Student Academic Success: Multiyear Grant

What We Fund
As detailed in Our Approach, MDBF's goal for its grantmaking is to support nonprofits to strengthen their effectiveness as organizations in ways that lead to long-term sustainability. We strongly encourage you to read Our Grantmaking Approach for essential information regarding how we make funding decisions and to prepare you for the information we ask for in the application.
Early Learning Programs: We support PreK organizations whose primary purpose is kindergarten readiness. Evidence-based programs are a plus.
Academic Achievement: We support organizations whose primary purpose is to support K-12 students' academic achievement. These include organizations that build academic skills through structured academic learning opportunities and/or structured tutoring and professional training for teachers and tutors that align with the standard NC curriculum. Evidence-based programs are a plus.
For more information, including application timeline and eligibility requirements, please visit our Multiyear Grantmaking Guidelines webpage.
Organizations that focus on academic achievement AND have received funding from MDBF in the previous 5 years are eligible to apply for a 3-year grant.
Each year, we will award 5-7 general operating support grants to nonprofit organizations that further our grantmaking goals. Grant amounts range from $15,000 - $50,000 a year for each organization. MDBF has a finite budget and may not be able to fund the full amount requested. If your application moves forward, MDBF staff will work with your organization to determine the actual requested amount. Please know that there is no penalty for requesting the maximum amount at the LOI stage.
Both developing nonprofits and established organizations are eligible for these grants. All organizations must have a primary focus on the Student Academic Success. Organizations must be located in and main programming must take place in Chatham, Durham, Orange, and/or Wake Counties, NC.

Eligibility

Developing OrganizationsTypically have existed for 2-5 years, are addressing a clear unmet need or opportunity, have strategic goals, and have begun offering programmingOrganizations at this stage may have limited or no board of directors with staff who are primarily volunteers.Or, their boards may have expanded beyond "friends and family" and are beginning to focus more on governance and less on day-to-day operations.Paid staffing is minimal, typically only an Executive Director and perhaps one or two program staff.Funding sources are likely not diversified at this stage of development, but the organization may be starting to formalize financial management, volunteer management, program evaluation, fundraising, board development, marketing, and strategic planning as they grow.Established OrganizationsAre more mature and stable; programs/services are solid and well-recognized with strong and effective leadership.Paid program and administrative staff are in place and the board's focus is primarily policy and oversight.Organizational processes are developed.Revenue sources are more diversified.These organizations may have a well-demonstrated model and data that shows outcomes or is currently executing a plan for evaluation, continuous learning, and improvement.General Eligibility RequirementsOrganization is located in and the majority of programming takes place in Chatham, Durham, Orange, and/or Wake counties.The majority of students engaged or served by the organization are those who lack access to programs because of economic conditions, race or ethnic background, geography, or different abilities.Students actively participate in making art.501(c)(3) tax-exempt status or sponsored by a qualified fiscal agent.A current or expected expenses budget under $2,000,000 (fiscal sponsors are exempt from this stipulation).A demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in its governance, staffing, and participants.Capacity to achieve its goals: staff and experience (including volunteers), board governance, and financial resources.

Ineligibility

Organizations that have an interim or new executive director (hired within the past 6 months) are not eligible.Public schools and charter schools are not eligible.We do not make project-based grants.Organizations whose primary mission and focus is on the humanities or history are not eligible.University affiliated-organization are not eligible to apply.