Grants and Sponsorships
We provide two different types of funding: grants and sponsorships.
Our grant application is open once per year from January 1st – March 31st.
Our sponsorship application opens annually on January 1st. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, until funding is exhausted for the year.
For more on the difference between grants and sponsorships, see our Frequently Asked Questions section below.
What We Fund
The Foundation’s annual budget is $2.3 million. While this is substantial, there is a lot of need in our communities, so our giving is focused. Our grants vary in size and we rarely fund an entire program.
We look for proposals that have:
- a well-planned approach to underlying issues or needs
- a base of support
- metrics to support success
We do not fund new programs. We instead focus on proven programs. We are primarily focused on programs that help end childhood hunger, address children’s mental health and to a lesser extent, those that support community development in the Montpelier, VT and Dallas, TX areas.
Our Giving Area
What We Don't Fund
For our general grants program, we don’t make grants for endowments, scholarships, higher education institutions, religious organizations, labor and fraternal groups, debt reduction or work that has already been completed. Additionally, we don’t make grants to individuals, daycare facilities, or for school trips. Finally, we don’t make grants to organizations that discriminate in any way on the basis of race, religion, gender, age, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a grant and a sponsorship?
Grants are made through our Foundation and are available to 501(c)(3) nonprofits. Grants are donations that are intended to help a nonprofit continue the good work they do; we expect no promotion in return.
Sponsorships are typically for one-time events. Our expectation with a sponsorship is that we'll have the opportunity to promote our do good message in exchange for our contribution.
Who is eligible to apply for a grant?
To be considered for a grant, your organization must be a public charity which is exempt from income taxes under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. We focus our funding on charities that are in or serving the people of northern and central Vermont or the Dallas, Texas region, where most of our employees are based.
Learn more about exempt status from income taxes under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Who is eligible to apply for a sponsorship?
501(c)(3) nonprofits are welcome to apply, but nonprofit status is not required to be considered for a sponsorship.
When and How do I apply?
When?
Our grant application is open once per year from January 1st – March 31st. All applications are reviewed and status is communicated within three months after the March 31st deadline.
Our sponsorship application opens annually on January 1st. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
How?
Applications are accepted through our online portal. Use this link to submit your application during our enrollment period. You will be prompted to create or login to an account.
How much should I ask for?
Though our Foundation budget is $2.3 million dollars, it funds all of our Do Good Programs. Therefore, requests should be appropriate to the project, reflect realistic expectations, and show diverse funding sources.
Also, keep in mind that most of the grants we award are under $5,000. We often offer partial grants. In other words, a grant requesting $5,000 may be funded at the $3,000 level.
Can my organization ask for a grant and a sponsorship in the same calendar year?
The short answer is yes; however, you can't apply for both a grant and a sponsorship for the same event or program. Receiving a grant and sponsorship in the same calendar year is rare.
If I am awarded a grant, will I need to submit a report?
We only require grant reports for grantees who are awarded $10,000 or more, and we send an email out about the reporting guidelines before they come due. (Grant reports are due in January of the following year.)
Though we do not ask for grant reports for any other grants, we are happy to be updated on your progress. Feel free to write us a short email to giving@nationallife.com, if you've got something noteworthy to share, or just to say hi!
Is there someone I can reach out to with a more specific question?
Absolutely! Feel free to email us at giving@nationallife.com. (Please allow 2-3 business days for a response.)
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