Bothin Foundation Grant

The Bothin Foundation Grant supports nonprofits with capital investments in social services, youth development, arts, and environmental programs, focusing on those serving disadvantaged children, low-income families, and individuals with disabilities in specific California counties. Eligible projects include building renovations, equipment purchases, and vehicle requests, with a preference for immediate, impactful needs. Organizations must be 501(c)(3) compliant and have a direct service focus, ensuring community benefit and sustainability.

We help build the capacity of nonprofits with grants for durable capital investments. These capital grants go to social service, academic enrichment, youth development, arts, and environmental nonprofit organizations that provide direct services to:

• disadvantaged children and youth (ages 0 to 24), low-income families with children, and people with disabilities.
• The foundation also considers durable capital requests from K-12 schools exclusively serving children with learning differences.

Examples of eligible capital grant uses include building improvements, vehicle requests, program equipment, and technology needs. Only one grant may be received within a 3-year period.
Building Construction & Renovation
The foundation will fund any contracted labor directly associated with the project. This could include labor for removal or installation of materials or the hiring of expertise needed to complete the project, such as engineers or contractors.The foundation does not fund planning or needs assessments for capital projects.The foundation does not fund staff time for project management.The foundation only supports building renovations for buildings located in San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma, and/or San Mateo counties.
Equipment & Furnishings
The foundation considers funding furniture, program equipment, and medical equipment purchases.The foundation prioritizes requests to purchase equipment that will be used by or mostly benefit program participants.The foundation does not fund planning or needs assessments for capital projects.
Technology Grants
The foundation considers funding furniture, program equipment, and medical equipment purchases.The foundation prioritizes requests to purchase equipment that will be used by or mostly benefit program participants.The foundation does not fund planning or needs assessments for capital projects.The foundation does not fund software or consultants to build out software projects.
Vehicles
The foundation prioritizes vehicle purchases that transport participants.Insurance, gas, advertising on van (wrap-around printing), and warranties are not covered by grants.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for a grant from the Bothin Foundation, applicants must meet ALL of the following criteria:Be a public charity operating under an IRS 501(c)(3) status or be fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) organization;Serve significant numbers of the residents of San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma, and/or San Mateo counties;Provide direct service to disadvantaged children and youth, low-income families, and/or people with disabilities; andHave not received a grant from the foundation in the last three full years.Successful Grant Applications will:Be for capital projects that can be completed within 12 months of receiving a grant (Please keep this timeline in mind when considering the best time to apply for a grant);Be durable capital investments that directly impact clients and have an immediate need and/or are time sensitive;Be a direct service organization serving at least 50% low-income families or children (exception: for programs that serve those with disabilities exclusively, disability status and low-income status are given equal weight;and

Ineligibility

Grants are not made to individuals, religious organizations (except for non-sectarian programs), or K-12 schools that do not exclusively serve children with learning differences and developmental disabilities.The foundation generally does not fund hospitals. Occasionally, it will make exceptions for public and county hospitals and community clinics.The foundation does not fund endowment drives, events, program expenses, general operating expenses, annual appeals, videos, software or consultants to build out software projects, medical research, or scholarships.The foundation does not fund planning or needs assessments for capital projects.

501(c)(3) nonprofits (or fiscally sponsored projects) serving significant numbers in San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma and/or San Mateo counties, where at least 50% of those served are disadvantaged children and youth (ages 0-24), low-income families with children, and/or people with disabilities. Durable capital projects completed within 12 months; one grant per 3-year period. Applications accepted only during three submission windows each year.