Education Grants

About this GRANT Program — Priorities for this competitive grant program stem directly from Pasadena Community Foundation’s larger commitment to equity and student success. PCF has a long history of supporting evidence-based interventions and data-driven approaches that support continuous learning amongst foster youth, students of color, and first-generation and low-income students.  The Education Grant Program is focused on increasing school readiness and student achievement from early education through grade 12, as well as building on partnerships between schools and school support organizations.

Target NEEDS & PRIORITY AREAS

• Early learning and school readiness (ages 0-8)
• Academic interventions in math and literacy, aligned with the curriculum, in grades K-12
• Youth development programs with targeted, evidence-informed teaching practices and academic supports
• College access and success.

TYPE OF SUPPORT AVAILABLE

PROGRAM and /or OPERATING SUPPORT grants are available for organizations that demonstrate successful bridge-building between schools and families and improved academic outcomes through interventions with measurable results.

SEED grants are available for start-up projects and new projects within existing organizations that have creative or new solutions to addressing the equity gap in education.

GRANT AMOUNT — Typical grant awards will range between $10,000 – $25,000. The maximum request amount will be $25,000 per year.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS — The application period is now closed.

APPLICATION SYSTEM — Visit PCF’s online application system.

Strong Applications

PCF will fund programs that meets these requirements and/or employ these strategies:

• Actively engage families in academic interventions.
• Have clear and measurable impact on the population the program is serving.
• Demonstrated evidence of sustained participation in programs
• Focus on strategies that are culturally relevant.
• Emphasize collaboration with PUSD and other organizations to strengthen their efforts and their impact, as well as leverage limited resources.
• Qualified and trained staff
• Staff-child ratio meets recommended guidelines
• Alignment with school district criteria for academic success

GEOGRAPHIC RESTRICTION
The applicant organization must be located or provide significant service to the area defined by the boundaries of the Pasadena Unified School District (Pasadena, Altadena & Sierra Madre)

NON DISCRIMINATION POLICY
The Foundation does not make grants from its discretionary funds to organizations that discriminate on the basis of age, disability, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, race or religion.

Eligibility Requirements 

• Grants may be made only to tax-exempt organizations under Section 501(c) (3) or 170(c) (1) or (2) (b) of the Internal Revenue Code. None shall be made to Private Foundations under Section 509(1) of the Code.
• An organization must have been in existence for at least two years (based on the date of IRS determination letter) and have achieved a record of effective service and sustainability.
• All previous grants must be completed. A grantee with an “open grant” will be ineligible for new funding. Grantees who have not complied with previous grant deadlines and reports or receipts may not be eligible for new grant consideration.
• Organizations seeking funding from the Pasadena Community Foundation may only receive ONE grant per year in one of the following cycles: Animal Welfare or Capital or Senior or Education or Vista Nova Grants.

PCF Will Not Make Education Program Grants For or To:

• Direct aid to individuals
• Sectarian religious organizations or churches
• Individual public schools. PCF only supports PUSD schools through the Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF)
• Private schools
• Influencing legislation or elections
• Agencies not engaged in the actual performance of direct services to individuals (no re-granting)
• In general, the Foundation does not make grants from its discretionary funds to organizations that discriminate on the basis of age, disability, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, race or religion.

Grant Report Deadlines and Compliance — Strict reporting requirements must be followed in order to qualify for future grants.

Agencies are also required to meet PCF’s Grant Recognition Guidelines.