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What we fund:
Please visit the
program pages for specific information about the type of work we support
in each area. What are the limitations on
foundation grants?
- Generally, the foundation
makes grants to nonprofit charitable organizations classified as
501(c)(3) public charities by the Internal Revenue Service. The
foundation is unable to make grants directly to individuals.
- The
foundation is unable to support local projects, unless they have been
consciously designed for further replication or have broad regional or
national implications. The foundation's geographic focus is the United
States and China, with special emphasis on regional initiatives.
- The foundation is unable to make grants intended to support
candidates for political office, to influence legislation, or to support
sectarian or religious purposes.
- The foundation is unable to fund
the research and development of technology (e.g., funds to develop
hybrid automobiles or commercialization of an invention).
- The
foundation is unable to fund demonstration projects (e.g., model solar
homes).
- The foundation is unable to fund community energy projects.
-
The foundation is unable to fund endowments or debt reduction, nor does
it make general-support grants. The foundation is not able to support
annual fund-raising campaigns or capital construction. The foundation is
unable to support the planning, renovation, maintenance, retrofit, or
purchase of buildings; the purchase of equipment; or the acquisition of
land, even if the intent is to save energy.
How to apply for a grant:
Because the foundation's funding priorities are specialized, we
recommend that all applicants carefully review these guidelines. If you
are not sure whether your project fits the guidelines, we encourage you
to write a brief letter of inquiry describing the project, its purpose,
and the amount you are requesting. We will notify you if a full proposal
is warranted.
If you are confident that your project fits within the guidelines, we
do not require a letter of inquiry. Please send us the application form,
one copy of your proposal, and the supporting documents listed
below.
The Proposal:
We have no fixed format for proposals. Use the form that best conveys
the strengths of your project. In general, a complete proposal includes
the following: - the attached application form as a cover
sheet
- a clear statement of the need(s) or problem(s) to be
addressed
- target decision-maker(s)
- strategy
-
timeline
- results you expect from your project
- project
budgetincluding a brief explanation of the budget, a list of
other sources of actual and potential funding for the project, and a
description of plans to secure additional funding
- how you will
determine whether your project is successful
- history of
organization, including mission and goals
Supporting Documents:
To consider a proposal for funding, we need the following
documents: - organization budget
- most recent
audited financial statements
- IRS letter certifying tax-exempt
status
- current annual report
- list of board of directors
and officers
- resumes of key personnel involved in project
Deadlines:
The foundation's Board of Directors meets three times a year (the
first week of March, the third week of June, and the first week of
November). We accept proposals on a continuous basis. There are no
specific deadlines. However, in order to consider a proposal for
inclusion in a specific docket, we need to receive proposals
approximately twelve weeks in advance of the next board meeting. Please
keep in mind that it takes approximately four weeks to review proposals
and inquiries and to contact you with a response.
For more information, contact:
The Energy Foundation 1012 Torney Avenue #1 San Francisco, CA
94129 (415) 561-6700 (telephone) (415) 561-6709 (fax) energyfund@ef.org (e-mail) http://www.ef.org/ (web page)
The EF Staff List
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