How To Apply
The Arca Foundation has no standard application form. The Foundation does not respond to letters of inquiry. Due to our small staff, we do not accept proposals electronically. Please send a clear, concise proposal (one copy only) to:
Executive Director
The Arca Foundation
1308 19th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
The Foundation does not consider requests in the following categories:
Scholarship funds
Scholarly research
Individuals
Government programs
Capital projects/endowments
Groups outside the United States
Proposals should include the following elements in the following order:
Cover Letter
A cover letter should describe the project in a brief paragraph, state its total cost and request a specific grant amount from Arca. The letter should be signed by the Executive Director or Board Chair, and/or Project Director of the tax-exempt organization requesting the grant.
One-Page Summary
A one-page summary—separate from the body of the proposal— is required, highlighting the project’s purpose and goals.
Proposal Narrative
A proposal narrative should summarize the policy issue being addressed; present the organization’s approach to the problem and specific goals; and provide background on the organization’s history, current range of activities, and qualifications for carrying out the specific project. The more concise the better, with a maximum of ten pages, preferably double-sided.
Staffing
Include short bios or resumes of project staff and key consultants. Also include a Board of Directors list, including their organizational affiliations.
Financial Information
- All past Arca grants to the organization (year, amount and project);
- All grants received by the organization for the current fiscal year (amount, source and project);
- Line-item organizational budget, for current and previous fiscal year (please show individual staff salaries and allocations);
- Line-item project budget, income and expenses for the year for which funds are requested;
- Project grants received in the year for which funds are requested (amount and source);
- Potential funding sources for the project (amounts requested and contact person);
- Completed lobbying expense certification available here;
- IRS documents confirming the organization’s status as a tax-exempt [501 c(3)], or publicly supported [509(a)] nonprofit organization.
Please make sure these materials are current.
* Special note for fiscal sponsors: Fiscal sponsors must submit a letter on their letterhead assuming full fiscal, legal and programmatic responsibility for the applicant, together with the fiscal sponsor’s organizational budget, list of board of directors, and IRS tax-exemption documentation.