General Fund Grants

General Fund Grants is sponsored by The Knott Foundation. The General Fund Grants program provides responsive funding to nonprofits in arts & humanities, Catholic activities, education, health care, and human services, to strengthen communities, build opportunities, and create safe and healthy spaces for individuals and families to thrive. The foundation has three grant cycles per year for Letters of Inquiry.

General Fund Grants - The Knott Foundation Our General Fund Grants program is our responsive funding vehicle. Nonprofits meeting the Foundation’s eligibility guidelines are eligible to submit a Letter of Inquiry during one of our three (3) grant cycles, held each year in February, June, and October.

Since its inception, the General Fund Grants program has provided over $70 million in support across five program areas: arts & humanities, Catholic activities, education, health care, and human services, to organizations working to strengthen communities, build opportunities, and create safe and healthy spaces for individuals and families to thrive.

Size and Duration of Award Size and Duration of Award The General Fund Grants program has a minimum request amount of $10,000, with the median grant award amount of $45,000. Funds must be expensed within one (1) year of the award date. Multi-year grants are not considered in this program.

Nonprofits meeting the Foundation’s eligibility guidelines may submit one (1) General Fund Letter of Inquiry per year during one of our open grant cycles in February, June, or October. General Fund Grant Calendar *The deadline to submit a General Fund LOI is 5:00 PM EST on the posted date.

Organizations whose Letters of Inquiry are advanced to the full grant proposal stage will receive a phone call inviting them to submit a full grant proposal, as well as an email with specific application instructions. Site visits are an integral part of the grantmaking process. They are required for all organizations asked to submit a full grant proposal.

Final grant decisions are made approximately 10 weeks after our published full Grant Proposal deadline. All applicants are notified by phone and email as to the final decision. Interim grant conversations take place six (6) months after a grant is awarded.

Written post grant reports are due one (1) year after a grant is awarded and are submitted through our grants portal. Funded organizations may reapply after three (3) years. Organizations denied funding after submitting a full grant proposal are eligible to reapply after one (1) year.

Organizations denied funding after submitting a Letter of Inquiry may reapply for funding one (1) year after their request is not advanced. If you believe your organization/request meets the eligibility guidelines and would like to be considered for a General Fund Grant, please visit our grants portal to begin an application.