Helen J. Serini Foundation: Major Grants Program

The Helen J. Serini Foundation's Major Grants Program provides unrestricted operating grants of $5,000 to $20,000 annually to organizations aligned with its mission. The foundation prioritizes innovative interventions addressing systemic barriers to health and opportunity, emphasizing collaboration and community engagement. Organizations must demonstrate equity and inclusion, with a focus on those led by BIPOC individuals. The foundation aims to enhance impact through capacity building and advocacy, ensuring a commitment to systemic change.

NOTE:  The Major Grants program will not be opened to new requests in 2025
We provide unrestricted/general operating grants for amounts between $5,000-$20,000/year for organizations whose overall mission aligns with that of the foundation.
Funding Priorities
The Helen J.
In practice, this means we fund across issue areas; the common thread in our grantmaking relates to systems change. We fund:

• Work that improves or restructures systems of poverty by changing policies, practices, and/or beliefs that hold people in cycles of poverty.
• Direct service work only when that direct service work informs and/or complements work to improve or restructure systems.
• We are particularly seeking organizations whose work:

Demonstrates a spirit of collaboration, partnership, and alliance building.
Engages community and constituents in its decision making.Those closest to the problems are also those closest to the solutions.
Embodies principles of equity and inclusion in both work and governance. Equity is not a one-and-done program, but an ongoing commitment to examination, learning, unlearning, and willingness to change. We are especially seeking organizations led and/or founded by BIPOC individuals, and with diverse boards.
As a small funder, The Helen J. Serini Foundation aims to increase its impact beyond check-writing by serving as a convener and connecter of nonprofit partners; investing in capacity building, including leadership development; influencing systems change through public policy & advocacy work; and utilizing our resources beyond grantmaking to effect greater change.

Eligibility

Returning grant partners requesting a renewal may request multi-year funding; new grant partners will only be considered for one-year funding for a first commitment, but are eligible to submit a (shortened!) application in future years for renewed funding for the same purpose. All organizations seeking funding, regardless of amount requested, are required to meet the following criteria:Provide services in and/or be based in one of our geographic areas of focus (exceptions may be made on invitation of the board);
Provide evidence of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3), OR, in the case of international grantees, provide similar proof of tax exemption to the satisfaction of the Executive Director;
Provide up-to-date contact details for regular communications;

Ineligibility

The Helen J. Serini Foundation will not make grants to the following:

Organizations that engage in discriminatory hiring, benefit or service practices based on race, color, nationality or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, veteran status or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal or state law.  Individuals
Political Action Committees (PAC) or lobbying efforts (exclusive of research)
509(a)(3) organizations
Religious institutions that have not submitted a 1023 form and/or received their 501(c)(3) status