General Grant Program
Funding Amount
$50,000 - $100,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Grant Type
foundation
Deadline history & next window
- Cycle
- Rolling — applications accepted year-round
- Tracked since
- April 2026
From the program guidelines: “The FINRA Foundation accepts Project Concept Forms at any time”
Can we apply?
Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.
Eligible organizations
- State and other public colleges and universities
Required status
- 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
Not eligible / not funded
- Not eligible: Individuals
- Not eligible: Organizations affiliated with a current director, officer or staff member of the FINRA Foundation
- Not eligible: Organizations affiliated with any person involved in the review or approval of grants
- Not eligible: Organizations affiliated with a current member of the FINRA Board of Governors
- Not eligible: Securities firms regulated by FINRA
- Not eligible: Organizations affiliated with a securities firm or individual regulated by FINRA (such as foundations established by securities firms)
- Not eligible: Securities regulators, self-regulatory organizations or securities industry trade associations
- Not eligible: Organizations that are "disqualified persons" pursuant to Article III, Section 3(d) of FINRA By-Laws
- Not eligible: Organizations that discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status
Overview
General Grant Program
Funder: FINRA Investor Education Foundation
Geographic Scope: United States
Focus Areas: Research that helps ensure people in the United States have the knowledge, skills and tools to make sound financial decisions throughout life.
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants:
Ineligible Applicants:
What the Foundation Will NOT Fund
- International programs or projects
- Projects that are local in nature and scope
- Expenses not directly related to the project
- Salaries of permanent staff (modest release time for university professors acceptable)
- Capital costs (building, construction) or equipment (computer hardware, office furniture)
- Pass-through funding to proprietary organizations or consultants
- Projects with potential conflicts of interest
- Conferences and similar activities that fail to provide long-term solutions or broad outreach
- Distribution methodologies requiring ongoing maintenance without sustainable funding
- Projects with proprietary elements, for-profit activities, or use of copyrighted/trademarked materials
- Lobbying, political contributions, fund-raising events or activities to influence legislation
- Donations, endowments, challenge grants, matching funds
- Direct or matching payments to members of the public (scholarships, personal assistance, registration fees)
Grant Details
Award Amount: Most grants approved are under $100,000. The Foundation reviews applications requesting approximately $50,000–$100,000.
Indirect Costs: Must not exceed 10% of direct costs
Grant Duration: Most grants are completed within 24 months
Fund Distribution: Award is contingent upon successful negotiation of grant agreement. Funds awarded in installments contingent upon performance and actual expenses, not to exceed grant amount.
Contact Information
- Laura Rowell
- Robert Ganem
How to Apply
Application Process
1. Submit Project Concept Form - This is the first step in applying for a FINRA Foundation grant
2. Await Response - The Foundation will respond within one month of receipt
3. Invitation to Full Proposal (if applicable) - Certain applicants may be invited to submit a full grant proposal
4. Submit Full Proposal - Applicants invited to prepare a full proposal will receive submission instructions
5. Grant Decision - The entire decision-making process from Project Concept Form submission to funding notification takes several months
6. Grant Agreement Negotiation - Award of funding is contingent upon successful negotiation of a grant agreement within a reasonable time
7. Fund Disbursement - After grant agreement is executed, funds are awarded in installments
Note: A request to submit a grant proposal does not guarantee that a grant will be awarded. Applications are subject to evaluation by the FINRA Foundation's Board of Directors.
Timing
- The FINRA Foundation accepts Project Concept Forms at any time
- Response to Project Concept Form within one month of receipt
- Full decision-making process takes several months
What FINRA Investor Education Foundation actually gave
Source: IRS Form 990 filing, 2024
- Grants in 2024
- 10
- Total given
- $258K
- Median grant
- $24K
- Range
- $20K–$52K
- By dollars: Tennessee 20%, New Mexico 10%, Wisconsin 10%. Top recipient cities: Knoxville, TN; Farmington, NM; Kenosha, WI.
- 0% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
- 70% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.
Example grants
University of Tennessee · Knoxville, TN
To examine the condition of financial education from the perspective of personal…
$52K
Farmington Public Library Fdn · Farmington, NM
To collaborate with public- and private-sector partners to deliver multigenerational…
$25K
Kenosha Public Library · Kenosha, WI
To expand community-based financial capability services, including: a financial…
$25K
Nova Southeastern Univ Inc · Fort Lauderdale, FL
To support the university's library in its efforts to educate and counsel Broward…
$25K
Fdn for Baltimore Cty Public Library · Towson, MD
To undertake various financial education programs that build generational wealth,…
$25K
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
Fields of Work
Categories
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