Apply For A Grant

We have developed the following steps to guide you through the application process.

STEP 1: Learn about what we fund

Prospective applicants should carefully review the goals and strategies for the strategic area from which they anticipate seeking support.

Goals and Strategies for our three strategic areas:

Creativity

Learning

Sustainability

Review our geographic funding area, the listing of previously awarded grants, and the definition of terms we use in our materials. Please pay attention to the deadlines for application submissions (Feb. 15 and July 15) in order to be considered for specific board meetings. You can refer to our “frequently asked application questions” or contact us if you have additional questions not covered here.

STEP 2: Determine your eligibility

    Review our eligibility requirements.

    Check your organization’s status on Guide Star to make sure that you are properly listed.

STEP 3: Submit Your Online Application

• If this is your first application in our system, you will need to create an account with The Heinz Endowments using your email address as your user ID.  You will receive an acknowledgment email when you create your account. This email will contain your password and the link to login to your account, and you should save this email for your records.
• You must successfully pass the short eligibility quiz at the beginning of this process. If you have any questions concerning the quiz, please contact us.
• There are a variety of ways to communicate with The Heinz Endowments about potential funding, from personal contact with a program officer to brief digital inquiries ("Share Your Idea With Us" form) and/or full grant applications ("General Application" form). 
• General information about the General Application form:
  • You can download a PDF of the application questions prior to completing the application, but your application MUST be submitted through the online system, not in paper form. When you begin your application, you will be asked if you are applying as an organization classified as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or if you are applying using a qualified fiscal sponsor.  The questions will vary slightly based on which you select. 
  • You can get a printer-friendly version of your application on any page by clicking on the link on the top right corner of the form.
  • You can email your application in-process to a colleague for their review by clicking on the link on the top right corner of the form.
  • Fields that are required to be completed for submission are marked with the word “Required.”
  • Text fields can be spell checked by clicking on the checkmark after the field.
  • Some fields have a maximum word count, but they also have a counter underneath that will count down the words for you.
  • The application form supports attachments, three of which are required: project budget, board of directors list, signed Patriot Act compliance statement. The maximum size for all attachments combined is 25 MB. Please note that files with certain extensions – such as ".exe," ".com," ".vbs," or ".bat" – cannot be uploaded. Acceptable formats include documents, spreadsheets, PDFs and photos.  NOTE: Your Patriot Act compliance statement must be on your organization's letterhead, signed by the head of your organization and dated. Here is a sample Patriot Act statement.
  • The application is divided into five sections: “Organization information,” “Contact information,” “Demographics,” “Proposal information,” and “Goals & Measures.”
  • You do not need to complete your application in one sitting. You can save your work and log back in at a later date.
• The “Review” page of the application will give you one last chance to review all your answers and make any necessary changes. You must hit the “Submit” button at the bottom of this page for your application to be processed.
• After you submit your application, you will receive an email acknowledging that we have received it. This email will contain a tracking number and a copy of the application that you submitted. Once your application has been successfully entered into our grants management system and forwarded to the appropriate staff for review, you will receive a second email with a new Grants Reference Number. Please use this new reference number for all inquiries.
• After you submit your application, you will be able to access it, but you will not be able to make changes to the application.

STEP 4: Endowments staff reviews your inquiry for board consideration

• After your application is entered into our system, it is sent to the appropriate staff. Please review the following to see what the Endowments looks for in an application.
• If your project is not a fit with the goals and strategies you selected for your application, you will receive a declination letter.
• If your project is a possible fit, Endowments staff will perform due diligence, which could involve phone calls, site visits, research, etc.
• If it is decided that your project should move forward, staff may possibly request additional information to finalize your application.

STEP 5: Proposal is presented to the board of directors for approval

• There are two grantmaking board meetings each year – one in the spring and one in the fall. You will be notified of the board’s decision concerning your proposal.
• If approved, new grantees will receive a notification packet, including a grant agreement, guidelines for follow-up reporting and press release information. The grant agreement must be signed by the head of the grantee organization and returned before any payments can be made.