the Hind Foundation’s Board of Directors, you will be notified if funding has been awarded or denied. If your application has been denied, you will be notified by letter and may re-apply the following year. If your application has been awarded, you will be notified by letter and contacted to outline the grant agreement terms.

Supplemental Grants Overview

Our Supplemental Grant program was established to recognize and support community–based organizations whose important programs or projects may not require the resources provided through a Standard Grant. Since 2006, these funds have helped assist successful fundraising events, provide students with educational opportunities, and facilitate the implementation of numerous projects that fit within our areas of funding:

• Ecosystem Conservation               
• Historical Landmark Restoration
• Music & Visual Arts           
• Plant & Wildlife Protection
• Land Conservation

Ranging in amounts up to $2,500, funds are awarded based on the merit of the project or program and justification of the requested funds.

Want to learn more?

You can discover more about Supplemental Grants by reviewing our funding history, and determine whether your project or program is a good fit for a Supplemental Grant by reviewing our Eligiblity Requirements outlined below.  

Eligibility Requirements

ALL APPLICATIONS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED ONLINE ONLY

If you can check all of these boxes, then you may be eligible for a Supplemental Grant.

In regards to your organization:

• We are a nonprofit organization with a California 501c3 designation.
• We receive the majority of our funding support from our local community.
• We have a board of directors that meets on a regular basis.
• We hold or sponsor at least one fundraising event annually.
• We have been a California 501(c)3 for more than three years based on the ruling date of our IRS Determination Letter and as confirmed in GuideStar.

In regards to your project or program:

• The project or program we’re requesting funding for is based in California.
• The success of our project will provide a lasting benefit to your community.
• Our project or program falls within the Hind Foundation’s Areas of Funding.
• Our organization has not received a Hind Foundation Grant in the past year, nor have we been denied a grant in the past year.
• The amount of funding we’re requesting can be justified by the program or project scope.
• We’re seeking a grant to fund scholarships, performances, educational materials, fundraising materials, or other similar projects.

If you check any of these boxes below, then your project is not eligible for a Supplemental Grant. 

• We have received a Hind Foundation Supplemental Grant in the past year.
• We’re seeking funding for debt reduction, books, videos, donor cultivation events, food, beverages, travel expenses, mobile apps, and television or film projects/ film festivals.
• We’re seeking sustaining funds, multi-year grants, or funding for administrative/organizational costs or soft costs (i.e. architectural, engineering, and permitting fees, drawings or studies, including digital records, etc.).
• We’re seeking a grant for a/an individual, endowment, fellowship national organization, community foundation, private foundation, nationally-based organization, nonprofit or booster club for public schools, or one of the three of the Internal Revenue Code or organizations based outside the United States.
• We’re an advocacy organization that engages in lawsuits, protests, and other forms of dissent. 
• Our organization is primarily supported by endowment funds or by government grants.
• We are seeking funds for improvements, construction or restoration on privately held land.
• We are seeking funds for transportation costs.

Reasons Grants are Denied

1. The request is not eligible under the Foundation’s areas of funding and types of funding.
2. The applicant does not demonstrate that they have carefully read carefully all the information that is provided under Application Process.
3. The application is incomplete.
4. The LOI/application is left in draft form (not yet submitted) for over four weeks with no or little action or without budget details in the cost of project section completed.
5. The information provided does not support the amount of requested.
6. The applicant applies for the wrong type of grant – Standard vs. Supplemental.
7. The applicant has not demonstrated sufficiently the project’s or program’s purpose, need and impact.
8.  Please note: once a grant is denied applicant must wait one year before reapplying.

Application Process

Step 1. Determine Eligibility

Be sure you have read the Supplemental Grant Overview and Eligibility Requirements sections (outlined above) and the Areas of Funding section of our website before submitting an application. If you have any questions, uncertainties, or concerns, contact the Hind Foundation.

Step 2: Create New Account or Log In

To begin the application process, click the Apply Now button (on the right navigation or found throughout the site), and Create a New Account or Log In if you already have an account previously.

