The Sisters of St. Francis (Sylvania) Foundation Donor Advised Fund

Overview

Greater Toledo Community Foundation, is a public charitable organization created by citizens of our community to enrich the quality of life for individuals and families in our service area. The Foundation serves northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan with a particular emphasis on the greater Toledo area. The mission of The Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio is to live the Gospel in joyful servanthood among the people and as messengers of peace to commit themselves to works that reverence human dignity, embrace the poor and marginalized and respect the gift of all creation. Greater Toledo Community Foundation and the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation have partnered to support programming through the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation Donor Advised Fund (“Sisters of St. Francis Fund”).

Focus Areas

Consistent with their mission statement, grants from the Sisters of St. Francis Fund support a variety of organizations and programs which are working in one or more of the following areas:

* aiding in the fight against human trafficking and/or offering support to its victims;
* offering support to immigrants and refugees; and
* Advancing social justice and equal access to opportunity through other programs and strategies;
* Supporting efforts that advance, Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ call to care for planet earth, our common home, by addressing climate change, pollution, or promoting sustainable lifestyles, offering ecological education and spirituality or community engagement and participatory actions.

* Human Trafficking –
* funding will be awarded to support survivor-informed activities including, but not limited to, comprehensive service delivery; economic opportunity and asset-building programs; physical and mental health supports; education initiatives and/or other kinds of anti-trafficking efforts that reach for systemic solutions and promote the respect and dignity of all. 
* Immigrants & Refugees
* funding will be awarded in a variety of areas including, but not limited to, citizenship and naturalization efforts; economic opportunity and asset-building programs; physical and mental health supports; diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives; civic participation activities; education and workforce development initiatives; workers’ rights and civil legal aid activities and/or other kinds of efforts that promote the well-being of immigrants and refugees. 
* Social Justice & Equal Opportunity
* funding will be awarded in a variety of areas including, but not limited to, activities that promote equal access to housing, employment, education and health care; equitable and sustainable neighborhood development; civil and/or environmental justice work; and/or other approaches that promise to uplift the ability of marginalized or underserved communities to define their own futures and access opportunity. 
* Laudato Si’—
* funding will be awarded in areas that address Pope Francis’ call to care for our common home.
* These include the following areas
* Cry of the Earth (climate change, pollution, forests, wetlands, species);
* Sustainable Lifestyles (personal and community purchasing and lifestyle choices); Ecological Education (how nature functions and is connected, promotion of sustainability);
* Ecological Spirituality (spiritual connection between humans and God’s creation) and
* Community Engagement and Participatory Action (collaborative engagement between and among agencies with the Sisters of St. Francis).

The Sisters of St. Francis Fund envisions communities in which all members have equal opportunity to thrive. Grants are provided primarily for programming but, in limited cases, may support general operations or capital projects. The Sisters of St. Francis Fund anticipates making multiple awards ranging from $5,000 to $50,000. Grants are typically awarded for a one-year project period. Funds are limited and will be awarded on a competitive basis.

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

* Grants are awarded only to nonprofit, charitable organizations which have been designated as having tax exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service code.

Ineligibility

* The Foundation will not make grants from the Sisters of St. Francis Fund to:

* Faith-based organizations that do not serve persons outside of their membership, include proselytizing in programs, or condition receipt of services on belief in a particular faith. 
* Building or capital campaigns.
* Endowments or board-designated reserve funds.
* General fund drives, such as United Way annual campaigns.
* Debt retirement or operating deficits.
* Indirect expenses unrelated to the proposed program; institutional indirect rates.
* Direct donations or grants to individuals.
* Lobbying or political campaigns.