Woodruff Foundation

Woodruff Foundation is sponsored by Woodruff Foundation. Funds projects that develop and deliver mental health services in Cuyahoga County, OH, emphasizing treatment for mental disorders and chemical dependency, and educational programs related to mental health.

FAQ | Learn More and Apply Today — Robert W. Woodruff Foundation For additional questions about our grantmaking programs or process, please contact Jenny Zhang Morgan . Is my request a fit for funding?

Review our program interests and grants awarded . We encourage you to submit an informal inquiry to fdns@woodruff. org to determine if your request is a fit for funding.

If you believe your request is a fit, follow the instructions on our How to Apply page to submit a full proposal. Are there geographic restrictions on the Foundation’s grantmaking? Yes.

We do not consider grants to organizations without a presence in Georgia. Most of our grants are made to organizations located and operating in metro Atlanta. No funding is provided for human services outside of the 13-country metro area which includes Butts, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding and Rockdale.

We occasionally consider grants to significant initiatives in communities across Georgia. Does the Foundation provide annual operating support? We do not typically provide support for annual operations or ongoing program costs.

We prefer to make grants for one-time needs to help organizations with a proven track record stretch further to seize new opportunities or to accelerate impact. Does the Foundation provide multi-year grants? We prefer to consider requests on a year-by-year basis and work with organizations to determine the appropriate timing for a grant based on a project’s schedule.

What does the Foundation not fund? Review the guidelines on our How to Apply page for adetailed list of what we do not fund. Does the Foundation support new organizations?

No, we do not typically provide startup or seed funding for new organizations or help launch affiliates of national organizations. However, we do not require organizations to operate for a minimum number of years before considering a grant.

Rather, we consider organizations with strong executive and board leadership, a track record of sustainable operations, a broad base of financial support from local donors, proven effectiveness meeting community needs with measurable impact, and the capacity to reach fundraising goals and sustain work long-term. Does the Foundation support individuals?

No, we do not make grants to individuals but only to registered 501(c)(3) organizations. We encourage individuals to use the United Way of Greater Atlanta’s 211 or Find Help Georgia for assistance. Does the Foundation support independent schools?

We support a limited number of independent schools and do not intend to expand giving to any schools that have not received past support from the Foundation. What is the Foundation’s relationship to the Joseph B. Whitehead, Lettie Pate Evans and Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundations?

The Joseph B. Whitehead, Lettie Pate Evans and Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundations were founded by members of the Whitehead family. These Foundations share an office and a staff with the Woodruff Foundation, though each is led by an independent Board of Trustees.

Robert W. Woodruff was a good friend and trusted advisor to Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans, and their Foundations agreed on a common administrative arrangement to allow for greater flexibility and efficiency in responding to community needs. How can I improve my chances of receiving a grant?

Ensure your organization meets our eligibility requirements and grantmaking guidelines . Explore Grants A warded to better understand the types of projects we fund. Reach out to the Foundation well before the grant deadline to determine if your request is a fit for funding.

First-time grantseekers may submit an informal inquiry to fdns@woodruff. org . Organizations that have an existing relationship with the Foundation may reach out to their program officer.

Secure other funding (in hand or pledges) before submitting a request. We prefer not to be the only or lead funder of an initiative. You should make significant fundraising progress with other donors, including your board, before approaching us for a grant.

We will not make a grant without confidence that you can meet your fundraising goal and sustain work long-term. Should I submit separate grant requests to the Woodruff, Whitehead and Evans Foundations? No, you do not need to submit separate grant requests.

A request submitted to any of our Foundations will be considered by the others. My organization does not have audited financial statements. Can I still apply?

Yes. We prefer to receive audited financial statements but can accept your most recent Form 990. If you are providing audited financials, you do not need to submit a Form 990 as well.

How long should my grant request letter be? We prefer requests that are concise and to the point. Grant request letters are usually no more than 5 pages long, not including required attachments (see How to Apply for more information).

What collateral materials should I include with my grant request? Please avoid submitting additional materials outside of required attachments, e.g. press kits, newsletters, annual reports or campaign brochures. These materials are not required for our review of your proposal.

Architectural drawings are helpful if you are seeking support for a capital project. When are your grant application deadlines and how soon will I hear about a decision? We accept grant requests throughout the year.

Our two deadlines are: February 1 – Proposals received by the first business day on or after February 1 will be considered for the April meeting of our Board of Trustees. You will receive an email notifying you of the Trustees’ decision within one week of the meeting. August 15 – Proposals received by the first business day on or after August 15 will be considered for the November meeting of our Board of Trustees.

You will receive an email notifying you of the Trustees’ decision within one week of the meeting. How does the Foundation make grant decisions? Grant requests are reviewed by our president, grants program director and program officers.

If your request does not meet our eligibility requirements or falls outside of our program interests , we will notify you promptly by email. If your request is accepted for consideration at the next meeting of our Board of Trustees, we will contact you for a meeting or site visit. Grant decisions are made by Trustees at the board meeting based on the merits of your request and the priorities of the Foundation.

About one in five requests is approved for funding in any given year. How long does it take the Foundation to fund its grant commitments? After Trustees approve your request, you will receive a grant letter within one week of our board meeting.

If your grant has been approved on a conditional basis, the terms will be specified in your grant letter and we will pay the commitment after you show in writing that conditions have been met. If no conditions are specified, we will disburse funds based on the timing of the project. Can I reapply for funding?

If you have a new and extraordinary one-time need, we may consider your request. However, we typically do not provide additional support for projects or campaigns we have already funded. Also, we will not consider a new request until we receive a grant report for the most recently funded request.

We cannot be encouraging about grant requests we have already declined. Unless otherwise specified, please do not submit the same request in a different grant cycle. May I publicize news of my grant?

Yes, we request written annual reports until all grant funds have been expended and a final report at the conclusion of the project. Reporting requirements are specified in your grant letter. We prefer concise reports that are no more than 5 pages long.

Reports should be submitted through our online grant portal. How do you use the information contained in reports? All information is kept confidential, including any photos provided.

We use the information internally to ensure grant funds are spent according to the intended purpose, to evaluate the effectiveness of our grants programs, and to inform future funding decisions.