Bernard E. & Alba Witkin Charitable Foundation Grants

Overview

_NOTE: The Foundation’s procedures for handling grant requests generally are quite expeditious and informal. A charity can call or write to the Foundation to get a preliminary idea of whether it might come within the Foundation’s funding criteria._

About Us

The mission of the Bernard E. & Alba Witkin Charitable Foundation is to support effective non-profit organizations that assist children in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, in the San Francisco East Bay Area.

The Foundation supports a wide range of quality programs that develop children into stronger adults. Programs that focus on children in their formative years (birth through age five) are especially favored.

In addition, the Foundation supports quality programs in the East Bay that support transition age foster youth (ages 18 to 24) to be successful, independent adults as they prepare to age out of the foster care system.

To a lesser extent, the Foundation funds programs that provide quality literacy, music, art, and dance programs in East Bay public elementary and middle schools. It also supports select programs that promote peace, non-violence, and access to legal services.

The Bernard E. & Alba Witkin Charitable Foundation is classified as a private foundation under Section 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and is exempt from federal income taxes under Section 501(c)(3).

Types of Programs Typically Funded

Programs that provide development opportunities for children, or that protect children, will receive the highest priority. This could include special schools, special programs at schools (especially public schools and not private schools), music programs, scholarships, clinics, educational projects, and remedial programs.

Particular attention is given to programs for very young children (generally, ages birth through age five) and at-risk children that will prevent social and other problems or provide early remedial intervention.

The Foundation generally favors its grants to be used for the immediate and direct benefit of target populations (e.g., the children). The Foundation also tends to have a preference for smaller, innovative, East Bay charities that may have difficulty getting funding from other, more traditional sources.

On a selective basis, law-related education projects may be considered for funding.

Grant Timeline

Approved grants are distributed each year in January, April, July, and October, following the Board’s quarterly meeting that approved the grants.

Thus, grant requests must be made:

* Before November 1st of the prior year for funding in January.
* Before March 1st for funding in April.
* Before June 1st for funding in July.
* Before September 1st for funding in October..

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

* The requesting organization must be a public charity that has obtained IRC §501(c)(3) tax-exempt status or a qualifying government entity.

Ineligibility

* Because of the Foundation’s modest size, it must exclude many worthy programs and direct its limited funds to where they will have the greatest immediate impact on its mission.
* The following are examples of the types of grant requests that generally will be denied:
* Capital campaigns.
* Endowments and academic chairs.
* The arts, except possibly programs that provide direct and immediate developmental and educational benefits for children.
* Programs dealing with complex, overwhelming social problems, such as AIDS and the homeless, which typically require funding and coordinated agency resources beyond what the Foundation could provide.
* The Foundation favors grants to programs that support positive, permanent changes, as compared to those that may provide some relief, but do little to change the status quo.
* Environmental programs or programs dealing with similar global issues, which require resources beyond what the Foundation could provide.
* National and international charities that have major fundraising programs, such as the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and the American Cancer Society.
* The Foundation never makes pledges.