Grantmaking FAQs

Some grant opportunities are invitation-only and some are open call. The link to the invitation-only opportunities cannot be found on TGKVF’s website. If your organization is invited to apply, a TGKVF program officer will send the application link to you. Invitation-only opportunities includes those in the following portfolios: Arts & Culture, Basic Needs, Community Economic Development, Education, and Health as well as Dental and Emergency Aid requests. To learn more about the priorities in these areas, click here. To learn more about the grant inquiry process for invitation-only applications, click here. 

Other competitive opportunities are open call, meaning anyone can submit an application even if they don’t work through a specific TGKVF program officer. Those opportunities include African American Philanthropy in Action  (AAPA), CC Dickinson Family Giving Circle (CCDFGC), and James F.B. Peyton. These opportunities typically open once per year and have a single annual deadline. The links to start application can be found on these webpages. Please visit these opportunities’ webpages for more information. 

Additional opportunities, both invitation-only and open call, may open throughout the year. All applications must be submitted through the online application portal.

There is a wide range of awarded grant dollar amounts. Applicants should request the amount that is needed to successfully complete the proposed project. Please note that TGKVF does not typically support 100% of any project. You may review how we define in-kind support under the Forms and Resources section of the website. It is a good idea to research TGKVF’s previously awarded grants so that you know the typical grant amounts that have been funded.

We typically advise that applicants request no more than 25% of the organization’s annual operating budget. Please remember that an applicant cannot ask for 100% of the proposed project. Applicant organizations must have some type of match, whether in-kind or cash, to help fund projects.

First, review our grantmaking priorities and open call grant opportunity pages to see if your project meets TGKVF’s criteria. If you feel like your project is a good match, then you should email or call a program officer to discuss your project.

Typically an organization may apply once per year in our core grantmaking areas of Arts & Culture, Basic Needs, Community Economic Development, Education, and Health (i.e. if you apply for funding in Health, you are disqualified for applying in any of the four core areas). An organization may apply through our Special Initiative opportunities and through one of our core areas. It can be confusing, so please contact us if you’re unsure!

You may still be part of the collaborative project, but the Lead Applicant must be a 501(c)(3) or government entity. TGKVF will consider projects that use fiscal agents.

Funding decisions are made quarterly for invitation-only opportunities. Make sure that you contact a program officer at least 2-3 months before an application’s first draft due date to discuss your proposal idea. Applications must be submitted by 4pm on the days that they are due. You may review our annual discretionary grant timeline for competitive, invited applications on the Forms and Resources page of our website.  

Funding decisions are made once annually on most open call opportunities. Please visit the individual webpages for TGKVF’s special initiatives to learn more: https://tgkvf.org/special-initiatives/.