Atkinson Foundation Grant Program

The Atkinson Foundation Grant Program aims to empower individuals in San Mateo County by enhancing educational, social, and economic opportunities. It prioritizes community-led organizations that serve marginalized populations, including children, youth, and families. The foundation focuses on direct service delivery in areas such as education, mental health, and basic needs, ensuring support for the most vulnerable residents. By fostering independence and self-sufficiency, the foundation is committed to improving the overall quality of life in the community.

Funding Priorities
The Atkinson Foundation provides opportunities for individuals in San Mateo county to attain the highest potential in the areas of educational, social & economic life; to assist their efforts to become independent & self-sufficient and to generally improve the quality of their lives.
We are committed to supporting community-based and community-led organizations that address the needs identified by the communities they serve.
Education and Youth Development
We support nonprofit organizations that provide:

• In-School Programs

Enhancing K-12 public education curriculum and provide academic and/or enrichment activities to underserved students (programs that take place in schools, but are offered by nonprofit organizations)
Out-of-School Programs
Providing youth development opportunities to underserved students in grades K-12 (programs that take place away from school sites)
Early Childhood Care and Education
Assisting low-income families in the caring and early learning journey of their young children
Vocational Education
Providing youth and adults who face significant obstacles to employment with training and services that prepare them for job placement
Community Support
We support nonprofit organizations that provide:

• Basic Needs
• Providing such as food, shelter, and/or family support resources to help sustain healthy families and strong communities
• Mental/Physical Health Services
• Supporting the well-being of youth and adults faced with mental and/or physical health conditions and addictions
• Senior Programs
• Enhancing the quality of life for older adults who have limited resources
• Immigrants/Refugees Programs
• Protecting the rights of newcomers and create opportunities for forward mobility
• Women’s Services
• Supporting reproductive and prenatal care, and wrap-around services for survivors of domestic violence, to ensure all women are healthy and safe

Eligibility

The Foundation supports organizations focused on geographic areas and BIPOC ( Black, indigenous, people of color) communities in San Mateo county that have historically been marginalized.Eligible organizations must meet the following guidelines to be considered for grant funding.Operate under an IRS 501(c)(3) status or fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) organizationProvide direct services to residents of San Mateo County, CaliforniaAll grants to nonprofit organizations should provide direct services to the residents of San Mateo County, California.All grants are one-year grants.If you are a returning grantee, please apply for the same grantmaking round as the previous year.If a proposal has been declined, organizations must wait one year to reapply for funding.

Ineligibility

Please note: We do not provide funding directly to public or private schools.The foundation does not support research, individuals, events, annual appeals, scholarships, advocacy efforts, sports group sponsorship, or statewide/national umbrella organizations.An applicant will usually not receive more than one grant in a 12-month period.The Foundation does not actively seek to fund organizations with leadership who enter communities with external solutions.