Application Process

Arca is not accepting unsolicited grant applications. The information below is only applicable to invited grant applicants and is subject to change.

Proposal deadlines are on February 1 and August 1 for the spring and fall cycles, respectively. Out-of-cycle and emergency proposals are not considered unless solicited by the Foundation. The Foundation will request further information regarding your application if needed.

The Arca Foundation Board of Trustees meets twice annually. The Arca Foundation approves grants at these semi annual board meetings, usually held in April-June and November of each year.

General Support Request


If you are submitting a General Support Request, please prepare the following narrative and supporting documents:

 

Section One: Organization Mission
  • Provide a brief and general statement of the organization’s overall mission
Section Two: Request

Please discuss the following:

  • Your past major program activities and accomplishments
  • Your major activities and goals for the coming year
  • A timeline of proposed activities
  • A discussion of potential challenges
  • Current/potential partners
  • How you will utilize funding to leverage additional support
Section Three: Evaluation
  • Explain what method of evaluation will be employed and what benchmarks will be used to track the organization’s progress
Section Four: Organization Structure and Administration
  • Briefly identify the roles and responsibilities of key board members, staff, volunteers and members. If you have a regular relationship with accountants and/or legal counsel, please identify them in this section.
General Support Supplemental Materials (to be uploaded as separate attachments)
  1. The most recent IRS letter documenting the organization’s 501(c)(3) status
  2. Biographical Sketches of Key Staff
  3. Board of Directors List, including titles and affiliations
  4. 2019-2020 Comparative Organization Budget in requested format (download sample budget)
  5. 2019 Funders: please include the purpose and amount of funding and whether or not funding is pending or committed
  6. Diversity Table

Project Support Request


If you are submitting a Project Support Request, please prepare the following narrative and supporting documents:

 

Section One: Organization Mission
  • Provide a brief and general statement of the organization’s overall mission
Section Two: Request

Please discuss the following:

  • A brief statement of the goals and purposes of the specific project for which you are requesting funding
  • The specific activities you will carry out to achieve the goals of this project
  • A timeline of proposed activities
  • A discussion of potential challenges
  • Current/potential partners
  • How you will utilize funding to leverage additional support
Section Three: Evaluation
  • Explain what method of evaluation will be employed and what benchmarks will be used to track the project’s progress
Section Four: Organization Structure and Administration
  • Briefly identify the roles and responsibilities of key board members, staff, volunteers and members. If you have a regular relationship with accountants and/or legal counsel, please identify them in this section.
Project Support Supplemental Materials (to be uploaded as separate attachments)
  1. The most recent IRS letter documenting the organization’s 501(c)(3) status
  2. Biographical Sketches of Key Staff
  3. Board of Directors List, including titles and affiliations
  4. Project Budget (no specified format required)
  5. 2019-2020 Comparative Organization Budget in requested format (download sample budget)
  6. 2019 Funders: please include the purpose and amount of funding and whether or not funding is pending or committed
  7. Lobbying Expenditure Form
  8. Diversity Table

Fiscally Sponsored Project Request


If you are submitting a Fiscally Sponsored Project Request, please prepare the following narrative and supporting documents:

 

Section One: Organization Mission
  • Provide a brief and general statement of the fiscal sponsor’s overall mission
Section Two: Request

Please discuss the following:

  • A brief statement of the goals and purposes of the specific project/sub-grantee for which you are requesting funding
  • The specific activities you will carry out to achieve the goals of this project/sub-grantee
  • A timeline of proposed activities
  • A discussion of potential challenges
  • Current/potential partners
  • How you will utilize funding to leverage additional support
Section Three: Evaluation
  • Explain what method of evaluation will be employed and what benchmarks will be used to track the project’s/sub-grantee’s progress
Section Four: Organization Structure and Administration
  • Will the project be administered as a project of the fiscal sponsor or as a sub-grant to another entity?
  • Has the entity applied for a 501(c)3 exemption of its own or does the entity intend to do so?
  • If the project will be administered through a sub-grant to another entity, what steps will the fiscal sponsor take to monitor or to ensure that the goals of the project are fulfilled as proposed?
  • Briefly identify the roles and responsibilities of key board members, staff, volunteers and members. If the fiscal sponsor, project and/or sub-grantee has a regular relationship with accountants and/or legal counsel, please identify them in this section.
Project Support Supplemental Materials (to be uploaded as separate attachments)
  1. Fiscal Sponsor’s most recent IRS letter documenting the organization’s 501(c)(3) status
  2. Letter of Agreement between the Fiscal Sponsor and Project/Sub-Grantee
  3. Fiscal sponsor’s Organization Budget (most recent available)
  4. Fiscal Sponsor’s Board of Director’s List
  5. Project/Sub-Grantee’s Biographical Sketches of Key Staff
  6. Project/Sub-Grantee’s Board of Advisors (if applicable)
  7. Project/Sub-Grantee’s 2019-2020 Comparative Organization Budget in requested format (download sample budget)
  8. Project/Sub-Grantee’s 2019 Funders: please include the purpose and amount of funding and whether or not funding is pending or committed
  9. Lobbying Expenditure Form (to be signed by a representative from the fiscal sponsor organization, NOT by project or sub-grantee staff)
  10. Diversity Table