Project Redwood Funds Projects That Focus on Tangible Impacts

Today, more than a billion and a half people live in poverty. Since 2007 Project Redwood has funded seeds of solutions across the globe working with social entrepreneurs whose ideas, energy, and know-how get at the problem from the bottom up. 

Project Redwood makes grants to qualifying organizations to fund projects with measurable impact, primarily within twelve months, that fit our mission to help people help themselves increase their standard of living through education, job creation, job training, or entrepreneurship. While each year is different, grants to successful applicants have recently been in the range of $30,000. In 2024, projects in the US may receive up to $50,000 and international projects may receive up to $40,000.

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor or knowing about Project Redwood grant making, please view the video to the left which is a recording of the recent Information Session.
 
Use the buttons below to access information about Sponsor Responsibilites and to download the Grant Application Instructions.

Application Prerequisites 

Sponsorship:  Project Redwood considers project applications sponsored by alumni of the Stanford Graduate School of Business who are members of Project Redwood. CLICK HERE to learn about becoming a member of Project Redwood.   Sponsors help potential grantees complete the application and act as the principal contact between the applicant and our Grant Review Committee during the evaluation process. If a project is funded, the sponsor relationship continues through project completion and often beyond. Please CLICK HERE for more information about sponsoring a Grant Application. 

501(c)(3) Status: Applicants must be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States of America, or have applied for such status.

Financial: Project Redwood generally awards grants to organizations with less than $4 million in annual revenue and our grants represent a meaningful portion of the project budget. An exception may be made if a larger organization proposes a new initiative for which our grant would be essential and would fund a substantial portion of the project budget

A copy of the most recent audited financial statement or Internal Revenue Service Form 990 must be supplied with each application. 

Grant Limits: Project Redwood limits each organization to one grant per year and a maximum of four years of funding.

Evaluation Criteria

Project Redwood selects projects from the applications sponsored by our members based on the following criteria:

A. Measurable Impact: To what extent will the project develop human potential and local resources, improve educational access and outcomes, or increase income, wealth, or standard of living for a sizable population the grant serves?

B. Achievability: Can the project be accomplished as scheduled with the applicant’s resources and skills, identified funding, and currently committed community and strategic partnerships, including Project Redwood non-financial support? Does the project approach identify and mitigate risks?

C. Enduring Effect: How does the project plan for and incorporate the means for sustained success beyond the grant year? Are strategies and potential to scale, replicate or spread benefits to additional communities or organizations identified? Does the project consider environmental impact?

Application Review Process

The process begins in January 2024, and grants will be announced in June 2024. 

Our process includes the following components:

Preview Survey: A call for applications, along with instructions and a Preview Form, is sent to all Project Redwood members on January 2, 2024.  Included is an invitation to a virtual presentation on January 10, 2024 on the 2024 grant making process for all applicants and sponsors. 

The Preview Form is due January 30, 2024. If the Preview Form is found to meet all the prerequisites, the sponsor and applicant will be invited on February 6, 2024 to submit a full Grant Application due on March 1, 2024.

Application: The Grant Application due March 1, 2024 asks each invited organization, with sponsor assistance, to describe how their project will have an impact on poverty and meet each of Project Redwood’s criteria. The Grant Review Committee may request additional information as they assess and summarize each project during March and April of 2024.

Member Vote: The Project Redwood Grant Review committee presents a slate of projects, annotated with its assessments, to Project Redwood’s membership and asks them to vote their preferences during early May 2024.

Board Decision: The Project Redwood Board of Directors makes final decisions in June 2024 regarding grant awards based on Grant Review Committee recommendations, member vote, portfolio considerations, and available funds.

Grant Agreement: Approved grantees sign agreements and receive their funds by the end of June.

Key Dates

January 2:  Announcement of the start of 2024 grant making

January 10:  Virtual session on Grant Making and Sponsorship for all applicants and sponsors

January 30:  Preview Survey due

March 1:  Applications due (for those invited on February 6, 2024)

March-April:  GRC evaluations 

May: Partner vote; GRC recommendation to Board; Board decision

June:  Grant agreements issued and grants distributed

Post Funding Relationship

Project Redwood and our member sponsors maintain relationships with grantees providing value-added non-financial assistance to the project and organization for the duration of approved projects, and often beyond. Grantees and sponsors participate in Project Redwood’s Community of Grantees and Sponsors, a network of social entrepreneurs sharing information, experience, and expertise. Grantees submit an interim progress report during the grant year and a final progress report at the end of the grant year and may be asked to provide additional information on project impact one to two years later.

For more information contact Project Redwood

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