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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the process for requesting funding?
The Foundation solicits letters of inquiry from community collaborations that seem strong or in instances in which an inquiry to the Foundation has been made. Unsolicited Letters of Inquiry are also accepted, though grant seekers are encouraged to contact the Director of Programs Vaughnetta J. Barton. Letters should be not more than three pages long (click here for some examples of letters of inquiry).
Letters of inquiry will be reviewed by program staff as received and grant seekers will be notified of an invitation or declination to submit a full proposal. Unsolicited proposals are not accepted except when Requests for Proposals are published in limited situations to accomplish specific objectives. In cases of declination to invite a full proposal or declination of funding, Foundation staff members make every effort to provide feedback and/or refer grant seekers to other possible funding sources.
At a minimum, Letters of Inquiry should include:
- A statement of need for this program or project (including target population, statistics, examples) and its relationship to community priorities for children birth through five and their families;
- A brief description of the project or program and which type of grant as reflected in the Foundation's Grant Making Guidelines is sought;
- An explanation of how this program or project contributes to building a sustainable system of services or resources for children and families;
- Information concerning the overall type and number of customers served, outcome of the project and general overall budget and grant request.
2. Is a specific format required?
E-mailed letters with a signed hard copy following are preferred.
3. Where should I send my Letter of Inquiry?
Vaughnetta J. Barton
Director of Programs
Foundation for Early Learning
615 Second Avenue, Suite 525
Seattle, Washington 98104
Fax 206.525.4822
4. How often are grants made?
Grants are reviewed quarterly. Please contact Director of Programs Vaughnetta J. Barton if you have questions.
5. What type of grants does the Foundation make?
The Foundation supports activities as outlined in the Grant Guidelines and Conferences, Presentations and Events.
6. Is there a cap on administrative expenditures?
A maximum of 15% for administrative costs (direct or indirect) is allowable in grant budgets. Administrative or indirect costs may be disallowed in the instance of conference or community meeting support.
7. How are Grants Proposals reviewed?
Applications for Conference, Presentation and Community Meeting support are reviewed by a subcommittee of the Program Committee and determinations generally made within a few days of receipt.
Letters of Inquiry for Getting School Ready! and Promising Practices grants are also reviewed (generally within one week) by the Director of Programs for alignment with our Getting School Ready approach and issues such as sustainability and replication. If a full grant proposal is invited, it is reviewed by Foundation staff for completeness and fiscal strength considerations, then referred to a quarterly meeting of the Program Committee (composed of Board and community members who are experts in child development, neuroscience, financial management, program design, marketing, public policy and parent education) for consideration/funding recommendation to the full board.
8. Are there ways besides funding that the Foundation can assist us in implementing our program or project?
Yes. The Foundation can serve as a convener of parents, service providers, philanthropists and business and civic leaders in your community to establish or promote priorities for young children and their families. The Foundation also acts more informally to connect players in each of these areas with others who can work to support development of systems of services and resources.
9. If I have questions about the Foundation's program activities, whom should I contact?
Contact Vaughnetta J. Barton, Director of Programs at 206.525.4801 x 28.