Lannan Foundation

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Funding Process

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• Funding Areas

Projects of potential interest are identified by a variety of sources: through research by Lannan staff and board members; through a network of nominators with expertise in each program area (who change each year and serve anonymously); and through an ongoing process of letters of inquiry sent to the foundation by nonprofit organizations. Organizations are strongly encouraged to contact the foundation’s program staff to discuss their ideas prior to submitting a letter of inquiry.

Letters of Inquiry
Types of Support
Submission Calendar

Letters of Inquiry
If a letter of inquiry is of interest to the foundation, program staff will then contact selected organizations with an invitation to apply for funding by writing a full proposal. Funding in each program is highly competitive, however. Please be aware that the foundation rarely awards funding for unsolicited requests. Letters of inquiry are accepted throughout the year and will be acknowledged. Letters sent via facsimile or e-mail are not accepted.

Letters of inquiry should include:

• The legal name used by the applicant organization exactly as recorded by the Internal Revenue Service.
• A concise statement of the purpose of the request, its significance and strengths, and the results sought (not more than two pages).
• A budget for the project (if project funds are being applied for) and the current annual budget for the organization (including all other funding sources).
• A timeline for the implementation of the projects and for intended results. Organizations whose letters of inquiry are of interest to the foundation will be invited to submit a formal proposal. Due to the large number of requests received by the foundation, funding is highly competitive. Only a few organizations will be asked to submit full proposals in each program area.

Types of Support
The foundation recognizes that significant projects require time and a variety of resources to accomplish their goals. Therefore, it will consider multi-year requests for funding of project costs, operating costs, technical assistance, and collaborative activities that build organizational strength and community capacity. Funds are not available for documentary film or video projects, performing arts or theater or crafts or decorative arts.  Loans or grants are not available to individuals or organizations supporting activities intended directly or indirectly to support candidates for political office or to influence legislation. 

Submission Calendar
Lannan no longer has a calendar of submission dates for proposals or grant rounds as in the past. Proposals that have been requested may be presented for approval at one of the foundation’s three scheduled Board meetings each year.

See also:
• Funding Areas