Who We Support

How We Award Our Grants

Focus Areas

The Foundation awards grants based on the following Focus Areas specifically related to the support of children:

• Health and Wellness
• Education
• Human Services (Food, Water and Shelter)

Additionally, the Foundation’s principal focus is to make grants to benefit children up to the age of 18. The Foundation’s preference is to support projects ranging from start-up/pilot programs to the renewal of existing programs. The Foundation will also provide grants for general operating support to organizations whose mission is in alignment with the Foundation’s Focus Areas. The Foundation does not support capital campaigns or endowments.

The Foundation makes grants to charitable organizations that support children in need both in the United States and abroad. In our earlier years the Foundation’s grants within the US were primarily awarded to organizations in the northern New England states, however that focus has shifted and we now support groups throughout the entire country.

Eligibility

All entities applying for grants from the Foundation are required to be qualified as a 501(c)(3) organization. Annual Foundation grants are competitive and not all applications can be approved.

The Foundation does not make grants to:

• Individuals
• Capital campaigns
• Endowments
• Political campaigns
• Organizations that discriminate on the basis of religion, gender, race, ethnicity, disabilities or political beliefs

Funding Cycles

Beginning in the Fall of 2022 the Foundation will have two grants cycles each year.

The Fall grant cycle will be made up of exclusively Foundation-Initiated grants, which are awarded to organizations identified by Trustees of the Foundation. These grants will typically be somewhat larger in size and may also be multi-year grants. Applications for Foundation-Initiated grants are accepted only at the invitation of the Trustees.

The Spring grant cycle will be made up of Competitive grants which are awarded following the open application period, which begins on April 1st and closes on April 30th each year. The deadline for submitting Competitive Grant Applications is 4/30. The annual Trustees meeting for the final decisions on awarding Competitive Grants takes place in late May/early June, and all final grants are announced by the end of June.

Competitive Grant Application Process

All Nonprofit organizations meeting the Foundation’s eligibility requirements may submit a Grant Application for consideration by the Foundation’s Board. Before beginning an application, please review the Eligibility section and our Focus Areas to ensure that you are eligible to apply. Please contact Foundation Staff at info@eskebarrettfoundation.org if you would like to discuss a project or if you have questions about the application process.

Our Grant Application can be accessed by clicking on the “Grant Application” button below. Please complete all questions on the application prior to submission. The IRS Determination Letter identifying your organization as having 501(c)(3) status must also be submitted along your most recent audited Financial Report and any supplemental documentation or supporting materials that pertain to your Grant Application. All Grant Applications must be received by 4/30 to be considered by the Board.

Grantee Reporting

The Trustees of the Evelyn S. and K.E. Barrett Foundation maintain an ongoing interest in both the organizations and projects that we support. All grant recipients are required to submit a written report to the Foundation between six and eight months after receiving the grant to provide an update on the impact that the grant has made. This information is vital to the Trustees and allows the Foundation to evaluate the effectiveness of each grant.

Following the award of a grant from the Foundation, recipients are encouraged to publicize the grant award via press releases to traditional media outlets, social media posts as well as articles or announcements within their own organizations. We believe that this publicity will create a greater understanding of the Evelyn S. and K.E. Barrett Foundation’s Focus Areas and the organizations with whom we work.

Grant Size and Duration

Grants will vary in size but have historically ranged from $2,500 up to $20,000 and are made on an annual basis. Future expansion of the Foundation’s endowment may dictate larger grant amounts going forward, though final determination of that is up to the discretion of the Trustees.