Fidelity Foundation Grant

The Fidelity Foundation Grant supports nonprofit organizations that aim for high impact in areas like Arts, Education, and Health. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations with operating budgets over $1 million and project budgets of at least $100,000. The foundation seeks transformative projects that enhance efficiency and sustainability. However, it does not fund start-up organizations, capital campaigns without prior support, or emergency funding, ensuring a focus on long-term effectiveness.

NOTE: If you believe your organization’s funding needs fit within the Foundation’s Guidelines, consider submitting a Letter of Inquiry (LOI). Should your organization have several needs, applicants are encouraged to propose projects that are a priority for the organization and best match our funding requirements and areas of investment focus. If your letter results in an invitation to submit a full proposal, we will contact you. Typically, the LOI review process will take between four and six weeks. Please note: Fidelity Foundation does not frequently fund unsolicited LOIs.
Foundation grants are designed to encourage the highest standards of management and long-term self-reliance in nonprofit organizations. Taking an investment approach to grantmaking, we fund organizations where we feel we can add lasting, measurable value. We seek to support major initiatives that nonprofits undertake to reach new levels of achievement, and the Foundation’s founding operating principles still guide our decisions and grantmaking today.
Grantmaking Guidelines
As a private, independent, nonprofit entity, the Foundation awards grants only under the direction of its Trustees on the basis of our guidelines, project merits and availability of funds. We use a comprehensive approach to determine whether our collaboration and investment can add value and will measurably improve the applicant’s impact. Our selection criteria focus on the overall organization, the project being proposed and the project’s likelihood of success. Outlined below are the organizational requirements, sector priorities, and geographical boundaries that govern our funding.
Sector Focus
The Foundation supports non-profit organizations making high impact in the following sectors:

• Arts & CultureConservationEducationHealthSocial & Economic Mobility
• Types of Projects

The Foundation seeks to work with organizations on strategic, transformative projects that have the potential to substantially increase the grantee's impact, efficiency, or long-term sustainability. These capacity-building projects fall into three areas:

• Capital Investments

These are large-scale projects central to the overall health and sustainability of the applicant, such as new construction, renovations, expansions, and other initiatives that support the organization's strategic vision.
Planning Initiatives
This includes funding for project consultants to develop strategic, business, feasibility, technology, and other types of plans.
Technology Projects
These are high-impact technology initiatives that can substantially increase an organization's efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability.
Projects may include the development of front and back-end office systems; performance measurement systems; online functionality; and financial accounting, inventory management, point-of-sale, and other business systems.

Eligibility

All grant applicants must have:Current 501(c)(3) public charity statusOperating budgets of $1 million or moreProposed projects budgeted at $100,000 or moreGeographic FocusThe Foundation considers influential community projects from organizations in regions around Fidelity Investments' employee sites in the listed metropolitan areas. Organizations of national importance and high-impact projects with potential to inform the nonprofit sector are also of interest.Albuquerque, NMBoston, MARaleigh/Durham, NCCovington, KY/Cincinnati, OHDallas/Ft. Worth, TXDenver, COJacksonville, FLJersey City, NJMerrimack, NHSmithfield, RISalt Lake City, UT

Ineligibility

Organization TypeGrants are not made to start-up, sectarian, or civic organizations; public school systems; disease-specific associations; or individuals.Project TypeGrants are not made for operating support, sponsorships, galas or benefits, scholarships, corporate memberships, or video and film projects.Capital CampaignsThe Fidelity Foundation is a resource for capital campaigns that have already demonstrated significant constituent and community support by attracting at least half of the goal. The Foundation is not generally a lead or majority donor to capital campaigns.Emergency FundingThe Foundation's goal is to strengthen the long-term effectiveness of nonprofit organizations. As we most often work with organizations undertaking major initiatives to reach new levels of achievement, we are not typically a resource for emergency or immediate funding.Multi-Year GrantsWe see an organization's ability to attract a broad range of support as a key sign of its strength and sustainability. As our funding program is intended to strengthen nonprofit organizations, we generally do not make successive-year or multiple-year grants.SponsorshipsWhile the Foundation is not a resource for event sponsorship, volunteerism, community initiatives, or in-kind support, Fidelity Investments' corporate offices may be. Please visit Fidelity Corporate Sponsorship for more information.