Inquiries

The Brinson Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications. Rather, we ask grantseekers to review our mission, vision, beliefs and priorities as well as these guidelines. If a grantseeker believes its request matches one or more of our grantmaking priorities and focus areas, which we are currently funding, it can make an inquiry by submitting our Grantseeker Information Form. We accept inquiries throughout the year.

The completed form should be emailed to mail@brinsonfoundation.org. We will send a confirmation email, usually within 3-5 business days, advising the grantseeker of the anticipated timetable for review of the inquiry. Whenever possible, we also advise grantseekers on the extent to which our Board may consider new inquiries during upcoming grant cycles.

The Grantseeker Information Form is not an application. It simply provides us preliminary information about the grantseeker’s organization and the proposed grant request. We review the information provided in the form to determine whether the organization and the grant request may qualify for consideration. In all cases, we communicate the outcome of the review to the grantseeker.

If an inquiry qualifies for consideration, the staff will work with the grantseeker to learn more about the organization and the grant request. If there is a sufficient match with one or more of the Foundation’s grantmaking priorities and focus areas, and we choose to engage with the grantseeker, the Foundation will invite the organization to submit a formal grant application using our web-based grant application process.

The Brinson Foundation Board of Directors has sole authority to approve grant requests. The Foundation’s staff is responsible for reviewing, screening, performing due diligence and recommending grants to the Board. See the Grantmaking Process and Calendar page, regarding the sequence and timing of our grant cycles.