Step 3: Complete an Online Application

Once you create an account, you may begin the online application process, providing detailed information about your organization and your project or program. You may log in at any time to work on your application. If you do not make significant updates to your draft application for more than four weeks it will be considered inactive and a grant will be denied.

Once your application is complete, the Hind Foundation will begin the evaluation process and will notify you when it is accepted or denied. You may log in to your account at any time to check on its status.

Continuing Education Grants Overview

Our Continuing Education Grant program was established to provide resources for nonprofit staff, volunteers, board members, and key individuals that help improve the efficiency and productivity of their organizations so they may have greater impacts in their community. Nonprofits in San Luis Obispo County engaging in the below listed types of Continuing Education programs are eligible to apply.

• Registrations
• Memberships in nonprofit support organizations
• Seminars, lectures, etc.
• Literature
• Professional consultants
• Training programs

Ranging in amounts up to $1,000, funds are awarded based on the merit of the project or program and justification of the requested funds.

The Hind Foundation understands the importance of ongoing continuing education. For this reason, we have made this grant application available to nonprofits in San Luis Obispo County so that they may have access to continuing education opportunities.

Want to learn more?

You can discover more about our Continuing Education Grants by reviewing our funding history, and determine whether your project or program is a good fit by reviewing our Eligibility Requirements below.

Eligibility Requirements

ALL APPLICATIONS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED ONLINE ONLY

If you can check all of these boxes, then you may be eligible for a Continuing Education Grant.

In regards to your organization:

• We are a nonprofit organization with a California 501(c)3 designation.
• We receive the majority of our funding support from our local community.
• We have a board of directors that meets on a regular basis.
• We hold or sponsor at least one fundraising event annually.
• We have been a California 501(c)3 for more than three years based on the ruling date of our IRS Determination Letter and as confirmed in GuideStar.
• Our organization has not received a Hind Foundation Grant in the past year, nor have we been denied a grant in the past year.

In regards to your project or program:

• The educational project or program we’re requesting funding for is based in San Luis Obispo County.
• The implementation of our Continuing Education Grant will provide a lasting benefit to our organization and the community.
• The amount of the Continuing Education Grant, coupled with support from our organization, will be enough to meet our needs for this project or program.

If you check any of these boxes below, then your project is not eligible for a Continuing Education Grant. 

• We have received a Hind Foundation Continuing Education Grant within the past two years.
• We have applied for a Hind Foundation Continuing Education Grant within the past year that has been denied and/or abandoned.
• We’re an advocacy organization that engages in lawsuits, protests, or other forms of dissent. 
• We’re primarily supported by endowment funds or by government grants.
• We are seeking funds for transportation costs.
• We’re seeking a grant for a/an individual, endowment, fellowship national organization, community foundation, private foundation, nationally-based organization, nonprofit or booster club for public schools, or one of the three of the Internal Revenue Code or organizations based outside the United States.

Reasons Grants are Denied:

1. The applicant does not demonstrate that they have carefully read all the information that is provided under the Application Process outlined below.
2. The application is incomplete.
3. The application is left in draft form (not yet submitted) for over four weeks with no or little action or without budget and other potential funding details completed.
4. The information provided does not support the amount requested.
5. The applicant applies for the wrong type of grant (Standard; Supplemental; Continuing Education).
6. The applicant has not demonstrated sufficiently the project’s or program’s purpose, need, and impact.
7. Please note: once a grant is denied applicant must wait one year before reapplying.

Application Process

Step 1. Determine Eligibility

Be sure you have read the Continuing Education Grant Overview and Eligibility Requirements sections (outlined above) before submitting an application. If you have any questions, uncertainties, or concerns, contact the Hind Foundation.

Step 2: Create New Account or Log In

To begin the application process, click the Apply Now button (on the right navigation or found throughout the site), and Create a New Account or Log In if you already have an account previously.

Step 3: Complete an Online Application

Once you create an account, you may begin the online application process, providing specific information about your organization and your continuing education initiative. You may log in at any time to work on your application. If you do not make significant updates to your application for more than four weeks, your application will be considered inactive and the grant will be denied.

Once your application is complete, the Hind Foundation will begin the evaluation process and will notify you when it is accepted or denied. You may log in to your account at any time to check on its status.