RSF Seed Fund Eligibility & Application Process

The RSF Seed Fund is a modest-sized fund, which is supported annually by unrestricted gifts to RSF rather than from an endowment. Requests for grants far exceed funds available, so please ensure that your project meets the Eligibility Criteria below before submitting an online application.

RSF Seed Fund Eligibility Criteria

• Alignment with RSF’s mission and focus areas (please refer to the What We Value section of our website).
• Nonprofit status: The RSF Seed Fund accepts proposals from organizations that have either:
  • 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status per the IRS, or
  • A fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status per the IRS.
• Individuals doing charitable work (grants can not be made to individuals for educational needs, scholarships, professional development, or capital expenses).
• New initiatives, defined for the purposes of this Fund as:
  • Organizations in the first two years of operation;
  • New projects or programs from existing organizations (NOT including projects that are expanding in geographic scope only).

  The RSF Seed Fund will not award grants for multi-year operating needs, ongoing capital, scholarships, travel, or attending conferences and workshops. The Fund does not make grants to foreign organizations. We will consider applications from U.S. 501(c)(3) organizations doing work in foreign countries.  The Fund does not make grants to U.S. for-profit companies.

  RSF Seed Fund Application Process

  The deadline to submit a grant proposal to the RSF Seed Fund for the annual grant cycle is March 15th.

  Please note the new online application process for the 2012 grant cycle described below. We will only accept applications submitted through our online system.  If certain circumstances prevent you from submitting an application online, please contact Catherine Covington at the email address provided below to discuss other options. 

  Please be prepared to provide the following brief information as part of our online application:

  • Description of organization inc luding its history, mission and key programs
  • Description of the project or initiative for which you are seeking support and how you plan to use the funds if awarded.
  • Contact information, Tax ID (EIN number), amount of request, project or program budget amount, total organization budget amount, etc.
  • Explanation of why you feel your project or initiative furthers the purpose of RSF (please visit the Purpose and Values section of our website)
  • Copy of fiscal sponsorship agreement or letter submitted as an attachment (if applicable)

  Proposals to the RSF Seed Fund will be considered in light of the following:

  • Credibility, feasibility, and sustainability;
  • Fostering collaborative work;
  • Additional financial or volunteer support;
  • Intended results or outcomes;
  • Beneficial economic, ecological, and social impact.

  Application Details:

  Start your online application here.

  You will have the option to “Save and Finish Later” if you are unable to complete the application in one sitting.  Look for that option on the bottom of each page of the online application.

  Please do not call RSF to inquire about the status of your proposal. All applicants will be notified after the advisors to the fund have met to review the proposals.  However, if you encounter technical difficulties using the online application system, please contact Catherine Covington at catherine.covington@rsfsocialfinance.org.

  Proposals must be submitted by midnight on March 15th to be considered.  After that time, the online application will no longer be available.

  Selected grantees will be required to submit a report within a year of the date the grant was awarded.

• Printed from http://rsfsocialfinance.org/services/giving/seedfund/apply-for-a-seed-fund-grant/