To Apply
Dear Friends,
Since the beginning of 2009, the Orfalea Family Foundation and the Orfalea Fund made a gradual yet significant shift in our grantmaking strategy. We have since been focusing on fewer issue areas at any one time, working more deeply within each issue. Our involvement will be for a definite length of time to intensify impact on that issue. While our commitment is to continue to support high-quality nonprofit programs working to improve early childcare, educational programs and other community services, the Orfalea Foundations will focus more intently on our programmatic initiatives: s’Cool Food, Aware and Prepare: A Community Partnership to Strengthen Emergency and Disaster Readiness, and the Outdoor Classroom Preschool Initiatives. Influential in this decision is the current economic climate. The Orfalea Foundations have not been exempt from feeling the effects and as such we are taking decisive action to narrow our granting focus to increase the impact with the finite funds available. After the completion of our Spring 2009 cycle, and with much deliberation, we have reached the difficult decision that we will not be accepting Letters of Inquiry except in the area of s’Cool Food and Aware & Prepare. We understand the challenge this may place on local nonprofits with the current economic challenges however we are confident that the creativity and innovation of the nonprofit sector will prevail. For information on applying for funding for the s'Cool Food and Aware & Prepare initiatives please visit the Submitting a Letter section of this site by clicking here.
Please remember that a large part of the Orfalea Foundations’ grantmaking is carried out through partnerships with organizations which share our passion and vision for initiatives that positively impact our communities. The Santa Barbara Foundation is an excellent example of such a partnership, and we encourage you to work closely with them as appropriate.
Warmest Regards,
The Orfalea Foundations